Festival Focus: Hat-tricks, first time freestyles and home-produced horses

From freestyle firsts and hat-trick wins to inspiring dressage journeys and exciting future goals, our riders at Chard, Sheepgate and Onley’s Petplan Area Festivals, had plenty to celebrate. We caught up with them to hear more about their successes, their horses and what comes next.

Hermione Perry and Newoak Bay © ESP Photographic

Chard Equestrian  

At Chard Equestrian’s Petplan Area Festival (14 – 16 August) Hermione Perry and Newoak Roc Bay finished on the second step of the podium in the Novice Freestyle Bronze with a great score of 69.44%. It was an hour and a half drive each way to compete at Chard and the pair also competed in the Novice Bronze to finish ninth with 65.83%.  

The duo were second to go in the class, which meant a long wait for the final result to come in, Hermione shared, “I was absolutely thrilled to come second and now working out the logistics of how to get to Area UK for the Championships.” Reflecting on her test Hermione commented, “My horse was much more relaxed on day two, so I was too. Music just seems more fun and light-hearted and that definitely shows in the way I ride! It was probably the best we’ve ridden it – hitting the transitions pretty much where I wanted and Roc was obedient and lovely to ride.”  

Hermione shared why she chose to give the freestyle classes at the Area Festivals a go, “I turned 50 last year and music has always been on my bucket list! Modern technology makes it so much easier to do these days, so having joined BD in 2025 I thought it was a good time to give it a go.” Explaining the thought behind her music, “I wanted something fun and upbeat that would work with a cob and could be enjoyed by all generations. Choosing 70s soul to fit the time I was born seemed very appropriate. I chose Maxine Nightingale’s, ‘Right Back Where We Started From’ and Aretha Franklin’s, ‘Natural Woman’ and ‘Think’. I hope the people listening were dancing along with me!”  

The 14hh coloured cob has also enjoyed turning a hoof to the music. “He is my midlife crisis pony!” Hermione explained. “I certainly did not need another horse, but he has proved to be the best decision I have ever made! I am really enjoying being competitive again in the dressage arena after a 15-year break, and he is the sweetest, easiest pony anyone could wish for.”  

The duo has been a partnership since 2024, when Hermione brought Roc from a showing background and quickly discovered he was good at dressage. “We did the Winter Quest series that year, finishing fourth in both the Prelim and Novice, so I decided to join BD properly in the spring. We did Bicton and Chard Area Festivals last year, finishing seventh at both, so stepped up to Novice this year.” Looking towards the future, Hermione and Roc may step up to Elementary for the first time.  

Meghan Waring and Fenjay Olympus 

Sheepgate Equestrian 

Meghan Waring and Fenjay Olympus won the Medium Bronze at Sheepgate Equestrian’s Petplan Area Festival (6 – 9 August). The duo were rewarded a great 67.17% from the judges, to secure their golden ticket to the Area Festival Championships in October.  

Reflecting on her most memorable moments, Meghan shared, “I can’t narrow it down to just one. There were multiple moments during the day that stood out; coming out of the arena nearly in tears after what felt like our best test yet at Medium level and to then find out that we had won and qualified for the championships.” 

“It was a crazy feeling to think that me and my spotty horse Zeus could win a class like that, still to this date it, hasn’t quite sunk in.” Meghan has owned Zeus from a yearling and can proudly say that she backed and produced him herself. Describing the lovely gelding, Meghan shared, “He is full of character and has a cheeky personality. He really does try his best for me and gives his all in everything we do. He is my horse of a lifetime.” 

Meghan’s life revolves around horses, she explained, “I ride and look after horses as a job, and I have a degree in Equine Sports Therapy and Rehab.” Meghan started her riding journey in showing at the age of ten, but soon developed a love and passion for dressage, “I started competing in My Quest and Team Quest in 2015 on my Welsh Pony Pendal Dazzler, who also came third in the Novice Silver Area Festival also at Sheepgate. We did actually qualify for the My Quest Championships, and ever since then my journey with BD has progressed.” Three years ago, Zeus and Meghan won the Prelim Bronze at their Area Festival and finished sixth at the championships, showing how they have progressed up the levels over the years.  

Choosing to step up from Quest after enjoying competing in that series, Meghan shared what she thinks of the Area Festivals, “I love the atmosphere and the friendliness and sportsmanship of all the other competitors. I sometimes feel out of place being on a spotty horse as he is not your typical dressage horse, but people at the Area Festivals are always wishing you good luck and congratulating you in the presentations.”  

Meghan and Zeus have an exciting future ahead, with plans of continuing to progress, “We are now getting ready for the championships and started to work towards Advanced Medium at home, with a view of competing in our first test by the end of the winter! Our goal is, of course, competing in our first Prix St Georges, so having this win was a very special moment for us and makes the whole journey worthwhile.”  

Samantha Woods and Prince of Hearts © KB Photography

Onley Grounds Equestrian 

It was a hat-trick of wins for Samantha Wood and Price of Hearts at Onley Grounds Equestrian’s Petplan Area Festival (13 – 16 August)! These fantastic results came in the Elementary Freestyle Silver, Novice Silver and Novice Freestyle Silver with the duo scoring, 70.77%, 70.28% and 74.07% respectively. Samantha also won the Prelim Silver riding Wystone Heartbreaker with a score of 72.43%.  

Reflecting on what were incredible results Samantha shared, “The whole show was full of favourite moments for me, but when I realised I had actually won the three classes I had entered on WFS Prince of Hearts, I was very emotional.” The wins were even more meaningful after the setbacks that Samantha went through the previous year, “These wins meant so much to me as we had won and qualified for the Area Festival Championship at the same show the previous year. However, as I went down the centre line of that winning Novice test, my right eye went black. I had surgery two days later for a retinal detachment, but the surgery wasn’t successful, so I had another [surgery] six weeks later. This meant that I could not ride or compete for the rest of the year and didn’t have the chance to compete at the championships.”  

“To come back and not only qualify, but also win all three classes was just a dream come true and something I had been dreaming of all year.” The cherry on top of the cake was Samantha’s younger horse, Wystone Heartbreaker, whose main focus is showing and has only been under saddle since the beginning of the year, went on to win his class despite only being at the start of his career.  

Samantha hopes to inspire more people to give the Area Festivals a go, “What I like the most about it is that it allows me to showcase how an alternative type of horse can thrive in the dressage world. Both my boys are 14.2hh traditional gypsy cobs and love doing dressage.” The two geldings are both seven-years-old, Samantha shared that WFS Prince of Hearts, “Thrives on work, he gets very excited when he gets to a show and just wants to get the job done. He is incredibly focused and sometimes a little bit of a show off!” The aim in the future is for Samantha’s son to take over the reins and have a go at some Pony FEI tests.  

Samantha Wood and Wystone Heartbreaker

Wystone Heartbreaker is known for being the kindest, most loveable character and has started his ridden career later in life due to previously being a breeding stallion. “He was bred by the incredible Jo Martin, who is producing some incredible traditional cobs that can thrive in dressage as well as being beautiful show horses.” Two weeks before the Area Festival, he was ridden champion gelding of the year at the Traditional of the Year Show, showing that he has talent in both disciplines.  

The Freestyle has always been one of Samantha’s favourite classes she commented, “Julie Geraghty from Equivisions is a close friend of mine and we enjoy developing upbeat freestyle plans. My aim is to make the judges smile and want to dance along. I wanted it to feel like a Friday night in an Irish Bar so we added tracks like ‘Hilly Billy Rock’ and ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ I absolutely love it.” The Prelim and Elementary music are the same compilation of music for both ponies but, Samantha’s Novice music is a collection of greatest hits from Tina Turner, “After I have ridden it, I am still singing along to it for hours after.”  

Looking back on her dressage journey so far, Samantha shared, “I have been very lucky in my dressage career to have been mentored by some incredible people. I was part of the GB youth squads as a teenager and was closely mentored by the late Laura Fry as well as having invaluable tuition from Ian Woodhead.” Now training with Patsy Bartram, “She is an incredible trainer and friend. What makes Patsy so great is she is able to diagnose any problems very quickly and provide you with a toolbox for ensuring they are fixed long-term. My riding has come on immensely since I started working with her.”  

Samantha concluded, “My next steps are to continue to produce traditional cobs for the dressage arena. I have a very exciting four-year-old cob who will come out next year. My aim is to train WFS Prince of Hearts to Grand Prix, to continue showcasing him and hopefully inspire others.”