Festival focus: Party pieces, penguins and podium places!

As the upcoming Summer Area Festivals begin shortly, we are looking back to reflect on the success and journeys of the combinations who had success at our Winter Area Festivals, and how rewarding they find competing can be.  

Imogen Casely & King Cotton Legacy l Ewan Nobel  

Highfield at Howe Equestrian saw another competitive Winter Area Festival (20 –22 February) where Imogen Casely and King Cotton Legacy won the Medium Bronze with 67.33%.  

Imogen is really proud of how the partnership were able to hold their own at such a big event; “we’ve been working on flying changes and some more challenging work which PJ finds exciting, looking back I am quite relieved he kept a lid on it” Imogen explained.  

One of PJ’s favourite movements is the medium trot, which Imogen described as “his party piece so it’s always a highlight for us. Our medium canter also became an unexpected highlight; he loves a zoom zoom!”.  

The 15hh gelding is described as being a kind and sensitive soul who is “a very trainable horse. He might not be the most expressive, but he is a consistent wee dude who always tries his heart out.” Having previously evented up to 2* level, Imogen and PJ still do a bit of jumping and lots of hacking to keep up a variety of work.  

Imogen started her own competing journey from a young age, starting with showing and working hunter classes before starting her dressage journey in 2020 with her Welsh Section C, Stella. “I did my first Prelim test in a tweed jacket and yellow jodhpurs, and quickly got hooked on dressage. I trained Stella all the way up to medium level, where we had to learn everything together.” The duo earned championship titles and rode for their region five times. 

Imogen has always loved competing at the Area Festivals describing them as being “so inclusive and welcoming to all sorts of breeds, it’s great to see a whole host of types coming and showing they can be competitive in such a friendly atmosphere.” The Area Festivals give a championship feel event for the riders to work towards and are an amazing achievement to compete at. Additionally, they have given Imogen and PJ the experience and confidence they need and are heading to their first High Profile show  this, and have a goal of coming back to the Area Festivals at Advanced Medium at the end of the year.  

Esme Colley & Penlangwnnws Elgan l MH Photos 

Esme Colley and her 6-year-old Welsh Pony Penlangwnnws Elgan won a strong Preliminary bronze class with a fabulous score of 72.38% at Moreton Equestrian Centre’s Winter Area Festival. Esme reflecting on the day said she was “excited and thrilled to have won in such a big class.”  

Loving every moment of the day, Esme was helped to this great result with trainer Ellie McCarthy, which made it extra special, “my absolute favourite moment of the test was my final centre line and salute” Esme told us. The Area Festivals are known for having a supportive atmosphere with not only your own support crew cheering you on but other competitors helping each other and supporting one another too.  

The lovely black pony, known as Penguin to his friends, and has been with Esme and her family for two years she shared, “he was unbroken but I knew the moment I saw him he was going to be my dressage superstar.” Ellie and her team at Forest Oaks Equestrian helped break him in and Esme has loved producing him herself.  

Eleven-year-old Esme is one of many youth riders who enjoy the series, and decided to take part as they had been doing well at local shows and British Dressage competitions, so it felt like the best next step; “It’s a perfect step up and a great way to progress to the next level” Esme explained.  

The duo love dressage, with Esme explaining, “learning to dance with my pony is the best feeling, dressage is such a beautiful and elegant sport.” At home, Esme and Penguin are working on leg yielding and shoulder-in, and are gearing up to progress up to the next level.  

Esme also gets involved in activities within her region, having been squadded as a C squad rider she shared, “I am looking forward to hopefully representing my region at Youth Inter Regionals and Home Nations this year” Esme shared. The future is bright the two of them with plenty of exciting opportunities this year.