Next generation of pony dressage talent impresses in KBIS Finals

It was the ponies turn to steal the spotlight over the weekend with the KBIS Young Pony Finals (Saturday 4 July) at the NAF Hartpury International Festival of Dressage.

Leah Beckett and Hania's Xavi | Kevin Sparrow 

Four Year Olds

The four-year-old championship was won by Bristol-based rider Chloe Dawes aboard her homebred mare, Figranta (Furstenball x Governor). Chloe and Figranta have only been out twice prior to the finals, to the qualifying show held at Hunters Equestrian in Gloucestershire, and to the Wellington Premier League where the duo scored 7.10 and 7.32 respectively. In the final round, judges Matthew Hicks and Susanne Baarup praised the mares trot and way of going, awarding 8.5s for both movements. “I was absolutely thrilled with Figgy’s result at Hartpury”, Chloe commented, “we did two qualifiers with her where she won both and improved on her score each time as her confidence grew. I am so pleased with how relaxed and confident she was, we took a long time to prepare her for this show. She loves to hack so I often took her out in the box to hack with friends, I also did loads of arena hires to make sure she understood exactly what was being asked of her, and all of this really paid off on the day! We bred her ourselves and were hoping she would be a little bit bigger than this but luckily I’m only short so I’m hoping to be able to take her through the levels myself. She won the British breeding virtual futurity as a two year old, not just out of the dressage bred youngsters but across all categories, so for her to now be the British Dressage Four Year Old champion and best British bred pony we are really proud that she’s continuing to impress as she gets older.”

Ruth Hole piloted Jane Howard’s Golden Future RB (Gold Gelb x Dornik B) to second place. The palomino mare earned 7.5s for both her canter and general impression, earning her a final score of 7.20.

Five Year Olds

The five-year-old championship was won by Leah Beckett aboard Lady Katherine Stuart’s Hania’s Xavi (Jonkers’ Jayden x Wengelo’s Ricardo). The young stallion won the four year old class at the 2025 Dutch Pony Championships, scoring 8.45 under Dutch pony team rider Esmae Niessen. In this year’s championship, Hania’s Xavi took the win with 8.20, earning 8.5s for his canter and 8.3 for general impression. “He’s just such a pleasure to ride… he makes my job so easy!” Leah commented, “I went in there thinking ‘don’t ruin it!’ and to let him shine for himself. He is an incredibly brave pony in the arena and handled it like a complete pro. He didn’t look at anything, just trotted down that centre line and got on with his job. Even though he is a stallion, he is so kind and willing- I cannot say this enough how amazing his temperament and trainability is and I really wanted that to translate across to the judges. Some of the comments we received back was how lovely he was, complimented his natural ability and how fantastic his rideability is. I largely just hacked him in the week leading up to the championships to keep him happy and relaxed, especially as he is off to stud now that the championships are out the way. I’m going to struggle to hand him back over to the rider I am producing him for, he is just such a special pony”.

In second and third place, Shelly Reeve-Smith piloted two British ponies bred by the Maxted Massey Stud in Newmarket. The 2025 KBIS Four Year Old Young Pony Championship winner MM Sweet Gucci (Woodlander Sir Gorgeous x Champion De Luxe) finished in second place with 7.76. The young pony achieved the highest-scoring walk of the class, earning 8.0 from the judges, as well as scoring 7.8 for both her way of going and general impression. MM Sweet Uno Star (FS Numero Uno NRM x Chartstürmer WE) finished in third place, earning 7.46 overall score, with the highlight being the canter work which earned 7.8 from the judges.

Six Year Olds

In the six-year-old championship, Emma Adams’ Daria LGD (Cosmopolitan x Trendsetter) defended her title from last year. The previous five year old championship winner, previously ridden and produced by Lucy Goodman, was piloted by Ruby Hughes to win the class by a near eight point lead to finish on 7.96. The young chestnut mare achieved two 8.0s for her walk and canter, as well as 8.2 for her general impression. Via Instagram Ruby shared “I am so proud of this young pony, and I am loving producing her for my pupil India. I have trained India since she was nine years old and to help her train her future FEI pony is a really fun process. What an exciting start and what a pony Daria is.”

In second place, Hannah Esperger Hancock campaigned Delilah Esperger-Hanckock’s and Joanne Byrne’s Doolittle (Diamond Touch NRW x FS Chamberlain) to finish with 7.18. In Third place, having placed fifth the year before in the five-year-old class, Claudia Davis and Denver de Doré completed on 7.80, showing vast improvement from the previous year.

Congratulations to all winning combinations, placed ponies and those who took part. We’re proud to partner with KBIS to showcase future talent for those up to 14.2hh, with pony sport playing a large part in the development of our young riders on the national and international stage. 

Results – top five

Four Year Old

1. Chloe Dawes and Figranta, 7.82

2. Ruth Hole and Golden Future RB, 7.20

Five Year Old

1. Leah Beckett and Hania's Xavi, 8.20

2. Shelly Reeve-Smith and MM Sweet Gucci, 7.76

3. Shelley Reeve-Smith and MM Sweet Uno Star, 7.48

4. Pippa Burns and KMD Iceni, 6.78

5. Vanessa Haunch and Popsters Spencer P, 6.64

Six Year Old

1. Ruby Hughes and Daria LGD, 7.96

2. Hannah Esberger-Hancock and Doolittle, 7.18

3. Claudia Davis and Denver de Doré, 7.08

4. Carmen Pavelyn and Wonder Boy III, 6.74

5. Victoria Ayling and Binley Silvern Mujiza, 5.30

FULL RESULTS