Summer Area Festivals 25: Hard work pays off

Busy working riders Jennifer Bradbury and Yasmin Cole prove that hard work and balancing horses with work and study pays off with placings at their Petplan Summer Area Festivals in August. Read about their results and hear their inspiring rider stories.  

Jennifer Bradbury & Roulette © AGT Photography

Sheepgate Equestrian  

At Sheepgate Equestrian’s Summer Area Festival (7 – 10 August) Jennifer Bradbury and Roulette gained two top ten placings. The duo finished seventh in the Medium Silver with 64.50% and an impressive fifth in the Medium Freestyle Silver, scoring 66.61%.  

Jen spoke to us about how it feels looking back on those two great results: “I had two great rides and I left the arena smiling each time. I tend not to do straight tests that often as I prefer music but Stevie produced some great work and of course some movements that require a little more finessing! Coming home with two rosettes is always a great way to finish a few days at Sheepgate.” 

Sharing more about her freestyle music and why she chose it, Jen explained, “I use a medley of three different versions of ‘Feeling Good’. I start in walk with Michael Buble because, well who doesn’t like the Bubes! I choose the music and do the floor plans myself and I have a wonderful friend who does my CDs for me, I used to compete with his late wife and I like to keep her memory alive whilst I am riding to my music.”  

The freestyle classes offer the opportunity for riders to be creative, choosing music that suits their horse's movement, or something that reflects both of their personalities. Further, creating your own floorplan allows your to play to your horse’s strengths, Jen told us what she enjoys about the music classes at the Area Festivals: “I love picking songs I enjoy riding to and playing with the order of the movements to suit Stevie. He is a large horse so I do have to be a little more tactful.” 

The huge 17.2hh gelding arrived in March 2017 as only a three-year-old when Jen purchased him from his breeder she told us, “we had an early delay in our plans whilst I was undergoing Chemotherapy for breast cancer later in 2017, I was in my early 30’s at the time, so I just feel grateful every time I ride him.” Known as Stevie to his friends, Jen describes him as a “gentle giant, he is touching on 18hh but he is the kindest horse. He lives with my retired best buddy, or boss, Gizmo.”  

Jen was drawn to the Area Festival series due to the opportunity it offers amateur riders to compete at bigger events and have something to aim for: “I am a true amateur rider. I work full time and have two children, so the Area Festival series allows me to continue to be competitive at shows with big atmospheres. I love travelling around the country trying new venues and there are many to choose from across Area Festivals.” 
 
Away from looking after the horses and competing, Jen told us what she does full time, “I am a Retail Senior Account Manager for a food ingredients company. Think sourdough, caramels, fruit fillings and chocolate - I get to eat some amazing products! My daughter is also an active member of our local Pony Club so I have to book my shows around her plans!” 

Looking ahead to the future, Jen shared what she plans to do next with Stevie, “I’ve been trying hard to improve our canter to move up to Advanced Medium - I’ve been saying that for a few years now! I would love to achieve some 70%+ scores consistently in my Medium music and then I will know we are ready. I am very lucky to train with Andrew Gould who comes to our yard in Bucks once a month. He has the patience of a saint!”  

Yasmin Cole & Joey XII

Port Royal  

At Port Royal Equestrian’s Summer Area Festival (31 – 03 August) it was Yasmin Cole and Joey XII who achieved a top ten finish in both of their classes. Leaving the showground with a ninth place ribbon in the Elementary Freestyle Bronze and a fifth place in the Novice Freestyle Bronze.  

We asked Yasmin to share the emotion she was feeling following the Area Festival: “I'm still in shock about the results to be honest - I never expected that we would do so well! I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to prove I was good enough to qualify but that just led to a lot of knocked confidence and tears. I was desperate to qualify for something and in the process just really crumbled. It took all the joy away.” 

Yasmin has worked hard to find something that works for her, and that brought her love for dressage back, she explained: “last year I decided to plan in a stay away we didn't need to qualify for (the Veteran Horse National Championships by the VHS) and in the process I enjoyed our championship journey more. This year I started a new job so invested in more regular lessons, some extra TLC for Joey and sports psychology for myself which has really made all the difference.” 

Making these changes has made all the difference for Yasmin and Joey, “It changed my whole approach. Before, I'd freeze up in the arena and would stop riding so Joey would do the same. Now, I have a few nerves but they're manageable. I go into the test with a plan and ride every stride and its really paid off. All I wanted was to score over 60%, get a nice photo and my plaque. A top 10 rosette would have really been a bonus, but to get a top 10 in both was just a feeling I can't describe.” 

The combinations Area Festival journey together has been full of ups and downs Yasmin shared, “Our first Area Festival we scored 52% and 56% at Prelim and Prelim Freestyle. Two years ago, in the Novice Freestyle we got 58% and the same in this year's North and East Championship. It really shows that everything has paid off.”  

Yasmin’s freestyle music is a crowd pleaser! Choosing from her own personal favourites Yasmin told us, “Our elementary music is to One Direction, my favourite band growing up (and still my favourite now!). Music is my favourite because the only thing better than dancing with my best friend is dancing with my best friend to my favourite music. Our novice is to Star Wars using music from the sequel films and the animated series The Bad Batch. I'm a massive Star Wars fan and I love that the music is recognisable.” 

Yasmin has gained some extra insight into what the judges are looking for my volunteering, “I've spent a lot of time writing for judges and pouring over my test videos and sheets to really iron out my choreography and made sure that every move counted which I think was one of the big differences compared to previous tests.”  

The 18-year-old Irish Sports horse has been ridden by Yasmin since the end of 2021: “It was love at first sight. In the January we did our first ever BD test at Intro and progressed up the levels from there. Christmas 2023 his owner pulled me aside and told me she was going to sell him and if I would buy him. It was an instant yes! I always hoped either she would ask or I would pluck up the courage to. I officially bought him in March 2024. Joey is my first horse that I've owned and it really is such a privilege to be able to say he's mine. Joey is genuinely the sweetest, cuddliest horse is on the ground. He has his quirks and can be quite sharp, but that's where dressage has really played to his strengths. The more focused he is, the less likely he is to find a monster lurking behind the white boards.”  

The Area Festival series creates a positive atmosphere between riders, supporting one another, Yasmin shared, “It's given me a chance to make some wonderful friends, both online and real life. It's a hard sport but having friends to bounce ideas off or vent to really helps.” Yasmin has opened up about trickier times but said the Area Festivals are something enjoyable to aim for, “I've had to work really hard on the mindset stuff and it can be difficult. At the end of the day, I'm an amateur and I do this sport because I love it. when I pop my music on and have a run through. Joey perks right up when he hears it which always brings a smile to my face.”  

Life away from the white boards over the past few years has found Yasmin working hard on her PHD, “when I first started loaning Joey I had also just started my PhD studying past climates in Antarctica and I'm about to hand my final thesis in. In April I started working for my region's water company as part of the long-term planning team. A lot of the work I do focuses on climate change and the impacts it has.”  

Yasmin and grey gelding Joey have a few goals they are aiming for before the end of the year. “In October it's the Quest semi-finals where I'm hoping for a qualifying spot with my lovely teammates and a Novice My Quest spot. It’s going to be mine and Joey's final quest before we step up so we have everything crossed for a place and will definitely be making the most of it.”