Summer Area Festivals 25: Silver into gold

At both Chard and Northallerton Equestrian, Silver riders Scarlett John and Lesley Wheatley struck gold! Winning their classes in style and qualifying for the Petplan Summer Area Festival Championships (01 – 05 October 2025).

Scarlett John & Capote GB © ESP Photography 

Chard Equestrian 

Scarlett John and her own Capote GB travelled to Chard Equestrian to compete at their Summer Area Festival; the duo came away with incredible results, winning the Advanced Medium Silver with 65.09% and finishing second in the Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver, receiving a score of 63.33%.  

A few days following the event Scarlett spoke to us about how she was feeling after such a great achievement, “It’s such a great feeling, Max works so hard and winning an Advanced Medium Silver class was a goal I’ve always had but didn’t seem like something a small Spanish horse could achieve!” 

The 15.2hh grey ‘Max’ enjoys a variety of work in preparation for competition, Scarlett told us, “we try and work in the school about four times a week, balancing that alongside hacking, pole work and rest days. Now that the stubble fields have been cut, we’re doing a lot of galloping to build fitness too!”  

Scarlett’s freestyle music is widely recognisable as it is the wonderful theme music from the Harry Potter films, but the music has an extra special meaning for Scarlett she explained, “I chose it when I was younger due to a general love for the franchise, but now I keep it on in memory of my mum. Clare Deithrick who makes my music is so skilful at keeping my mum’s heart in the music tests, something that is extra special as Max was my mum’s horse first.”  

Max, now 20-years-old has been in Scarlett’s family for 13 years she shared, “he came over from Spain for my mum, then later with my sister, and I then took the ride on him three years ago. Since then I’ve managed to teach him flying changes and canter pirouettes.” Max is best known for loving what he does, “he is the most dedicated horse I’ve ever had, I’ve never known a horse who wants to try so hard at everything he does,” Scarlett told us.  

Their favourite moment of the day had to be leading their first prize giving Scarlett explained, “we led it very slowly and not at all on the contact as Max had another test to go, but Max looked so handsome in his sash!” Scarlett is currently a student at Cardiff University, “I don’t like being away from Max for too long, so I try come home from Uni fairly regularly to ride him and keep him (and me) fit.”  

With Max still excited to learn new things, Scarlett plans on moving up to Prix St Georges level in the future, “my next big goal is to take Max to PSG, once I’ve convinced him it’s not too scary!” 

Lesley Wheatley's Detroit GH

Northallerton Equestrian  

Lesley Wheatley and Detroit GH took the top spot in the Medium Silver at Northallerton Equestrian Summer Area Festival, with a score of 66.56% from the judges. Leaving the arena on the day Lesley told us she was really pleased with their test, “he’s very new at this level and he managed a clear round in the test, and achieving the win by being consistent across the three judges. We didn’t have any wow moments but we didn’t have any whoops either!” 

This was a first-time experience at an Area Festival for Detriot GH, otherwise known as ‘Bodhi’, Lesley shared, “we have really enjoyed doing Area Festivals rather than regionals with both boys over the Summer, and I’m over the moon to get to the Championships with them both.” Lesley’s other horse, William, booked his ticket to Nationals by finished second in the Prix St Georges Freestyle Bronze at Sheepgate Equestrian.  

The now seven-year-old Bodhi has been with Lesley since he was three-years-old, bought as an unbroken youngster from Gamblethorpe Hanoverians. “I've produced him myself” Lesley told us. “He’s been really challenging for ridden work and at times I’ve really questioned if I am capable of sorting out the problems. We do seem to have turned a corner and he loves his work.” The black gelding is a real character to have at home Lesley explained, “he’s always escaping out of his stable or letting his mates out!” 

Lesley’s experience at the Area Festival was a great one she shared, “the camaraderie at the Area Festival was great, I spoke to loads of people for the first time and you really felt they were rooting for you.” Lesley is now focusing on preparing both horses for the Championships, whilst still hoping to also get a wildcard for the Medium Freestyle.