Festival Focus - Speedgate Equestrian

The first weekend in August, 4 – 7 sent us to Speedgate Equestrian where the music was turned on for the next Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival.

Petplan’s picks! 

Hannah knight wiped the board at Speedgate with four qualifications on her mare Indy Pepper in the Elementary and Medium Silver as well as the two corresponding freestyles, “It’s been a weekend I thought I would only ever dream of! There’s been plenty of ups and downs, but when you have a weekend like this one, it makes it so worth it.” Talking on social media Hannah goes on to tell us about their relationship, “Indy has given her all over the last few days and I could not be more proud of her, the four tests were a joy to ride. When I think that it was this time last year that we decided we were giving it 6 more months to try and get through to her, it’s amazing what perseverance can do.” Saying that she’s a different horse who enjoys performing now. Achieving over 71% in three of the tests Hannah felt this was a win in itself.

Thanking her farrier and trainer Mary Anne for all their support, “He recently changed her shoes to make her a real dancing queen, giving her so much more balance. Thanks Mary for your endless help really trying to help me understand how to ride Indy and getting the best out of her.”

Two months ago is when Holly Rogers and Calcourt Florentine became a dressage partnership, since then they have won all of the twelve shows they have attended, including two Area Festivals. Previous showjumpers and eventers they swapped their discipline when “He become a bit sharp and nervous in the ring, he’s dressage bred so we thought we’d try BD and haven’t looked back!”

With the weather not on their side, they showed off their wonderful partnership, “We previously competed at Brook Farm and what set us up really well for this as we went in having confidence and could take away what the 3 judges said! I remember riding past C with my eyes closed as the rain was coming down so hard.” Talking about their test Holly said, “He wasn’t the easiest in the arena but his medium trots and canters were fantastic getting a few nine’s! We managed a mistake free test too.”

Holly loved their first experience at the Area Festivals, “It was fantastic, I loved having the three judges as it’s so good to get more opinions and see it from a different view and the venue ran the show so well.” They are now planning on stepping up to Elementary for the Winter Area Festivals and are looking forward to debuting at Arean UK in October.

It was the Elementary Brone title that Daisy Hills took home on her Irish Sport Horse Taurmore Buster. The young rider who studies at Harper Adams University, previously competed successfully within British Eventing attending the Badminton Grassroots Championships but last year decided to have a go at dressage. Being part of the winning team at the Youth Home Internationals and Youth Inter Regionals this year.

Talking about ‘Eddie’s’ test, “He was really listening, as sometimes he can be spooky! He just loves his job and wants to do his best. He has a great walk, and also got great marks for our medium trots which we have built up from scratch with my trainer.” With half of the pack still to go they went into the lead and held their own until the end, “Competing at an area festival was really exciting, there was a great atmosphere.” Training at home with Rui Campeão and Leanne Wall, and competing at the Home Nations the week before meant they had already run through the test in a large atmosphere. Now moving up to Medium they’re excited for the Championships and for what’s to come in the future.

Sweeping up two wins at Speedgate, The Amazing Spiderman was the hero of the day for owner Jessica Whitehead who is the perfect partner to dance in the Inter I and Inter I Freestyle Silver. “Every time I compete Spider I have so much joy knowing how hard we’ve both trained, how far we’ve come and our plans going forward.” With Speedgate being their local venue Jessica loved the show, “It was the perfect way to display our hard work and passion for what we do, and being able to progress to the next stage makes me extremely excited.”

Jessica, a young entrepreneur who owns a luxury horse and rider boutique has to fit training five horses with her full time job, “I’ve been riding since I was twelve and have owned him since 2017 when he was training at Novice level. Spider is my heart-horse who’s made my career as a competitive dressage rider.” Having taken him up the levels they are now training the Grand Prix movements at home.

“Spider loves working and competing, and higher levels are where he finds most enjoyment. We completed a clean and tidy test in the Inter I but the freestyle is one of my favourites. We ended up doing back-to-back tests which put Spider in a great frame of mind to get us through.” They have only ridden the test five times and changed their floorplan slightly but it paid off for the pair. Also securing at place at the LeMieux National Championships in September they have a busy Autumn ahead of themselves. Aiming to compete at Middle Tour to expose themselves to that larger competitive atmosphere at an International show with the plans to campaign at Grand Prix.

Speedgate Equestrian Winners  

Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze

John Osborne and Cruglwyd Tango, 70.63 %        

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Bronze  

Michelle Alford and Cameron, 64.17 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Silver 

Emma Seager and Garnant Boneddiges Ebrill, 71.25 %    

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Silver

Sarah Davis and Winston Classic Gold, 68.24 %

Petplan Equine Novice Bronze

Holly Rogers and Calcourt Florentine, 73.82 %   

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Bronze   

Rupert Byam-Cook and Twyford Salamander, 72.22 %

Petplan Equine Novice Silver 

Kay Swabey and Spring Song, 70.56 %

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Silver  

Lucy Dickin and Downtown Abby, 73.80 %        

Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze

Daisy Hills and Taurmore Buster, 67.01 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Bronze  

Rachel Philo and Brynmelys Ranaldo, 70.58 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Silver   

Hannah Knight and Indy Pepper, 71.86 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Silver 

Hannah Knight and Indy Pepper, 72.95 %

Petplan Equine Medium Bronze 

Tina Hillman-Green and Blakeney Night, 68.13 %

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Bronze   

Sue Penny and Amingo, 68.22 %   

Petplan Equine Medium Silver

Sissel Hansen and Goffert Fan Horp, 67.55 %

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Silver  

Tessa Seed and Fellside Heaven Sent, 71.94 %

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze 

Kerrie Love and Penlove Aristocrat, 65.38 %

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Bronze  

Suzanne Ashwell and Rhomantic, 68.61 %

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver

Lennon Healey and Destination II, 68.21 % 

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver  

Louise Moses and Forever Endeavor, 68.56 %                        

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze

Emma Kinsley and Zelandes, 65.49 %

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Freestyle Bronze   

Samantha Brown and Crossing Louis, 63.08 %     

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Silver

Michelle Smith and GDH Florestans Fire, 63.09 %

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Freestyle Silver

Mandy Brown and Keystone Rumour, 65.59 %     

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Bronze 

Nichola Harrison and Lobke Van HET Urnenveld, 66.67 %

Petplan Equine Inter I Silver

Jessica Whitehead and The Amazing Spiderman, 66.47 %

Petplan Equine Inter I Freestyle Silver

Jessica Whitehead and The Amazing Spiderman, 68.67 %