Festival Focus - Wellington Riding

We headed down to Hampshire to Wellington Riding, 18 – 20 July for our next Petplan Equine Area Festival. The music was turned on for the second time this week, as riders put their best foot forward in their floorplans to gain those important tickets to the championships in October.

Petplan’s picks! 

Winning the Novice Freestyle Silver with an outstanding 73.61% was Hayley Sykes and her young horse Nuit Noir. “Starting again was somewhat dauting, but he has the natural movement and ability!” Hayley told us about the gelding. After retiring her last horse, a year ago, Nui was a new addition to the yard but working full-time with a child too, Hayley manages to juggle all of the ‘firsts’ that come with having a young horse.

“Nui has proved to be a little star; he can be suspicious of new things and places so takes confidence from his rider! I've had to dig out the 'brave pants' and it's fair to say they are getting a lot of use,” said Hayley. They started their journey just getting to know one another, while building confidence, “I repurposed my first ever freestyle music and floorplan, prepared by Sara-Jane Lanning a fair few years ago, just to get some experience under our belts at Novice.”

Realising the music fit his paces and with enough flexibility to show off his ‘super trot’, Hayley headed out to gain her qualifications scores. “Our scores were in the 60%’s, so I wasn't expecting to trouble the top placings, and just aimed for a calm, clear round.” Training with Jade Deter the pair have been working on their test riding in the run up to the show, “She has really made me focus on transitions and fluency, and we've been out to a lot of arena hires to build our confidence and partnership.”

Talking about the Area Festival Hayley wants to thank the team at Wellington for putting a on a great show, “They always put on such a great event and it is very local to us, so I was keen to try and qualify to experience that level of atmosphere on our doorstep.”

Competing a young horse at an Area Festival can be a new experience but Nui took it all in his stride, “It's a real test for a young horse, with extra judges’ boxes and tables, beautifully dressed arenas, busier warm-ups and the tack check; but it’s great for their education. The Area Festivals provide a supportive atmosphere, and a camaraderie too; during the arena walk Nui was a little spooked by another horse, when a lovely lady on her beautifully turned-out cob appeared by our side and provided the calming influence, we both needed in that moment. That sums up the Area Festivals for me!” With Hayley having the experience to support Nui through his journey she added, “If you know your music well enough, freestyle is great for young horses at the lower levels.”

They are both excited for the future but want to keep a nice balance, “When they are this talented and genuine I don’t want to push him too much, too soon, so the focus for the winter season is on qualifying at Novice, and I have a super Tom Jones Elementary freestyle in the drawer at home which I'm looking forward to dusting off.”

It was a family affair for mother and daughter duo, Nicola and Jemima Byam-Cook who respectively won the Prix St Georges Bronze and Prelim Freestyle Bronze. “I knew at the final halt we couldn’t have done any more, which is the most amazing feeling!” Nicola told us and to win alongside her daughter was the ‘icing on the cake.’ Having owned and trained Queen’s Counsel for two years from Elementary with help from Nicky Pasco, they have always dreamed of getting to this level, “There’s something about aspiring to wear a tailcoat which has kept me going in the winter months and the ‘not so good’ days!” Having their first go at Prix St Georges only a month ago they decided to go out and get another score to qualify, which they managed just in time; two days before the end of qualifying!  

“I decided to go for it at the Area Festival, we had nothing to lose and Qunice absolutely rose to the occasion! For things to come together it was so special,” Nicola said. They now want to move up the level while still having fun as a combination, “As an amateur with one horse I really want to enjoy the journey, the learning and the partnership with my beautiful horse and appreciate how far we have come.”

Also riding Twyford Salamander for two years, young rider Jemima loves riding her ‘amazing pony’ and is very proud to call him hers. “It was exciting to ride at the Area Festival and the arenas looked so pretty with the flowers,” she told us. “It was quite hot so we did a shorter warm-up than normal but Solo felt brilliant in his test. I think he really enjoys the music, and I thought it was the best music test I’ve ever done!” The judges agreed, as they awarded them 76.02%. Also training with Nicky the pair have been working hard in perfecting their floorplan before the big day. The prize giving was the highlight of their day, “I loved standing on the podium and then choosing the pictures from the photographer to put on my bedroom wall, the sash is hung at the end of my bed!” All four of them will be heading to Area UK later on their year, which they’re very excited out.

It was a double win for Andrea Sparkes and her gelding Kazan in the Prelim and Freestyle Silver, “I won the Novice Open Quest Championship at Bury Farm last year so wanted to give the Area Festival a go this time.” Only starting their dressage career together last year, the mum of three has been busy, “We also went to the Winter Championships and came 6th.” The family horse has been on the yard for over ten years and is an ‘absolute legend’ to Andrea, “He always tries his best!” He did three seasons of eventing with her daughter at BE100 before heading into the dressage arena full time.

Talking about their day, “I was really pleased with the Prelim class as I felt he was really with me, and we only made a couple of small mistakes. I had made sure I got to Wellington for the arena walks as he can be spooky indoors.” Their music from Equidance was a pop theme which included Coldplay, Dua Lip and Ed Sheeran tracks, which suits Kazan’s personality. “I love the Area Festivals, there’s always a lovely atmosphere and it feels like a big deal with great sashes and rosettes as well as the all-important stable plaque!”

Trainer Jade Thomas has been invaluable to Andrea and Kazan, “She encouraged me to give dressage a go and always believes in us.” They’re now aiming to be more competitive in Novice at the Area Festivals after coming sixth at Wellington, and aim for Elementary at the end of the year.

Wellington Riding Winners  

Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze

Emma Pitt and Just do it RV, 70.28 %

Ava Turner and Danash Tommy Tucker, 72.99 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Bronze  

Jemima Byam-Cook and Twyford Salamander, 76.02 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Silver 

Andrea Sparkes and Kazan, 69.72 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Silver

Andrea Sparkes and Kazan, 74.63 %

Petplan Equine Novice Bronze

Rachel Moore and Djaikeh, 70.35 %

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Bronze   

Holly McCulloch and San Romano, 75.19 %

Petplan Equine Novice Silver 

Isabella Downs and Dolomite, 71.88 %    

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Silver  

Hayley Catherine Sykes and Nuit Noir, 73.61 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze

Chloe Fry and Oelarobie Van Her Eelshof, 69.71 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Bronze  

Stephanie Clarke and Querencioso XV, 70.32 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Silver   

Natasha Gibbons and Forever Mine, 71.18 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Silver 

Alison Heywood and Thomas K, 76.47 %  

Petplan Equine Medium Bronze 

Oscar Fitzgerald and SF Detriot, 69.36 %

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Bronze   

Sophie Browne and Keystone Jamora, 70.28 %    

Petplan Equine Medium Silver

Kathy Staples and Le Blanc Ter Selle, 70.54 %       

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Silver  

Becky Morrish and Kilsallagh Cathal, 70.61 %           

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze 

Clio Georgiadis and Sir Alfred, 67.05 %

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Bronze  

Gemma Marie Todd and Hilldown Parsley, 67.44 %

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver

Rosie McDermott and Carrick Aldato Girl, 68.59 %

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver  

Amanda Suzanne Chaffin and Daley's Daimler, 71.61 %   

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze

Nicola Byam-Cook and Queen’s Counsel, 65.44 %

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Freestyle Bronze   

Carolyn Jayne Taylor and Curban B, 59.54 %         

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Silver

Jacqueline Frost and Ironi, 68.38 %

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Bronze 

Sarie Chantal Marshall and Estribo, 66.62 %

Petplan Equine Inter I Silver

Lucy Ellis and Atinado VIII, 63.09 %

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Freestyle Silver

Julia Lois Pretoria Walker and Rodhea, 67.21 %