Festival Focus - Parwood Equestrian
We headed to Surrey for the next Winter Area Festival! Parwood, 25 – 28 January welcomed qualified riders in hopes to gain golden tickets to Addington in April.
Petplan’s picks!
Tyan Talk of the Town was certainly who everyone was talking about at Parwood Equestrian. Placing second in the Prelim Silver with 70%, his owner Becky Andrews was thrilled to have a direct qualification to the Championships in April.
Known at home as Rodney, the Connemara ‘owes me nothing and continues to make all dreams come true’ says Becky. A yard manager of her family business, she fits riding around the full time job. “The preparation wasn’t great due to the weather but we did a lot of canter work, which suits Rodney as he doesn’t enjoy doing endless circles.”
Having owned him for seven years, Becky knows him inside and out, “He felt spooky warming up but managed to hold it together in the test. It went very well and I was pleased overall. If it’s one thing I know about him it’s that he will always try his hardest and that’s what he did.” He showed off for the judges and even included his party trick, “Down to the final center line he likes to storm down and halt perfectly square.” Becky has already completed her aim for the year which was head to the Petplan Winter Area Festival Championships.
They are now going to continue their training and would like to qualify for the Summer Area Festivals too, as well as aim for the Regional Championships next year. “He’s still feeling fit and well despite having had an injury on the two tendons on both front legs and asthma, but every time I think he needs to slow down, he comes out fitter and happier than the year before!”
“We went into our test with the aim of giving it our all, riding an accurate test and most importantly to just have fun and enjoy it which we most definitely did,” Ruby Lewin told us about their plan going into the Elementary Bronze. Having only began competing at elementary level at British Dressage competitions two months ago, they quickly got their qualifying scores in December and have been working hard at home in their training.
“We’ve been working on Elementary and some Medium movements in our training with Craig Messenger over the past couple years so we had no expectations and just went with a view of giving it our best shot. I was over the moon to qualify and very pleased with him producing some lovely tests despite awful weather conditions.” Sustaining a knee injury at the start of the year but pay to their preparations but with thanks to Craig they managed to pull it out of the bag.
Known as Marley, the TGCA was rescued by owner Charmaine Senior, with Ruby taking on the ride nine years ago. “I was very pleased with his test and how he performed, to then get a score of over 69% I was over the moon, to then find out that we had won the class I couldn’t believe it!” Ruby told us.
Working in the equine industry, for a horse transportation company as a HGV class 1 driver she fits riding around her job. “Our main focus now is preparing for the Championships but Marley is having a couple of well-deserved easier weeks hacking and going to the beach.”
Kolbalt Blue and Claire Young were Medium Silver winners at Parwood with 68.28%. The nine year old gelding was brought for Claire to produce by Amy Stovold after losing her last horse, “I’ve been her competition groom for nearly 12 years and have been riding him for five years now.” Kodi and Claire have weekly lessons with Amy and are grateful for the facilities at home, “We are super lucky as we have an indoor arena so the cold weather didn’t stop us training.”
Over the last six months they have been working hard on their training, “He’s really gotten a lot stronger. Focusing on my position and keeping him straight.” Also attending test riding clinics with Leanne Wall to get more experience in between the white boards.
“The highlight for me was his willingness in the ring, he really tries his heart out for me.” Claire told us about Kodi on the day. They are now looking to move up a level for next year.
Parwood Equestrian Winners
Petplan Winter Preliminary Bronze
Xanthe Gould and Tartan Tiger, 69.31 %
Lilly Cox and Be Barbara, 71.46 %
Petplan Winter Preliminary Silver
Emily Kemp and Kagami, 70.28 %
Petplan Winter Novice Bronze
Jemima Byam-Cook and Twyford Salamander, 71.18 %
Veronica Felicity Owings and Annaghmore Lad, 67.71 %
Petplan Winter Novice Silver
Natasha Gibbons and Penhaligon Soleilette Aimee, 73.33 %
Kate Andrews and Global Smart Choice, 70.49 %
Petplan Winter Elementary Bronze
Ruby Lewin and CNS Cob Marley, 69.12 %
Freya May Binfield and Midnight Legend, 69.07 %
Petplan Winter Elementary Silver
Susan Elizabeth Bill and Flamenco Princess, 68.82 %
Petplan Winter Medium Bronze
Claire Anne Luke and Juliosa, 67.21 %
Petplan Winter Medium Silver
Claire Young and Kobalt Blue, 68.28 %
Petplan Winter Advanced Medium Bronze
Jennifer Corrett and Joie De Vie, 68.63 %
Petplan Winter Advanced Medium Silver
Lucyanna Westaway and Billy Sykes, 67.09 %
Petplan Winter Prix St Georges Bronze
Amanda Suzanne Chaffin and Daley's Daimler, 63.77 %
Petplan Winter Prix St Georges Silver
Lucyanna Westaway and AHI O Malley, 67.25 %
Petplan Winter Intermediate I Bronze
Lucyanna Westaway and AHI O Malley, 66.96 %
Petplan Winter Intermediate I Silver
Nichola Harrison and Lobke Van Het Urnenveld, 65.98 %
© LGR Photography