Fell pony proves unbeatable as she earns ticket to Your Horse Live

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A Fell pony was in imperious form at the most recent SEIB Search for a Star qualifiers at Stoneleigh Park, winning three classes with her owner, handler and rider, Jessica Everill.

In doing so the mare secured her ticket to this year’s Your Horse Live (7-9 November) and tickets are on sale now.

Jessica and Brackenbank Flicka took the top spots in both the ridden and in-hand mountain and moorland (M&M) classes, as well as the in-hand rare, native and traditional breeds qualifiers.

“Three classes and three wins today. I’m so delighted with her and amazed at how well we’ve done,” said Jessica, who piloted the 11-year-old mare into third place in the Search for a Star Your Horse Live M&M Championship in 2021.

“I bought her to do everything with. We’ve twice ridden in front of the Queen in the parade of Fells at Windsor, and this year at the Royal Windsor Show we took sixth place in the Fells, Dales and Highlands.”

Jessica runs a therapy ponies business.

“We have miniature Shetland ponies and go to hospices, care homes and rehabilitation clinics with them. One day in the future, Flicka might do therapy for adults,” she said.

Occupying the runner-up spot in the ridden mountain and moorland class was Olivia Kohl and Valerock Maverick.

Open ridden veteran

Lynn Russell and Carole West’s Gallifrey were crowned champions in the Still A Star open ridden veteran class at Your Horse Live last year — and they will be back to defend their title this time after they won the qualifier once again.

“He’s 19 now; he’s been there and done it and has nothing left to prove,” said Lynn.

“We don’t do too much with him now as I’d hate to see him not enjoying it. He’s been with us since he was three and has always lived out. It gets harder when they get older and we need to really watch his weight and keep it off.”

Francesca Dance and Coral Colour, who were contesting their first ever show, came second.

Pony Club open pony

First place in the Pony Club open pony qualifier was awarded to Alice Taylor and the 10-year-old cob Rising Phoenix, known at home as Arti.

“The gallop today was my favourite bit! We also do lots of showjumping and team events at Pony Club,” said Alice, who is a member of the South Oxfordshire Hunt Central Pony Club.

Arti’s previous owner, Lara Cigsar, was present at Stoneleigh Park to watch.

“We got Arti when he was three and he went to Alice three years ago. I haven’t been able to see him since then. It’s brilliant to see him looking so happy and well,” said Lara.

First ridden

West Lancashire Pony Club members Georgie Birch and Kinoulton General, who’s stable name is Major, were the winners of the first ridden class.

“Major did great cantering today and the judge was super friendly,” said Georgie, who enjoys Pony Club activities, hacking, jumping and taking part in Working Hunter pony classes with Major.

Lead rein Pony Club

Sonnett Jenkins and Blackertor Denman triumphed in the Pony Club lead rein class.

First place in the lead rein Pony Club class went to Hambledon Hunt North Pony Club member Sonnett Jenkins and the Shetland pony, Blackertor Denman, who is owned by Stephanie Chaplin.

“I bought him when I was six months pregnant with Sonnett and we went showing in hand,” said Stephanie.

“Denman is now seven and Sonnett is six. They are starting to practise going off the lead rein, they trot everywhere together and are the best of friends. To qualify is a wish come true.”

In-hand plaited and hogged show cob

Victory in the in-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob was awarded to Jessica Davenport and Ballyroan Cloudy Sky.

Jessica Davenport and Ann Cullwick’s seven-year-old grey mare, Ballyroan Cloudy Sky aka Gloria, secured the qualifying ticket in the in-hand plaited horse and hogged show cob class.

“This was our first ever in-hand showing class, we’ve done ridden working hunter and did the working horse class this morning. We decided we’d give the in-hand a go too as we were here already,” said Jessica, who works at Corner House Equine Vets.

“I’ve had Gloria for the last three years and over that time we’ve won at Equifest in Working Cob and we were second at Three Counties. Gloria also loves unaffiliated one-day-events.”

In-hand plaited pony

First place in the in-hand pony class went the way of Ryehall Petit Ami and his owner/handler Lisa Hayezz.

Ryehall Petit Ami, an eight-year-old British Riding Pony who is known at home as Alan, and his owner/handler Lisa Hayezz triumphed in the in-hand pony class.

“He was on-edge before the class because of the wind but he got on with the job as soon as we got in the ring,” said Lisa.

“We’ve been out recently, he came second at Windsor and we plan to do county level showing in the NPS classes this season.”

Alan’s former owner, Bria Corr, who won the in-hand veteran class at Stoneleigh with Woodcroft Skyfall, was on hand to witness his win.

“Bria had Alan when he was a yearling. We met him at a show and knew we had to have him. We are in the process of breaking Alan in at the moment as well,” added Lisa.

In-hand amateur veteran

Victory in the in-hand amateur veteran class was awarded to Bria Corr and Woodcroft Skyfall, a 17-year-old gelding who is owned by Bria’s mum Amanda.

“Sky is really my mum’s horse but she’s had a bad back and hasn’t been able to ride him so she has let me steal him so he isn’t wasted,” said Bria who lives in Surrey.

“He is a really anxious horse and it’s taken a long time to gain his trust. We qualified for Olympia in the Rising Stars Riding Horse class last year and hopefully we will make it to another Search for a Star qualifier in the ridden veterans this season.”

British Riding Clubs

South Shropshire Riding Club members Hannah White and the 15-year-old mare Delamere Kaleidoscope triumphed in the British Riding Clubs class.

Delamere Kaleidoscope’s stable name is Doris and she has been owned by Hannah’s mum Helen for 12 years.

“She really is a good girl but was on her toes and really went for it today,” said Hannah who works in insurance.

“Over the years we’ve done showing, dressage and side-saddle. I moved house about 18 months ago and joined the Riding Club to get to know other horse people in the area.”

In-hand rescue horse and pony

RSPCA Jerry proved the pony to beat in the Rescue Equine Showing Society in-hand rescue horse and pony qualifier, a new class for this year.

The coloured cob, who is believed to be around four-years-old, was severely underweight when he was found in a shipping container in 2022. Following a period of recuperation and rehabilitation by the RSPCA, Jerry was adopted by Theo Charnley a year ago.

Theo has started breaking Jerry in and is hoping to do some dressage with him in the future.

‘Learning and improving’

The judging team at Stoneleigh included Richard Ramsay, Samantha DeCaprio, Nicki Taylor, Louise Gaunt, Jordan Cook and Hannah Horton.

“It’s been fabulous to see so many horses and ponies that did well at our qualifier at Hartpury last month come back again today and do even better – some of them even gaining Horse of the Year Show qualifications,” said SEIB Search for a Star organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie.

“Search for a Star is all about the journey and learning and improving over time. Our team of judges and stewards are all invested in providing support and encouragement to help competitors and their horses and ponies perform to the best level they can.”