Rafeekah

At only six years old, the striking grey Arab gelding landed his first Horse of the Year Show title. Alex Robinson meets the connections of this all-round superstar with plenty left to give

-  Alex Robinson

Need to know

RAFEEKAH

Breed: Pure-bred Arab

Breeding: by Designed out of Kaamelia (by Emiliusz)

Age: eight

Breeder: Helen Cawley

Height: 153cm Rider: Kimberley Bates

Owner: Kerry Bates

Best results: 2019, first Simon Constable’s Equine Vets and Mr and Mrs Roberts HOYS ridden pure-bred Arab of the year championship; first and champion pure-bred Arab HOYS qualifier at Stoneleigh Horse Show; first and reserve champion pure-bred Arab HOYS qualifier at Royal Cheshire County Show.

RIDER KIMBERLEY BATES

“IT was never the intention to buy an Arab. In 2017, I’d just finished my years in mountain and moorland young rider classes and was on the hunt for something new. We went to view a part-bred Arab at Rafeekah’s former owner Nina Hutton-McKenzie’s yard and while it was a nice pony, Nina made the mistake of showing us around the rest of her set-up. Rafeekah – know as Meekah – was out in the field showing off and he looked amazing. We’d never owned an Arab before and we had no clue what we were doing, but he was just so gorgeous.