PONY riders chased hard to claim the final qualifying places for the 2020 Royal International (RIHS), but already-qualified competitors took the top spots at the fifth and final 2020 winter small pony series.
Olivia Sponer left the best until last as she cut every conceivable corner to take Saturday’s winter 138cm second round, on Top Silvio Hastak, in a competitive third and final decider.
“There were lots of options with some really tight turns; I was as tight as possible everywhere,” said Olivia of course-designer Jason Abbs’ clever jump-offtrack.
Olivia followed trainer Paul Kelly’s instructions to the letter.
“We galloped down the long run to the [penultimate] vertical as Paul told me to open him up because Silvio has such a big stride,” she said.
Six from a start list of 28 jumped against the clock, with Noora von Bulow dominating the early stages of the jump-off on Tullineaskey Fear Deas and Sonas Barney. But Tabitha Kyle swiftly reduced Noora’s time by 2.5sec with her 2019 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and RIHS champion, Playboy Van De Zoetewei.
Undaunted, Olivia was tighter and faster to wipe a further 1.8sec from Tabitha’s time, and pushed her into second spot.
“I watched Tabitha’s round and knew where I could be quicker, but it was still a nice surprise to win,” said Olivia, who attends school in London but manages to ride at weekends and on Wednesday evenings.
“In the holidays I’m at the yard every day,” she added.
The handsome 11-year-old Silvio was found in Ireland by Paul specifically for Olivia.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 19, 2020-Ausgabe von Horse & Hound.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 19, 2020-Ausgabe von Horse & Hound.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
City Of Troy hailed as greatest ever
The megastar colt silences his critics with an emphatic Derby success and there's plenty to celebrate for the Gredley family in the historic race
Head in the Games
Caring for elite horses is something a world leading groom takes in their stride, but how do they tackle their day job when their charge is an Olympic competitor? Bethany Stone asks those all-important questions
Horserail continues to set the pace
More than 25 years on since launching its unique plastic fencing, Horserail is still making strides in the equestrian fencing market with its innovation
Changes through the ages
Horse management has unquestionably revolutionised over the past 14 decades – but is it always for the better? Catherine Austen charts the changes
'A great joy thousands of soldiers'
Throughout World War II, the Horse & Hound team never missed publishing the magazine, despite the editor being killed in a bombing, sport being decimated and the printers being shelled. Former H&H deputy editor Pippa Cuckson discovers a Blitz-spirit mentality that held the magazine together and boosted morale in those dark years
'Every Whitaker is successful in one way or another
As part of H€9H’s 140th anniversary, we've been celebrating Britain’s eminent rider families with a series of interviews. In our fourth and final instalment, we meet four of the Whitaker dynasty: Michael, John, Jack and Robert
Cover in glory
The great and the good of the equestrian world remember the first time they featured in H&9H. Luz Wollocombe speaks to the superstars
A tricky start
Health problems in the first phases of life require prompt attention. Equine nurse Samantha Feighery RVN discusses common disorders in newborn foals
'Every Finnish person is mad about the Olympics'
Six-time Olympian Kyra Kyrklund discusses competing behind the Iron Curtain, sleeping in the stable and coping when calamity strikes
Private investigator
Sean Memory is a retired detective now assisting the National Trainers Federation, dealing with online and in-person abuse