New Story writes glorious first chapter

A four-year-old intermediate is the star of the show, a show pony mare delights and natives deliver the goods

- TRICIA JOHNSON

BSPS Winter Championships, Arena UK, Lincs

A HOME-PRODUCED four-year-old intermediate hunter at only his third ridden show stole the limelight to stand winter supreme novice champion.

Despite having sat on the pony for the first time only an hour before the class, Ellis Taverner-Burns gave Sabrina Ross’s stunning Carnsdale New Story (Ernie) a peach of a ride to win his class, stand novice intermediate champion and then wow overall supreme judge Adrian Beaumont.

“I was looking for something with a special quality that I thought might win at HOYS [Horse of the Year Show],” said Adrian. “This pony ticked all my boxes, and I could see that it really tried. I think it has a great future.”

Despite this being Ernie’s first-ever stay-away show, he justified the praise still further when he landed the winter restricted intermediate title the following day – wearing a double bridle for the first time in the ring – and went on to give another polished performance in the evening finale.

“I’m so proud of this boy,” enthused Ellis, 21, for whom – surprisingly – this was the first time in the overall winter spotlight. “It’s been the best possible show with this super young horse.”

Lancashire-based Sabrina, who runs Fearns Equestrian and produces her show animals at home, bought Ernie on a tipoff from a friend, Sara Forde, who told her that she had in her field an unbroken three-year-old relation to another of Sabrina’s campaigners, the uber-successful 2019 RIHS 153cm hunter pony champion Carnsdale Cover Story (Bernie).