‘She thinks there's nothing she can't jump'

Lily Beveridge takes the seven-year-old championship on a bold mare, while Laura Mantel is on winning form

- PENNY RICHARDSON

Chard Equestrian, Somerset

“SHE thinks she’s 17.2hh and should go to the Olympics,” said Lily Beveridge after riding Solsboro Ziva to victory in the seven-year-old championship at Chard’s three-day show.

The 15.2hh Irish-bred mare who began her career with Holly Smith arrived at Lily’s Hampshire yard two years ago and Lily has produced her from discovery level. Their next outing will be in the Foxhunter and talent seekers qualifiers at Pyecombe.

“I’ve never ridden one with so much self-belief and she thinks there’s nothing she can’t jump, so I’m happy to go along with her!” said Lily, who currently has three horses to jump, plus seven home-bred young horses to bring on.

“They’re all out of mares who jumped at 1.40m level and by good stallions, so I don’t mind waiting,” she said.

Lily’s win stopped Laura Mantel from enjoying a clean sweep of young horse finals at this popular centre. It was a close-run thing, as Laura produced the fastest time in the seven-year-old jump-off at the expense of a pole down with MHS Alabama.

Laura’s five-year-old champion was Kosmos A, a Dutch-bred son of Arezzo VDL who was at only his seventh show and is among the string of young horses she is riding for John and Laura Renwick.

“He arrived at my yard at the beginning of lockdown and he has the most unbelievable brain. He’s like a horse who’s been here before in a youngster’s body and we’re all very excited about him,” said Laura, who took the six-year-old honours on Aurora X.