Limited Edition is top of the field

A ladies’ combination finishes supreme, a novice riding horse cements her future and a home-produced hack impresses

- TRICIA JOHNSON

British Show Horse Association (BSHA) Autumn Gala, Arena UK, Lincolnshire

DANIELLE HEATH crowned a sparkling weekend for her team when landing the final overall open supreme.

Guy Mears’ ladies’ show horse champion, the ultra-mannerly and ever-cheerful maxi cob Brookdale Limited Edition (Archie), gave a magical show which earned the only two perfect scores of the day.

Devils’ Horsemen director Camilla Naprous judged alongside David Puttock and former world cutting horse champion Constance Jaeggi. “I gave this combination my only 10 of the day,” said Camilla. “The horse was exceptional as soon as he entered the ring – a real showman. He pricked his ears, got on with the job and had a smile on his face. He looked the type of horse you would love to ride all day long.”

This was not only Archie’s first outing of the year, but a debut in “sideways” supreme ranks for Danielle.

“I decided to stay in the sidesaddle because he just rocks it,” she said. “He’s a mega Rolls-Royce ride sideways as well as astride.”

Earlier, Archie had collected the maxi cob title partnered by Issy Mears, 19, and the team’s tally was further boosted by Anne Leigh’s six-year-old cob, Bobbi Dazzler, who headed the novice class and made a triumphant open debut to stand champion.