Anthony Nicholas on George Gentley © SMR Photos
At the SEIB SFAS qualifier at Bury Farm on 16 July, Cheryl Moore’s lovely Connemara-Thoroughbred cross George Gently — named after the TV detective series character — gave full-time estate agent Anthony Nicholas a HOYS qualifying ticket in the hack/riding horse division.
When Cheryl rescued George in September 2014, he was severely malnourished.
“Her vet said that if he had been left in that condition for a further two weeks he would have died,” said Anthony, who lives in Lymm, Cheshire, and fits in riding George whenever work permits. “It breaks my heart to even think about that because he is so loving and appreciative of everything you do for him.
“Although George was four years old, Cheryl’s farrier said he still had ‘foal feet’ because of his condition. He reckoned she would be very lucky if she ever got to ride him, but this didn’t stop George. He has a heart of gold and wasn’t going to let his past affect his future.
“His little foal feet turned into solid hooves, giving him the opportunity to do anything.
“Because of work commitments, I’d given up horses but was missing them terribly,” Anthony continued. “I met Cheryl through a mutual friend in 2015 and she suggested I might like to take George for a hack. She then asked if I would help her out with schooling him.
“I thought he had huge potential to be a lovely show horse and as Cheryl and I became good friends, the partnership between me and George just went from strength to strength.”
Anthony Nicholas on George Gentley © SMR Photos
Anthony could not have been more delighted to qualify for HOYS.
“It’s been a dream of mine to ride at HOYS since I first went when I was nine to watch, but I never thought it would happen,” he said. “This is a wonderful series — we were delighted to be third at the qualifier at Osbaldeston in April and the knowledge, support and confidence that the judges gave me on that day made me realise I was on a horse that could maybe get the golden ticket with a bit more work.
“Now, George will fulfil my childhood dream of riding at HOYS.”
A former event rider made a triumphant SFAS debut to take the top riding horse spot.
It was a very first attempt at the class for Sarah Rotheram, 41, who won with her home-bred five-year-old, Demi Minutus (Chicco).
Sarah Rotheram on Demi Minutus © SMR Photos
Sarah, a former equine science student at Walford College and Moreton Morrell, bred the versatile Chicco — by Decamerone — out of her Last Minute mare Miss Minute, and he is the third generation from Sarah’s advanced event mare Miss Morag. Miss Morag was the first embryo transplant foal born in the UK from Sarah Cotton’s legendary four-star eventer Morag.
“A college friend told me to have a go at SFAS but never in a million years did I think I would win,” said Sarah, an account manager and mother of two from Allesley, Coventry. “I really brought Chicco here today for my own experience – showing is very new to me but I have learnt by my mistakes, taken on board comments from judges in the past and practised at home.”
Chicco was awarded a BEF Dressage Futurity medal as a yearling, two and three-year-old, and has already been successful in sport horse classes at county level; he was also 11th in the Burghley Young Event Horse final and fourth in the Blue Chip ridden sport horse championship last year.
“He is my horse of a lifetime as I’ve done everything with him since he was born,” added Sarah. “We know each other inside out, and he is also a horse that does not need to be ridden every day – this is good when I have the school run, out-of- school activities, work, a husband and a dog to look after.”
Show hunter
Full-time butler Marcus Kirkby-Bott, 42, headed the hunter division with the upstanding nine-year-old Mighty Dan, whom he co-owns with long-time friend Lisa Potter.
Marcus Kirkby Bott and Mighty Dan © SMR Photos
“When Lisa showed me a photo of Dan I said I didn’t like him, but she talked me into going to see him in the flesh and I changed my mind as soon as I walked into the stable,” said Marcus, who met Lisa when both worked for producer Lynn Russell some years ago.
“After leaving Lynn’s I gradually stopped riding until about 10 years ago when I went out to buy hay for my goats and came back with five horses, two broodmares with foals at foot and a two-year-old,” he revealed. “That was the most expensive hay I’ve ever bought.”
Marcus had attended an SFAS qualifier before with his boss Nadia Edgar, who took part in 2011 and qualified for HOYS with her cob, Checkpoint Charlie.
“She told me to have a go myself,” said Marcus, who lives in Dorking. “I’ve been recovering from an injury this season but I’ve done a few classes with Dan and been well placed. He’s a big middleweight hunter and can be quite opinionated, but he’s a horse in a million.”
This was Dan’s second attempt at qualifying.
“The judges at Keysoe suggested using a double bridle, so I have,” he added. “Dan is quite difficult to bit but now here we are, going to HOYS.”
The aim of SEIB’s unique SFAS competition is to provide an opportunity for amateur riders to qualify for HOYS and judges at the qualifying rounds provide competitors with advice and feedback to help them to improve.
Another suggestion from SFAS judges — in this case, a change of class — gave Emma Pearce a bonus 30th birthday present when her aptly named six-year-old Star claimed the second ticket.
Emma, who lives in Stretcholt, Somerset, and works full-time as a training co-ordinator to fund her passion for “everything equine”, bought Star as an unbroken three-year-old and has done everything with him herself.
“We tried to qualify last year in the riding horse section, which wasn’t right for him,” she said. “We took the judges’ advice to show him as a hunter and it’s paid off.”
Working show pony
Perseverance also paid off for farmer’s wife Tamzin Emmett, 33, when she headed the working show ponies with her versatile Welsh section D gelding Rhernwood Royal Nico (Rocco).
Tamzin Emmett and Ruemwood Royal Nico © SMR Photos
“I tried three times to qualify last year and again at Keysoe this time,” said Tamzin, a Buckinghamshire-based sales manager for a horse therapy equipment business.
“Following the feedback I got from the judges, I’ve worked hard over the winter on the aspects that I know needed improvement.”
Working show horse
Dunstable College health and social care student Maisie Swain, 17, was top of the working show horses with her six-year-old Marlon Brando.
Maisie Swain on Marlon Brando © SMR Photos
“Marlon was just backed and very green when we bought him a year ago, so to win this was a big surprise,” said her mother Danielle. “He can be a bit lazy, but he always tries his best and is just a joy to have around — I can lead him with the pram and he lets the children brush him while they stand on buckets.”
Maisie and Marlon are also active members of Shillington Riding Club, for whom they compete, and plan to contest flat and working show classes at ES (UK) at Arena UK, Lincs next month. Their tally also includes the champion ridden horse title at the Amateur Showing Society.
Cob
Gap-year student Charlotte Bunyard, 18, took the top cob ticket with Take a Chance On Mr Grey (Christian).
Charlotte Bunyard and Take a chance on Mr Grey © SMR photos
“I bought Christian just backed from my friend, Annette Hance — a competitor in this series years ago — and she urged me to have a go,” said Charlotte, who lives in Wantage, Oxon. “We did the qualifier at Stretcholt but weren’t placed — this was our only other chance.
“I hoped for a place but to stand top of the line from the word go was a bit of a shock – to ride at HOYS is everyone’s dream.”
A run of bad luck finally ended for Lancashire-based Emma Croft when her seven-year-old maxi, Colourful Life (Teddy), landed the second qualifying ticket.
Emma Croft and Colourful Life © SMR Photos
Emma, a team leader for Preston Skoda, has lost three beloved horses from lameness in recent years.
“They were all hunters so I decided to go for something completely different,” said Emma, who bought Teddy from Reid Finlay in Ireland last October. “I’ve always wanted to do SFAS, but Teddy is still very much a novice and this was his first time with a ride judge, so I’m absolutely thrilled to qualify today.”
SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse
Rebecca Court booked her return to HOYS with her versatile Beware Chalk Pit (Pete). This will be the 12-year-old’s third HOYS appearance, having previously qualified with Justine Armstrong-Small, and Rebecca is also through to the large riding horse final at RIHS.
Rebecca Court and Beware Chalk Pitt © SMR Photos
“This year I really wanted to qualify Pete myself,” said Rebecca. “I’ve been third twice so am delighted to have secured it here today.”
Hannah Chisman, second with her 12-year-old former chaser Nicene Creed (Mickey), will now have two HOYS chances, having qualified at Stretcholt for the SFAS hack/riding horse final.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” said Hannah, 27, a full-time mother to seven-month-old Harry.
“Then it sinks in – we really have qualified and are going to HOYS!”
Rebecca Court and Beware Chalk Pitt © SMR Photos
