Katie said:
“Realistically between now and then I’m going to spend a lot of time with the side-saddle on — that’s what he needs to do. He’s got used to my leg each side now, and going down long-and-low, and now he’s just got to get prepared for the side-saddle judge. Astride, he’s very responsive and he knows his job very well. I won’t change his routine — we just have to keep doing what we’re doing, really.”
As the last horse bred by the Queen Mother, Barbers Shop holds a special place in his owner’s heart, but he quickly won Katie over with his personality and talent.
“He’s a charming gentleman. He did find standing very difficult in his first two years, and we spent quite a lot of time calming him down and being very laid back about it. He had a lot of apples and sweets to keep him calm. Now he’s learned to just do it, but we don’t fuss him too much. We just keep him as chilled as possible.”
The second HOYS ticket went to third-placed Wild West, ridden by owner Lizzie Harris. Lizzie, a former amateur jockey, trains point-to-pointers, and ‘Westy’ is her sole show horse. Formerly trained by Jonjo O’Neill, the chestnut gelding was ridden by AP McCoy before being taken over by Lizzie, with whom he has since hunted, team chased, and shown both astride and side-saddle. This will be the horse’s second year contesting the final at HOYS, in which he placed sixth in 2015. Lizzie said:
“To come out again and do it is something special. Last year we came out and thought ‘let’s hope’ — this year, we thought ‘we’ve done it once, let’s do it again’.”
She balances her yard of nine pointers with showing Wild West and with new motherhood. Having had a baby in June, she commended the horse’s consistency, which allowed her to get back in the saddle with confidence:
“He can be sharp but I know him now, I know what to do and when to do it, as long as we keep the child out of the way of him! A few people have asked if he’s up for sale, but because I can just get on him I’d never part with him. He’s not easy, but for me, he’s perfect.”
Jane Hubbard took on the role of ride judge, giving spectators a masterclass in tactfully riding unfamiliar horses in trying conditions, and top show judge, former Senior Selector and experienced racing steward the Honourable Hopper Cavendish assessed conformation. The class was stewarded by David Ingle, Gary Morton, and Charles Wilkinson.
The SEIB Racehorse To Riding Horse Show Championship was created by SEIB Insurance Brokers to support and encourage the re-education of thoroughbreds taken out of racing, re-schooling them and preparing them for a new career in the show ring. The series offers six qualifiers throughout the country, with winners earning a coveted ticket to the SEIB championship held at Horse of the Year Show.
The classes are open to both amateur and professional producers and are judged as for Riding Horses, with the best of type, whether hack, riding horse or hunter, deemed the winner.
More information on the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship is available from www.racehorse2ridinghorse.co.uk, or you can keep up with the latest news on social media at www.facebook.com/SEIB.R2R.
