3 minute read

Moody magic at the Winters

show with me. I’m better now at making sure I have enough people to help at the Championships so I can focus on riding the horses and helping clients.”

Becky has an exemplary competition record – in the last 12 months she has only been out of the top five a couple of times. This is some achievement when most of her competitions are at small tour or above. Becky won her first Winter national title in 1998 – the Novice Open with Early Bird III and her first National Championships in 2001 with Kwadraat (Inter I and PSG). Since then, she has won 19 Winter and National titles plus a number of Under 21 and Young Horse championships.

With the ‘three Js’, Jagerbomb, Jack Diamond and James Bond, she has a powerfully competitive trio. For the future she has two lovely youngsters, Magic Dream (6yo) and Lancelot BS (7yo) and some four-year-olds currently being brought on by yard rider, Anna Burns. Lancelot has already brought home his first championship sash, winning the Medium Gold at the 2022 National Championships.

“I’ve definitely got the best team of horses I’ve ever had,” says Becky who is asuredly one of the riders to watch this year. With her current track record, she is a very strong contender.

Multi-talented marvels

We celebrate some of the adaptable aces taking part in the NAF Five Star Winter Championships and Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships.

General Tiberius Petplan Prelim Silver

In his career as a racehorse he has competed on the flat, NH and finally point to point before coming to me and retraining as my riding horse. In the short time I have had him he has competed BD, BE (winning numerous BE80 events including two sub 20 tests with double clears) and BS, been out regularly with the Farmers Bloodhounds, sponsored rides and beach rides along with general hacking. He has also been a cover star for Your Horse and enjoyed many other photo shoots!”

Madermus PP HorseHage Prelim Silver

We bought him as a 2yo from Jake Saywell after watching him loose jump. I broke him myself and have produced him to where he is now. Although he’s proven to be very careful and scopey as a jumper; qualifying for second round discovery and novice, we also began BD with him last November. After gaining his regional points in two outings he headed to the regionals and came 2nd. He has now stepped up to novice and once again has qualified for the regionals novice in two outings. After a short break from jumping whilst I have been recovering from a broken finger, he came 2nd at our last BS outing, two weeks after going out British Dressage and coming 2nd and 1st overall in the two novice tests. He’s a true allrounder!

Philippa King

Multi-talented marvels

Islesman of Mendick Medium Silver

This is Islesman of Mendick, a working Highland stallion. He’s competing in the Medium Silver Championship and combines dressage with a successful showing career! He was placed fifth at Horse of the Year Show last year plus breed show championships.

Islesman has a fabulous trainable temperament combined with a bit of cheek!

Harlequin II Petplan Prelim Silver

Sarah Vousden, of social media blog ‘A cob and a connie’, got in touch to share news about not one, but two multi-talented superstars! Cob Harlequin II (pictured) and stablemate George - a pure Connemarahave both qualified for the event.

My Hogged hunting cob has qualified at advanced medium silver and competes at PSG whilst hunting regularly, doing the odd team chase and taking part in RC sj teams as well as starting working equitation this year too! His Connie brother has also qualified at advanced medium silver and he has started working equitation this year as well!

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Multi-talented marvels

Wacton Billy

Petplan Advanced Medium Bronze

I’ve qualified for the Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze Winter Area Festival Championships with my multi-talented coloured cob!

Wacton Billy is a 16hh 12 year old cob who we bought as a 4 year old to back and sell on but he stayed! He enjoys doing a bit everything, has won the BD Combined Training Championships, came third in the Novice Eventing at the 2022 Pony Club Championships and won the Open level dressage. Billy also enjoys hunting throughout the winter, jumping the biggest of hedges! We’re hoping to have a go at the Cotswold Cup Eventing series this year and more up to Prix St Georges by the end of the year.

Becky Parsonage Owner/rider