A sort and real present pony has helped a younger rider regain her confidence within the saddle whereas additionally offering her with a first-ever Horse of the Yr Present (HOYS) ticket. Sophie Turner, 9, certified her mom Raeane Turner’s Cosford Vanguard at Stoneleigh Horse Present in July.
Final November, Sophie had a foul fall from a pony she had on mortgage.
“The horse went a method, she went the opposite. She hadn’t fallen off a lot earlier than this as she has seat, however on account of her inexperience she additionally saved maintain of the reins so was dragged across the college,” Raeane explains. “It was horrible for her and for us to observe. It actually knocked her confidence and he or she was petrified. Realizing she was in her final 12 months within the first-ridden class, I used to be shortly on the hunt for a pony who may get her again driving and hopefully fulfil her goals of going displaying.”
Then Cosford Vanguard, identified at house as Vinnie, got here alongside. He was a seven-hour drive away from the Turner’s base, however Raeane had heard from his then present and former homeowners that he was a super-genuine pony who had additionally taken their youngsters to HOYS.
“I used to be informed he was a diamond of a pony, and the way proper they had been,” Raeane says. “Once we went to attempt him, a fighter jet flew over him within the college and he didn’t bat an eyelid.
“When he arrived house, we spent the primary month on the lunge on account of Sophie’s [lack of] confidence. This season they’ve had probably the most unbelievable time.”
Their 2024 tally features a third at Windsor, a sixth on the Royal Worldwide and several other different county present championships.
Raeane provides: “Sophie was so nervous at Windsor because it was the largest atmosphere she’d ever ridden in. Vinnie taken care of each step of the best way and he’s taught her a lot about ring-craft as he’s so fantastically schooled. He’s a real gentleman and Sophie’s driving has come on exponentially.”
Sophie, who had by no means performed affiliated displaying previous to this 12 months, and Vinnie are completely home-produced, with Sophie taking over all the work herself.
Their HOYS qualifying second got here in July in a 17-strong class. They weren’t pulled after the go-round and had been sixteenth to carry out their present.
“They got here up from nearly the underside of the road to put second and get their ticket,” Raeane says. “It was unbelievably particular. To qualify for HOYS on this gem of a pony is an absolute dream. We now have the added bonus that the first-ridden class falling on her tenth birthday!
“Vinnie may not be the flashiest pony on the circuit, however he’s a real first-ridden pony who’s constant, real and takes care of his little individual each step of the best way. We couldn’t be extra grateful for locating him.
“Sophie didn’t do lead-rein courses, so she’s needed to be taught all of her ring-craft in a very quick area of time, so to have achieved what they’ve performed is a credit score to the horse and to Sophie’s exhausting work and dedication. We couldn’t be prouder!”
You might also be curious about:
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Amanda Stewart Pictures
Credit score: Future
