Hello everyone- we are delighted to be sponsored again by British Horse Feeds, and this season we hope you will follow our journey with the show horses.
The 2023 season was a dream come true, Simon and lightweight show cob Copenhagen (Teddy) did the double by winning the champion cob title at both The Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) and Horse Of The Year Show (HOYS) and was voted reserve champion show horse of the year in the Showing World awards, for owner Rowena Stevenson. Teddy has been one of the most consistent cobs on the circuit throughout his career, and we were all so thrilled for him to finally win the big titles at the two major championships in the same year. What an achievement! Teddy really is a yard favourite, and I don’t think there was a dry eye on the team as we watched him trot down that centreline at HOYS under the spotlight last October
Our top novice cob from the last two seasons Cruising Bay (Eric), owned by Harriet Richardson also finished his season off on a high by winning at The British Show Horse Association National Championships last September. We always say if a novice can win here, it is the equivalent of their HOYS. Eric won 6 classes out of 7 last year, including Three Shires, Mid Herts, champion at Midland County, and champion at Ashbourne, and this year he will contest some open classes for the first time.
We waved off heavyweight hunter Bowland Jasper to a new home after HOYS, and already we have had updates of him turning his hoof to dressage and very much enjoying his new life, which is so wonderful. In 2023 Jasper was champion at Ashbourne, champion at Newark, Nottinghamshire County,1st at BSPS Area 7, 2nd at Staffordshire County, 6th at RIHS, and 8th at HOYS to name just a few
Simon will show an exciting novice small hunter, Woodlock Rebel for owner Rowena Stevenson, and he will hopefully also contend some of the new British Horse Feeds sponsored Irish draught classes in the hope of qualifying for RIHS. This is such an exciting series and is already proving to be so popular. We have been quietly working away educating this young horse, and we will carefully place Woody at shows this year that will benefit his further education and development. Having special young horses is exciting, but you must be mindful of not pre-planning too much. Horses will tell you when they are ready, and it is not a one size fits all when it comes to producing. Last term Woody was champion novice intermediate at the BSPS Summer Championships, which was his only competitive outing.
Returning contenders from last year are maxi cob Correl Wood for owner Ruth Parker, middleweight show hunter and sport horse Irish Draught Under Attack for rider Myles Cooper and owner Liz Worthy, and the duo will also campaign small riding horse and intermediate show riding type KitKat; a winner last term at the BSPS Winter.
Championships and champion at the BSHA National Championships to name a few. Under Attack had a phenomenal season last year- some highlights include champion at BSPS Summer Championships, 1st and reserve champion at Staffordshire County, supreme at Hambleton, champion at Lincoln, 2nd at The Great Yorkshire Show, and 6th at HOYS.
As always with horses, you have good days, and then you have bad. We very sadly lost our lovely mare Cascade on Mother’s Day. She was a grand old age of 32, and Natalie and her mum have owned her since she was 4. She was shown by Nat and went on to have some fabulous foals, even breeding a HOYS winner. Cassie will be sadly missed by us all. Having owned her for 28 years, it has inevitably been a very sad time. It’s been particularly hard for her field friend Scooby (aka Casanova), Nat’s show cob who we have had since he was 3 and is now 25 years old. He had an incredible career with Nat, winning HOYS three times, and the Royal International Horse Show. Looking after our old, retired horses is a huge responsibility, but it is also a privilege
Scooby became a little depressed after losing Cassie, so we have brought him back over to the main yard, and Nat is starting to hack him out. Even our son Luke has had a little ride. We have noticed a big difference in him, he is starting to sparkle again, and it is lovely to see. Feeding and caring for older horses is such an important job. Currently Scooby is being fuelled by Fibre-Beet and carrots, with a mixture of hay and haylage. Here’s hoping Scooby continues to enjoy his hacking adventures and the attention of being back on the main yard. He certainly has a twinkle back in his eye.
With a yard full yard of show horses here, we are planning on attending a few shows this month. The last breakers and schoolers of the winter are soon to be heading off, and we have a lovely mix of horses for this year and our eye on a few youngsters…watch this space!
We have some act to follow after the spoils of last season. All the horses won some amazing titles, and we are excited to get going- hopefully with some sunshine!
Simon has been selected to judge HOYS this year which is a real honour. With the new format for this year, he is not sure what classes he might be called up to judge, so that makes the whole show super exciting.
As always, we are so grateful to British Horse Feeds for their generous sponsorship. The horses look fantastic. Each horse has a different ratio of food dependent on their condition, age, level of work, and temperament, but we tend to feed a mixture of Fibre-Beet , Speedi-Beet , chaff, and Cooked Linseed and then two supplements TurmerAid and TurmerItch from The Golden Paste Company who are sister company to British Horse Feeds. The coats on all the horses are amazing, and we really notice the shine. They also have enough energy without the fizz, and the hoof quality is excellent.
Good luck to everyone this year, whether your goal is to improve at home, or to go out competing, we wish you all the best. Most of all, we hope you enjoy your horses, as that is what it is all about.
Simon and Natalie Reynolds
