Here we talk to Essex-based show jumper Ronnie Jones to find out more about his busy schedule and what it meant to win the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet Grade C Championship at this year’s Horse of the Year Show.
Where are you based and is riding a full time career?
I am based in Chelmsford, Essex with Ruth and Ian Dowie at Runningwell Equestrian Centre, where we have around 70 horses in total, with about 20 in competition work.
I have been with Ruth and Ian for seven years and we are building a great team for the future with the three and four-year-olds broken over the winter months ready for competition in the summer.
Riding and competing has always been my career and the win in the Speedi-Beet Grade C Championship has really given me a boost to want to compete at the highest level.
Tell us about your winning ride, Interstar B?
He is one of the first horses, Ruth and Ian bought when they set up Runningwell Sport Horses and came to us as a just rising five-year-old. Now eight years old, he has won a lot of age classes over the last few years and shows real talent to compete in Grand Prix and at major shows.
Next year we plan to take him abroad to compete at some international tours and to step up to the next level. Hopefully he will keep on winning and we can progress together.
How would you describe him?
In one word – naughty! He is very lively and needs riding every day to keep him in hand. It’s just his nature to be cheeky and like a naughty child really.
Interstar B stands at 16,2hh so he is not the biggest horse and is dark bay. He is by Im Special de Muze out of a mare by Ahorn so KWPN bred.
What other horses do you compete?
The team is really starting to come together and as well as Interstar B I have the nine-year-old stallion, Invictus and a seven-year-old Joplin that we all think highly of.
All three are capable of Grand Prix classes and it is great to be getting some strength and depth in horse power.
How did you feel when winning the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet Grade C Championship?
Having competed and ridden ponies from a young age, them progressing through to horses, riding at HOYS is always a very special occasion.
I was drawn first to go in the jump-off and everything just clicked, it does sometimes and you definitely remember when it does.
It was quite a long and tense time to wait before I realised we had won, it was just fantastic and everyone in the team was just thrilled – it was brilliant.
