Three young horse titles were on offer at Aston le Walls, enabling riders to showcase their up-and-coming equine talent, including an 8/9-year-old advanced class, and 7- and 6-year-old classes.
Sam Ecroyd and Bloomfield Manuscript were victors in the 8/9-year-old advanced class, finishing on their double clear and 27.9 dressage score. The Irish gelding by Financial Reward out of Bloomfield Lucy Locket, is owned by Joe Walls, Kate Walls, and Tricia and Rob Sargent. He has had five top ten placings this season including a win in the CCI-L 3* at Millstreet.
Sam said: “I haven’t had him long, but there were qualities he had as soon as I sat on him that I loved. I think we are only scratching the surface of how good he can be. He is very big and a very blood horse, and has natural weakness which has created inconsistency in his jumping phase, but it feels like we will end up with a very consistent jumper as he is improving all the time. He is an absolute machine cross-country, and I think he is the first horse I’ve ever been in the time at advanced level and made it feel easy to do. He has the makings of a Badminton and Burghley horse written all over him.”
Roberto Scalisi piloted SFS Arrano to success in The Howden Way 7-year-old class. They added just 4.4-time penalties cross-country to their 25 dressage for a total winning score of 29.4. Owned by Matt Cavill, the British-bred gelding by Canturano I out of Lady Arko has had five top five placings so far this season including a win in the novice at Upton House.
Roberto said: “He was bought in December last year, so we’ve only had him six months. He had only show jumped previously, but he quickly got the bug of the cross-country and he’s been amazing. His first event was a BE100 at the beginning of the year, he then jumped round four novices and then his first 2* at Bicton having gone clear cross-country thus far, and then stepped up to his first intermediate. What a horse to do all that off such minimal experience. He seems to love the job in all three phases. He’s great fun to ride and a lovely horse to work with. We’ll aim for a three-star short next and hope to qualify for Le Lion. That would be a real highlight. I feel very lucky to be riding him.”
Jack Pinkney partnered Edward Duke of Norfolk and The Duchess of Norfolk’s DHI Ayrton to land The Howden Way 6-year-old class with a score of 29.8. Dutch-bred by Vader out of Moeder, the gelding’s results this season include a BE100 win at Tweseldown and three top ten placings at novice.
Jack commented: “He was awesome, and did a really super dressage test – he’s so rideable which is lovely for a six-year-old, and although he had one down in the show jumping, he is improving all the time in that phase and was super cool cross-country. He made that feel easy. His owners have been really supportive and patient as he’s a horse that we haven’t rushed. Last year he was weak and gangly, so we didn’t do much, but this year he has come out so much better coming out at novice and making it feel easy. there is a lot more this horse can do in the future. Giving him time this year to learn the trade, will mean next year as a seven-year-old he’ll be a really cool one to kick on with. It’s exciting to work with the nice young horses.”
The series, supported by The Howden Way, is an ideal opportunity for riders to expose their up-and-coming eventers to the atmosphere of bigger venues, while competing against other horses of the same age. The classes offer recognition for the highest performing horses in these classes.
The Young Horse classes take place throughout the spring and summer in some of BE’s most stunning venues with the 6-year-old classes running at novice level, and the 7-year-old classes running at intermediate level.
The top three in each class receive an additional £250, £150, £100 respectively on top of the prize money already generated and awarded by the prize money calculator.
For dates of the young horse classes this year, please click here
Alongside these classes, the performance of young horses competing with British Eventing is acknowledged within The Howden Way Young Horse Leagues which can be found here. There are four leagues which cover the ages of 5 years, 6 years, 7 years and then the ages of 8 & 9 combined. The leagues display the average of a horse’s three best finishing scores via a Power Based Average score which highlights the ability to repeatedly finish on a low score.
The 2024 Young Horse Championships take place at Cornbury House Horse Trials in Oxfordshire between 12-15 September. The classes will also benefit those aiming their young horses at the FEI World Breeding Championships at Le Lion d’Angers between 17-20 October, which hosts a CCI2*-L World Championship for six-year-olds and a CCI3*-L World Championship for seven-year-olds.
Images courtesy of Matt Nuttall Photography
