The first two seven-year-old classes of the season were held this weekend, one at Floors Castle and the other at Aston Le Walls. 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.
Aston Le Walls winners Sarah Bullimore and her homebred gelding Corimiro, jumped two beautiful clear rounds to add just 5.2 time penalties to their 26.6 dressage for a total score of 31.8.
“He was a little bit fresh, but he loves his job, and I was really happy with him,” said Sarah of the gelding out of her mare Lilly Corinne and by Amiro Z. “He was fabulous cross-country, it’s what he lives for. He was a little bit overexcited in the dressage and made a few mistakes – we couldn’t do any walk-trot transitions, only canter apparently, but he is quite a performer and just wanted to get on with it. He turned to the first fence in the showjumping and was like a little JA pony, and a bit unruly. He’ll aim for the 3* at Rockingham now.”
Nick Lucey and C-Let’s Dance Van De Beemd finished in second with 37, while Jack Pinkney and Carpo Vivendi scored 41.8 for third.
At Floors Castle, it was Rachel Williamson and Monbeg Rebel (Obos Quality 004 x Forans summer Chestnut) who landed the seven-year-old title. They added 15.2 cross country time penalties to their 31.8 dressage and double clear to finish on 47.
“I was really happy with him,” said Rachel. “This was his first intermediate – he’s very talented. The course was strong over some of the 3* course, but I was lucky that Rebel is at a stage where he can manage a course like that. I felt confident that he could get round. I’ll concentrate on the seven-year-olds and a 3* this year.”
Lucy Sugden and Acarno B were second with 65.2.
The Young Horse classes take place throughout the spring and summer in some of BE’s most stunning venues, including the Belsay estate in Northumberland and Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire. The 6-year-old classes will be run at novice level, while the 7-year-old classes will be run 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 2023 Young Horse Championships take place at Cornbury House Horse Trials in Oxfordshire between 7-10 September. The classes will also benefit those aiming their young horses at the FEI World Breeding Championships at Le Lion d’Angers, which hosts a CCI2*-L World Championship for six-year-olds and a CCI3*-L World Championship for seven-year-olds.
Image courtesy of Action Replay Photography Ltd
