University student Vicky Edgar and her 11-year-old Irish gelding Ballingowan Flash, scored a foot-perfect double clear to land the HorseQuest Floors Castle Novice Masters title for 2023, finishing on their dressage of 32.1.
“It was his first run since Blair last year when he jumped double clear,” said Vicky who is in her second year studying agriculture. “The cross-country course had enough questions to sort the field out, and luckily, he went really well.”
It was also Flash’s first attempt at a higher level dressage test: “This way my first Novice Masters – I qualified at Floors last year – and it’s a really good series. Flash seemed to take all the movements in his stride – the busier tests seem to suit him as it means he’s constantly thinking,” added Vicky. “He can get naughty if he’s not kept busy.”
Vicky has owned the Tinarana Goldwave gelding since a five-year-old.
“He is a real allrounder,” added Vicky. “I’m hoping to run him in an intermediate at Hopetoun and see how the rest of the season goes.”
Also finishing on a double clear were runners up Elana Chilton and Khaldaario (33.60), while Henny Cooper and RLE I Am Gold took third with 35.6.
In addition to becoming the Floors Castle Novice Master, Vicky also received a HorseQuest padded jacket, Nuumed numnah, HorseQuest riding socks and a £50 HorseQuest voucher. Elana’s prizes included a HorseQuest fleece gilet, riding socks and a £30 HorseQuest voucher, and Henny received HorseQuest riding socks and a £20 HorseQuest voucher.
The next Masters competition in the calendar will be the first ever Intermediate Masters, which takes place at Rockingham International Horse Trials, Leicestershire on Sunday 21 May.
British Eventing would like to thank HorseQuest, title sponsors of the Novice Master Series. For more information on how to place an advert with HorseQuest or to search the current listings of Horses, Ponies & Transport for sale please visit www.horsequest.co.uk
Find more information on the HorseQuest Novice Masters by visiting www.britisheventing.com/novice-masters
Photo credit: Action Replay Photography Ltd