A tailor-made Champion in The Baker-Beall Family Intermediate Show Riding Type of the Year

Charlotte Elliott-Grooby celebrated her first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) win and Championship when she rode Vicki Rudd’s eight-year-old British Riding Pony, Holmestones Tailor Made, to victory in The Baker-Beall Family Intermediate Show Riding Type of the Year Championship.

The gelding, known as Worzel at home, is produced by Adam Forster and David Jinks, and Charlotte works full-time for the team. Charlotte and Worzel won the 158cm section before going straight back into the ring to take the overall Championship.

Adam said: “We’re thrilled. He went beautifully in there and performed a great show.”

The team have taken their time with Worzel, who is “like silk to ride”. He’s had a great 2019 season, also going Reserve Supreme Hack at the Royal International Horse Show with Adam.

Worzel now joins the long line of HOYS Champions by the prolific late sire, Kilvington Scoundrel. Vicki has had him since a two-year-old and bought him straight from the breeder; Emma Greenland of Ivy House Stables. He will now go and enjoy his winter holiday back home with Vicki.

Reserve Champion was the winner of the 153cm section, Royal Engagement, owned by Victoria Trice and ridden by Lydia Trice.

The 12-year-old gelding, Nemo, has been in the Trice family for seven years and ridden by Lydia for two.

Her sister Imogen has ridden Nemo at HOYS for the past five years in Intermediates and most notably finished second in the Hack class in 2015. Now that Imogen is out of Intermediates, Lydia has taken on the ride.

“It should have been Imogen to take this win,” said a delighted Lydia. “He went so well; I honestly think he knows where he is.”

Nemo is produced by Team Quiney but is very much a family horse. Lydia remembers hacking him around at Hickstead when she was just 10; “he’s such a big character in a sweet way,” she said.

Nemo will go to a new home next year. “It’s an amazing way to send him off,” said Lydia.

Sharon Harrison’s Sarison Heavenly Silk and Eileen Jenkin’s Buriana Larkrise both also contested the Championship after placing second in the 153cm and 158cm sections respectively.

The Baker Beall Family are new sponsors to this class for 2019. As keen supporters of both British Show Pony Society and Horse of the Year Show, they are delighted to be sponsoring this prestigious championship for the first time in 2019.