Rafeekah goes from unbroken four-year-old to Simon Constable Equine Vets and Mr & Mrs Roberts Ridden Purebred Arab of the Year Champion in two years

A home-produced Arab gelding won the Simon Constable Equine Vets and Mr & Mrs Roberts Ridden Purebred Arab of the Year Championship on day three at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Rafeekah is a six-year-old owned by Kerry Bates and ridden by daughter Kimberley. Together they have taken this newly crowned HOYS Champion from an unbroken four-year-old to a serious contender on the ridden Arab circuit in just two years. They attended and won four shows last year and have focused on HOYS qualifiers this season.

Kimberley said: “I’m delighted; the more they [the audience] cheered the better he went. I’m so proud of him.”

The hard work is very much a joint effort; Kimberley’s sister was also here at HOYS bathing Rafeekah ahead of his class.

“We don’t have anything fancy at home and do all the work ourselves,” explained Kimberley. “He’s kept on a normal livery yard and shares a field with other horses and ponies.”

Rafeekah also won the best placed gelding award. Michelle Segre’s Alonzo was best placed stallion and Len Morgan’s CS Lelisha took the best placed mare.

Overall second place went to Tracey Hateley’s grey gelding, CBeebies, ridden by Darren Crowe.

Simon Constable Equine Vets are one of the leading equine practices in the North West. Boasting extensive surgical and in-patient facilities, they are also advance veterinary practitioners in equine orthopaedics. Simon himself has a passion for Arabs and is delighted to sponsor the Ridden Arab of the Year at Horse of the Year Show 2019.