Woodview Shangri-La is victorious in The Price Family Mini Show Pony of the Year Championship

Katrina Kozersky’s British Riding Pony Woodview Shangri-La and daughter Alina Kozersky were picture perfect from start to finish in The Price Family Mini Show Pony of the Year Championship. After taking the First Ridden title, they went one better to secure the overall Championship.

John Harvey’s Small-Land Toy Story retained the Reserve title from last year, ridden by four-year-old Beatrice Taverner-Jordan. The five-year-old partbred Welsh is by Millwood Equador out of Small Land Time Piece.

The Champion title was a particularly poignant win for producer Katy Carter, who originally bought Woodview Shangri-La as a three-year-old and broke her in. The mare has been with other children before coming to Katrina two seasons ago for 10-year-old Alina to ride. She came back to Katy’s yard in June where Katy continues to produce her.

Katy said: “We love having her back on the yard. She’s an absolute sweetheart… she was faultless in there [the arena].”

An easy pony to do, Katy explained how they just “ticked her over with a light bit of work” and plenty of “time in the field” in preparation for HOYS. The team travelled up to Birmingham from Northamptonshire this morning.

Slightly lost for words, Alina’s delighted mum Katrina said: “What a result. She’s a true child’s pony.”

There were seven Barkway ponies in the First Ridden class, one of which took the second place spot. This was Lynne Goodyear’s Barkway Precocious, a 13-year-old gelding by the prolific sire Beckside Little Toff, ridden by Jake Berrett.

Second place in the Lead Rein also went to a Beckside Little Toff mare, Barkway Daisy May owned by Richard Hulbert and ridden in the ring by Lily Varley.

The Price Family Lead Rein Pony of the Year gives children under the age of seven the opportunity to ride in a competitive environment, while The Price Family First Ridden Pony of the Year gives riders under the age of 10 their first chance at riding in the ring by themselves. First and second place from each go forward to the Championship.

Ends

Image credit: 1^st Class Images

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