Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜
“This time last year, I had almost no experience of showing. In fact, the last time I had entered a show was a prettiest mare class about 25 years ago – and I’m not sure that really counts!
“Fast forward 12 months and, against all odds, I have qualified for the American Miniature Horse of the Year at Horse of the Year Show with the incredible JSW Showkayces Peppermint Blaze (aka Peppermint).
“The story of how I ended up here is almost impossible to make up. Last December, following the very unexpected end of a 13-year relationship, I found myself having to start again. I had lost what I thought would be my forever home, moved into a little rental flat on my own, gone back to working full time for the first time in 10 years and moved my two horses to a new livery yard where I knew nobody.
“Somewhere in the middle of all that, I made another (some would say crazy!) unexpected decision. I bought an American Miniature Horse, EBF Vinnies Black Moon Ashes (aka Cinders), from Minstrels Miniatures.
“I bought Cinders simply because I loved her. I had no intention of becoming a show person and knew nothing about miniature horse showing. But through Cinders, I got to know Tolga and Carol Cooper, who encouraged me to have a go. I thought, I’ve been dumped, I’m starting a new life, why not try!
“That led to Carol very kindly offering me the opportunity to try to qualify her own heart horse, Peppermint, for HOYS. I knew what a privilege that was. Peppermint was incredibly special to Carol, and she was putting her trust in someone who was still very much finding her feet in the showing world.
“Peppermint is a four-year-old American Miniature mare standing at just 31.5 inches, but there is absolutely nothing small about her presence.
“She has superstar written through every inch of her. Her movement, looks and beautiful face are breathtaking, and she has a presence and power far beyond her tiny frame. She is also a complete show horse – a true lady with the sweetest nature, the best kisses and an attitude that says she knows exactly why she is there.
“She was born for the ring. Our qualifying show was the UKAMHS Open Spring Show. It was only my second ever showing show and my first time in the ring with Peppermint. I was absolutely terrified.
“I was so nervous that at least three people had to remind me to breathe, and I can honestly remember very little about the class itself. Somehow, though, all the training came together. Peppermint did what Peppermint does, and then came the moment when the placings were announced.
“When our HOYS place was called, the most incredible round of applause and happy screams erupted around us. I was completely overwhelmed.
“I then had to get the train from Rugby to Euston and take the Northern Line home to North London. I remember sitting on the Tube with my rosettes and enormous HOYS sash in a carrier bag beside me, thinking that nobody else on that Tube could possibly understand what had just happened. I was sitting on the Northern Line on a Sunday night having qualified for Horse of the Year Show! What was going on?!
“It still makes me smile. But qualifying was only the beginning. Since June, the journey towards HOYS has involved a huge amount of training, hard work and travelling.
“Peppermint lives more than two hours from me, while my own horses are based near London. Alongside a full-time job in marketing for a property company, I have been getting up at 6am several times a week to exercise my other horses, driving to the tube, getting changed in the carpark, working a full day, then travelling to Coventry for several hours of training with Peppermint before making the journey back to London.
“I also have an old brain injury which can make learning new skills and routines more challenging, so learning exactly where to stand, when to move and how to present Peppermint to her best advantage has been another part of the learning curve.
“It has been a lot to fit in, but I owe so much to Tolga and Carol. In the space of a year, they have taught me enough about showing to take me from complete novice to the HOYS ring. Their patience, knowledge and belief in me have been incredible.
“And Peppermint has made every mile worthwhile. HOYS has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was little, my mum used to take me to Wembley every year to watch the Horse of the Year Show. Later, I went with my stable friends, and it became one of those special events that was simply part of my equestrian life.
“I never imagined that one day I would walk through those gates as a competitor – certainly not at 48 years old. That is perhaps the strangest part of all. The little girl who once stood watching the horses at Wembley from the stands is now going to walk into the HOYS ring herself. And she’ll have Peppermint beside her.
“When I look back at the last year, the whole thing still feels slightly surreal. My life changed completely, I had to start again, and somewhere in the middle of it all I bought a tiny horse on impulse and accidentally discovered a whole new world.
“Cinders opened the door to miniature horse showing. Tolga and Carol taught me how to find my feet. And Peppermint took me through that door and all the way to HOYS.
“I will always be grateful to Carol for trusting me with her girl, and to Peppermint for giving me an opportunity I could never have imagined a year ago.
“Whatever happens on that Friday night, I know I will walk into that ring proud of how far we have come. A year ago, I didn’t even know I wanted to show. Now I’m going to walk into the Horse of the Year Show. With Peppermint. At The Arena of Dreams. And if that isn’t the stuff of dreams, I am not sure what is!”
Katherine Ann Walsh handling Tolga Falahat’s JSW Showkayces Peppermint Blaze qualified for the UKAMHS American Miniature Horse of the Year Championship Sponsored by Pandoras Miniature Farm at the UK American Miniature Horse British Open Show