YOUNG horse producer, Joe Trunkfield and Emma Sweeney’s scopey Kade Hof Ten Zoetendaele Z showed true class when capturing the Shaw Farm Stud sponsored Five-year-old Championship.
The Equitop Bolesworth Young Horse Championships is featuring 4, 5, 6 & 7-year-old age classes, incorporating qualifiers for the FEI World Young Horse Breeding Championships in Lanaken, held in September.
Bringing together the country’s most prolific young horses the class saw a mammoth 58 starters with 12 going through to the jump-off.
The grey mare showed scope and talent in each round delighting Joe and Emma with her focus and adaptability in the International Arena.
Said Leicestershire-based Joe: “I only ride her at shows, Emma keeps her at home and does the fitness work, ticking her over and then we meet up for competitions.
“She is quite small but actually very rangy and the course suited her well and there were lots of areas to make up ground.”
Said a delighted Emma from Southampton: “I didn’t even go and see her when she was advertised I just bought her from a video and she arrived the next day. We are thrilled with her progress and she was very at home in the Bolesworth atmosphere.”
Taking second place and the highest placed British Bred was Mystic Magic, ridden by Keith Shore and owned by Betty Brandon.
Added Keith: “We broke her in at three and have just ticked her over without asking too much. She finds the job easy and is by Asterix E Z, owned by Pat Hales who sponsored the class.
“She has only competed in about 20 classes in her life and this was her first time staying away at a show, she is a very exciting horse for the future.”
The top four British bred horses set to compete in Lanaken are Mystic Magic, ridden by Keith Shore and owned by Betty Brandon; Billy Lambert, ridden by Pippa Funnell and owned by The Billy Stud; RSH Innovation, ridden by Ben Dunning and jointly owned with Mark Dyer; and Klent Kick On, ridden by Philip Miller and owned by Emma Ziff.
Said Bolesworth Managing Director, Nina Barbour: “We had a fantastic response to the AES Elite Foal Auction this week with great support and quality in the industry.
“Producers and owners are really behind the development of young horses with Olympic potential and are very much working to improve the depth of talent in Great Britain.
“Without doubt the quality and scope of youngsters now available in the country is far reaching with increasing numbers competing and being produced that have world class ability.
“To have four British bred horses in the top 10 in the five-year-old championships showcases where British breeding is going and how serious it is now being taken.”
Picture Caption: Pat Hales presents Joe Trunkfield with the winning award.