Best Results - 46 BE points, £400 BSJA.
Icon is my current best horse. He has an air of “royalty” about him and we have a perfect relationship and understanding; I am convinced he is a 4* horse. Having said that he is not most riders 4* dream. He finds the dressage difficult, appearing stiff as he has an unlevel sacroiliac joint, he is not the most careful showjumper and finds the XC time hard having a rounded action and is not full thoroughbred. However he tries very, very hard every step of the way. He’s bold, quick thinking, loves big XC fences and is extremely easy to train. I love him to bits and he has got a nose like a bloodhound sniffing out polo’s even if there is only one left in my pocket!
Icon has nothing to prove having taken me clear round 3 Advanced courses. We are very careful where we run him as hard ground shakes him up.
Character: wise, intelligent, incredible willingness to please.
Best Results - Placed BE100 and in 3 BYEH classes in 2011. 22 BE Foundation Points.
Top Gun has become established at BE100 level this year, and has been placed in 3 BYEH classes including a 5th at Gatcombe, missing on on qualification by just 1 point. He is incredibly bold XC so should be ready for Novice in 2012.
Character: cheeky, confident, bold, tough.
Best Results - 4th in the British Young Horse Championships 2011. Placed in several BYEH classes in 2011. 12 BE foundation points.
In 2012 Monty will be campaigned at BE100 and aim to qualify for the 5 year old championships. He is the most wonderful horse to ride and train, and eventually I am hoping he will take Icon's place as my top horse.
Character: Bold, sensitive, cuddly, gentle, unassuming - he has no idea he has the X- factor!
Best Results - placed at BE90. 45 BE foundation points.
In 2011 Milo won an incredible 45 FP's in half a season, and has an outstanding XC record clear every time out. He is the kindest easiest horse I have ever owned and should really be sold as due to his chunky build he wont be more than a 1* horse. I love riding him so it would have to be a very tempting offer!
Character: sensible, kind, careful, trustworthy, calm.
Mika will be aimed at some 4 year old classes in 2012. . I evented both his mother and his full brother.
Character: He is a bold careful little horse, very grown up and sensible for his age, kind and fun, enjoys his work.
Breeding youngstock happened by accident. I only have one proper broodmare - Butterfly. I evented her and then decided to put her in foal. Her first foal Mister Bojangles had an outstanding BE record and I only sold him as I have his full brothers growing on down the fields! We choose local stallions as its easier as I am always at my busiest in the summer time. The two other broodmares Paintpot and Josie Jump only had foals last year and we won’t breed from them again. Paintpot has now gone home to her owner, my friend Joy Bannister, who lent her to me when she lost her grazing. Josie Jump has been sold to a lovely new home.
I prefer to buy my youngstock rather than breed. That way I can buy geldings and have an idea of the temperment and adult height.
Currently I have three 3 year olds - Paint It 2 The Limit, Hartpury Twilight, Credit Crunch Christmas, and 2 year Rif Raf the Dragon. Rif Raf is to be put in foal but I am in a dilemma over a stallion, it must have very little bone.
