The first affiliated dressage contest for 2014 at Perthshire equestrian venue Inchcoonans proved a day of double wins for several local riders.
Making the most of her debut outing for the season and getting out and about to “have some fun” was BHS registered instructor Marjorie Grant and her multifunctional Highland pony Trailtrow Eriskay.
“This was out first outing since early November, so although our first test felt a bit rusty, I was delighted with the score,” said Marjorie, after notching up a 68.13% win from the restricted section of the affiliated Elementary 42 test.
“After some more supplying work in the warm-up, she felt really good in the second test, which was reflected in the marks,” she added of their progression to breach the 70% barrier topping the later Elementary 49 on 71.33%.
Marjorie, who lives in Perth and works as a higher agricultural officer with SGRPID, can be found with the 14-year-old mare across a plethora of different equestrian disciplines.
Since buying Eriskay, the daughter of Carrick Raasay and Trailtrow Ealasaid, from breeder Gillian McMurray as an unbroken three-year-old, they have risen through the grades at not only dressage, but in affiliated side saddle showing and national endurance competitions also.
“Eriskay is an advanced endurance pony, having completed 120km in a day,” said Marjorie. “She is to be the only Highland pony to a achieve this level and reach platinum endurance grading.
“She has also represented Scotland at team level for both endurance and dressage, and last year we represented Strathmore Riding Club at the National Championships.
“She was supreme champion at the Scottish Side Saddle show in 2013,” Marjorie added of their action packed year.
“I was thrilled to pieces with her dresage at Inchcoonans as we haven’t been able to do a huge amount of work but she was calm and obedient,” she added.
“She has strengthened a lot over the past few years and now finds the work much easier.
“My plans from here will be concentrated on building on her work to progress to medium when she is ready.”
Marjorie, who trains for dressage with Allison Fellows, said her talented pony is now also learning to jump: “We are having lots of fun with that.”
Across this last class, the open affiliated win went to another Highland Trowan Month, ridden by Alice Kate Page, whilst the unaffiliated section provided a second win for Lauren Butchart and Sir Todd, who had already taken the win in the Novice 30 arena.
Lauren’s wins with Sir Todd marked their return to dressage competition following some months’ absence.
“We’ve been taking a break, so we’ve only been jumping since September.
“I think the break has done him the world of good,” said Lauren, who works for Polytunnel tunnel manufacturers Remenco, in Glenrothes,” said Lauren.
“He felt quite sticky in the transitions but I think he was a bit ring rusty. He’s really starting to work properly over the back and has settled into a proper outline now, which I’ve always struggled with in the past with him,” she said.
Lauren was particularly pleased to get 7s for much of their canter work.
“That’s normally where I lose marks but, although there is still a lot to improve on in the tests, with the help of my trainer Jo Hamilton, we are starting to get the basic work right which will help when we start to move up the levels.”
The wins qualify Lauren and Sir Todd for the Morris EC/TSF dressage finals a competition they qualified for last year, but were unable to travel to the finals.
“He has qualified for the British Dressage Winter Championships down at Hartpury, in April, in the Elementary open petplan championship, so that’s my main aim at the moment.
“After that he will hopefully be ready to go out and compete at medium level,” she added.
Results
Intro A: 1 Zoe Florence, Preistwood Royal Doulton, 69.13; 2 Joyce Simpson, Willem, 64.35; 3 Hannah Cormack, Penycrug Hebog, 64.13.
Prelim 4: 1 Flora MacKinnon Pryde, Ebony, 77.73; 2 Carla Ryce, Diamond Jim, 71.82; 3 Jean Wilson, Fiddlers Hat, 70.90.
Prelim 13: 1 Sarah James, Euro Topic, 73.75; 2 Alison Page, Sporting Danillo, 69.17; 3 Carla Ryce, Diamond Jim, 67.92.
Novice 27 BD (rest): 1 Sarah Adam, Midsummer Sky, 52.86. Novice 27 BD (open): 1 Shelagh Steven, Balhagarty Midget Gem, 68.93. Novice 27 (unaff): 1 Sarah James, Euro Topic, 68.93; 2 Fiona Forbes, Weartic, 67.86; 3 Pamela Scott, William, 65.71.
Novice 30 BD (rest): 1 Janine Mason, Cornelia, 71.35; 2 Sarah Adam, Midsummer Sky, 51.73. Novice 30 BD (open): 1 Alice Kate Page, Trowan Monty, 68.46; 2 Shelagh Steven, Balhagarty Midget Gem, 65.19. Novice 30 (unaff): 1 Lauren Butchart, Sir Todd, 62.12; 2 Alison Page, Sporting Danillo, 61.54; 3 Shirley Rogie, Solas Alainn, 60.38.
Elementary 42 BD (rest): 1 Marjorie Grant, Trailtrow Eriskay, 68.13; 2 Lauren Buchart, Sir Todd, 67.19. Elementary 42 (unaff): 1 Janine Mason, Cornelia.
Elementary 49 BD (rest): 1 Marjorie Grant, Trailtrow Eriskay, 71.33. Elementary 49 BD (open): 1 Alice Kate Page, Trowan Month, 74.67. Elementary 49 (unaff): 1 Lauren Butchart, Sir Todd, 63.67.