The agility and versatility of native ponies shone brightly from the top of the scoreboards at Fife Riding Club’s Spring hunter trials fixture for 2014.
Held bi-annually at Craigie Farm, by Leuchars, Fife courtesy of the Foster family the competition remains a firm favourite amongst Scotland’s riding community.
The first pony to romp home through the finish line and take a win was Pollyanna Smith’s 11-year-old Connemara gelding Cookie.
Entered by Laura Anderson but piloted on this occasion by her 12-year-old daughter, Cookie has proved himself the ultimate family pony.
“Cookie might be just 14hh but he really thinks that he’s 16.2hh,” explained Laura.
“He’s just such a really good fun pony. He loves his jumping.”
After setting out “quite steadily”, Dollar Academy pupil Pollyanna stopped the clock just seven seconds under the optimum to take the lead.
Tackling the open class fences with ease, she said: “Once we were out of the first field Cookie felt fabulous. He jumped really well and got into a good rhythm, so the jumps flowed really well.”
Romping around the course clear to win the junior novice was 15-year-old Bell Baxter High School pupil Hannah Aitken and her Connemara pony Maydown Star.
Known at home in Newburgh as Eclipse, the rising six-year-old bred out of Glenvar Polly and sired by Skyline Robin.
A fullreport, pictures and results, published within The Courier, on May 3, is now available online HERE.