A mammoth 850-mile round-trip to Buckingham reaped huge reward for the connections of Glenbanchor Somerled, when he stood reserve supreme at the NPS National Dressage Championships.
Owned by Elinor Steven, of Hillhead Farm, Kingsbarns and ridden by Jo Jack, of Wester Newburn, Leven the nine-year-old Highland Pony gelding topped both his Prelim and Novice classes at the championships granting him passage into the supreme.
Known affectionately as Bo, the son of Moss-side Iain Mhor and Glenbanchor Lady Fiona, had qualified to make the trip to Addington Manor for the nationals with winning dressage performances at both the Central Scotland Highland Pony Club and NPS Scotland shows during the summer of 2013.
With more than 300 entries for the day, classes were split into a number of subsections. Bo rose through the ranks following fierce competition within the Mountain and Moorland Highland, Dales and Fell section of the Prelim test, which they won on a score of 70.4% and laterly also the Novice test, from which they achieved the top percentage of 73.3.
At the close of the marathon day, with results revealed at 7pm, the top competitors were drawn forward for the supreme ride off contest a Freestyle Dressage to Music performance.
“We rode to a selection of Scottish Pipes and Drums music, sourced by a friend Lynn Paisley,” explained Jo.
“I had only got the music a few days before but had managed to work out the trot and walk movements (on another pony) but not the canter! I had just enough time to try it out just before we went in and luckily it worked really well.”
Following the ride off, the Scottish partnership secured the reserve surpeme, behind part-bred pony Catherston Bit of Gold, ridden by Charlotte Dicker. First reserve was the Welsh A, Waitwith Choice ridden by Katie Wrennall.
“We did not expect to a) win or b) it to be such a long day,” explained Jo. “The ride off ended at 10pm. We then loaded and drove the 420 miles home overnight, arriving at 6.45am just in time to get ready to go to work!”
Elinor added: “I had lump in my throat watching their performance. I am very proud of the pair of them. A special mention to both Hamish Cameron and Kay Gebbie, as we would not have done it without their help.”
Bo, which previously took the 2012 Private Driving championship at the Royal Highland, finishing eighth in the supreme contest at the Horse of the Year Show, heads next to the Rhinnspoint dressage finals with Jo but he is also in training for the 36th Annual Tandem meet at Selkirk in July, where Elinor will drive him alongside his half-sister Pitmilly Isabella.