Fife’s Scholland Stud lifted the national supreme pony title at the Scottish Loose Jumping Championships with a pony that was given his nickname by the children of Colinsburgh Primary School.
Scholland Royal Connection SSH nicknamed Paddy by the children achieved the highest mark of the evening contest held at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre, outside Edinburgh.
This year the national championship event for three-year-old horses and ponies, which was previously run by the Scottish Sports Horse Society, became breed independent under a new management team of Ben Wentink and Suzi ‘Scotia’ McCombie.
Invited by Ben, who runs the Scotland AI Service and who is himself a breeder of successful international showjumpers, Scotia said the judges for the event “could not have been more qualified”.
Taking centre stage to adjudicate the contest were Wiebe-Yde van de Lageweg, of the VDL stud in Holland, who has been involved with breeding successful, top-class horses for over the last 40 years; and Mary Turnbull, of the Ashton Stud, in Fife, who was recently awarded the Equine Breeder of the Year title by HorseScotland and who has provided Olympic rider Scott Brash with two of his highly talented mounts: Ursula XII and Whisky Mac IV, both of which competed in this year’s Longines Global Champions Tour at 1.60m and 1.40m respectively.
A quality entry of athletic equines was attracted to the centre by the event’s substantial prize pot, offering £500 to the champion horse and £300 to the champion pony.
Achieving the pony supreme on a score of 88.5 for Debbie Mass, who runs the Scholland Stud from Balmakin Bothy, at Colinsburgh, Scholland Royal Connection topped a hugely successful three-year-old year.
Debbie said the young colt brought to the arena a pedigree and temperament that stands among “the best” of both Continental and UK breeding lines, being sired by Casino Royal K (FS Champion De Luxe) and out of Rushiefauld Bethany (Tullibardine Bonheddwr).
“It has been a fantastic year for him,” said Debbie, reflecting on a season which saw the young colt win a plethora of sports pony classes before progressing to become an SSH Graded stallion.
“This is the icing on the cake,” she added.
“We are looking forward to his first breeding season next year.”
Scholland Royal Connection, which took a Premium as a foal in 2010 through the SSH, also won the overall pony championship and reserve supreme of show title at the SSH North of the Borders Foal and Youngstock Show as a yearling in 2011.
He has since also gained a First Premium as a two-year-old and went on to stand reserve champion pony at the SSH Youngstock Show this year.
“Our local Colinsburgh Primary School gave him his stable name of Paddy,” added Debbie.
“They continue to follow his progress, and Paddy has also been a big part of our Pony Club centre with members involved in producing him.
“The kids love getting him ready for competitions and they love seeing him do so well.”
Scholland Royal Connection was awarded an additional prize as the best turned out entry of the evening.
National champion of the horse contest was Ayrshire event rider Elana Chilton’s scopey young filly Indiana Dream. Indi, a three-year-old by Eurocommerce Zagreb (Querlybet Hero) has been with Elana for the last eight weeks.
She was bred in Symington by Kirsty Greig out of Like A Dream (Feugo), but came to Elana though Jack and Isabel McGeoch.
“I was tentatively looking for another project after sadly losing my novice event horse Puddledub Volunterry this year, and they asked me to come and see her,” said Elana.
“I have been to showjumping lessons with Isabel for years, so they both know me pretty well.”
Elana, who just took the filly out for “an outing”, admitted she was so surprised to win that she was reduced to tears.
The filly, which is broken to ride, has just been hacking and schooling and had only jumped her first cross-pole fences the week prior to the championship contest.
“I plan to do some Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers next year in the hope of being lucky enough to qualify her for Burghley,” added Elana.
“There is a lot of TB in her dam’s line, so I think she will have plenty gallop.
“She is a beautiful straight mover, which is very exciting too.”
Elana, who has previously evented up to advanced-intermediate and CCI** level, has sold each of her horses during her progression over the years to allow her to build her own stables, turnout and arena at her home.
Now, she says having brought on a number of young horses, Indi will definitely be bound for the event circuit: “But this one, all being well, is certainly for keeps!”
At the close of the contest, the new management team said they are enthusiastic about expanding on the event for future years.
“Our aim is to ensure recognition for the breeders behind successful horses and to provide an equal platform for quality jumping youngsters to showcase natural ability,” added Scotia.