The autumnal weather which crept over Auchterarder did little to dampen the spirits of the competitors at Gleneagles Hunter Trials.
Just two months after taking over the ride of Karen and Keith Fletcher’s gelding Vorame, Dunblane’s Rosie Williams scooped the open class win.
Recently fourth at late fixture Aske, at BE100 level, Rosie said the 10-year-old Belgium warmblood has been “going very well”.
She keeps the gelding on her farm in Perthshire and plans to spend the winter concentrating on British Showjumping.
“We are hoping to do some 1m30 classes with him, as he has showjumped already in Holland,” she said.
Next season should see them progress to novice level, with the possibility of future intermediate runs.
“The course rode well,” she said of Gleneagles, which is her local competition venue. “I thought it was quite a testing course for a 1m class, but Vorame jumped around well and the ground held up despite the rain.”
Rosie, who is aiming for the British junior team next season, trains regularly with David Harland and also spends time riding for Jack Mcgeoch, who she said has been very helpful, too.
She stopped the clock on the finish line in 4 minutes 53 seconds, ahead of Kinross rider Mark Moran, who finished on-board Louisa Milne Home’s grey schoolmaster Melody River just a matter of seconds behind.
The 22-year-old Melody River, known as Brillo at home, was brought out of retirement to teach Mark to ride just two years ago and they have been knocking on the door of the red rosettes on many of their recent runs.
Brillo, “a real character”, previously evented up to CCI** level with Louisa and has since taken Mark, who works as a sales rep for Carrs Billington, from hacking all the way up to double clear at BE100 level eventing.
They were recently fifth at the BHS Scotland hunter trials at Auchlishie, fourth at Glenfarg and third at Strathearn.
In the largest class of the day, the adult novice, the win went home to another rider who only sat in the saddle for the first time in her later years.
“I didn’t start riding until I was 39,” said Christine Galloway, who works as a foster carer in West Wemyss.
She said her job allows her some free time during each day to “indulge her passion” but she also gets great support from her youngster, who not only shares her love of horses but has proved a “fantastic groom”.
Her winner, Toby, came to her when he was seven to start ridden work.
“He was a late starter as his owner sustained a serious head injury whilst handling him as a three-year-old, and although he is now permanently loaned to me, Susan his owner supports me and comes to all his shows and enjoys his success with me.
“His first success was small and local at Fife Riding Club when I entered the dressage league for walk and trot, which he won and went on to win the winter league.”
Although Christine took a confidence knock when she first started showjumping the Irish draught cross Friesian, cross country is another ball game.
“This is my passion, and the flat course at Gleneagles was perfect for Toby.
“He is an amazing, confident horse, and although he didn’t start out to look particularly gifted at jumping, with help from my trainer Alwyn Mclain and his own exuberant nature, he now jumps very boldly,” she said.