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It was by pure chance that we were given the opportunity to buy Rosie. I had been standing at the ringside chatting to Karen Manning who owned her at that time. She told me that she would be for sale at the end of the year as Sam , her daughter was getting too big. I asked whether she thought she would be suitable to introduce our daughter Alexandra to the ring.
Consequently we tried Rosie at the 2002 Northern Horse Show and decided to buy her. As Alex and Rosie were on the lunge, the pony’s trainer Kate Carter, came running up the field in great excitement and declared that she wanted to do lead rein with her for the rest of the season as the picture was so good. Alex had been fortunate enough to have a wonderful schoolmistress at home who had given her confidence and taught her to ride so her ability had come as a shock to Kate .
The new pair were duly entered at BSPS Area 10 and ended the day by taking the overall Supreme and never looked back. That 2002 season she took the HOYS classes and Championships at the Scottish Horse and BSPS Summer Champs and our season culminated with a second at HOYS at Birmingham. It was something I’d never even dreamt of as it had all happened so fast! About a week later we received a rosette from the Dartmoor Pony Society via Karen for being the highest placed Dartmoor in the lead rein class at HOYS. I thought it was such a lovely thing to do that we decided to get more involved and so when 2003 dawned we became family members and found out about the Diary and Top Spec awards.
Rosie had wintered with us but returned to Kate’s in January to prepare for winter shows and Alex and I started making weekly after-school trips to Kate’s for practice. The pair qualified for the BSPS Winter Champs first time out and so began our dream season. They not only won their championship at the Winter Champs in the indoor arena under the lights but then took the supreme heritage championship - it was a very proud moment for all of us.
We also decided to do a few small breeds classes with our jockey Natalie Middlemass and she qualified for RIHS in March she then assumed her lead rein mantle and qualified again in April. Alex was having the time of life and wanted to go showing every week. Luckily she had a couple of other rides so Rosie was able to rest every now and again! In fact she was due to ride her at Royal Lancs and was horrified when I told her it had been cancelled due to bad weather and subsequently blamed me!
The Royal International brought us an unbelievable day with Alex and Rosie winning the lead rein class and then Natalie taking the Open Championship with her in the afternoon. Then we went on to the NPS Champs where Rosie headed her Olympia section at her first attempt and then again won her lead rein section and stood reserve in the Micor Demolition Championship. More success at Ponies UK followed with the lead rein partnership taking 1st and reserve Lobster Pot whilst Natalie and Rosie cantered off with the Overall Ridden Supreme having taken the Dartmoor Ridden Breed class earlier in the day.
Then we had a dilemma.
The Dartmoor Pony Society Breed Show clashed with the BSPS Summer Champs which is our biggest show in terms of animals exhibited. We put our heads together and decided that as Natalie was so keen to have a go , she and Stuart would drive down on the Wednesday whilst Nigel and I along with our brilliant staff would keep things running at Peterborough. Natalie was so nervous as she didn’t want to travel all that way and let us down. We however are great believers in fate and if something’s meant to be then it will happen. Needless to say we had mobiles at the ready all day and when Stuart texted to tell me that the pair had got the Olympia ticket I was actually in the ring stripping a pony, so had to contain my excitement!
Alex and Rosie had another win on the lead at the BSPS Champs which meant that they had won at every Championship Show – what stars!
Finally we came to the Horse of the Year Show and in view of the amazing season we had been lucky enough to enjoy , we didn’t dare hope for more than a placing. We felt that we had had our share of good luck and that it was lovely just to be there contesting the Open and mini sections. Natalie and Rosie went beautifully and finished 8th then we had a wait until about two o’clock for the mini section. There was such an atmosphere in the Hall of Champions as connections studied each pony’s trot out . Rosie and Alex were once again foot perfect thanks to Kate’s hard work , dedication and belief in the partnership. I was quite relaxed until I realised that Mrs Mansfield was pulling the ponies in an order and……….we were top! They came out and went brilliantly so it was then a nail biting hour or so until she came to the final decision. Just to add to our already frazzled nerves the announcer decided to read the placings in reverse order. By the time we got to third I just hoped they’d been placed but when they called them forward it was unbelievable. Our six year old daughter and beloved Rosie were at the front taking their place and M & M Lead Rein of the Year!
As the First Ridden class had taken place beforehand we were straight on to the championship which after a further trot out was again called in reverse order. When the second lead rein came out as runner-up we held our breath and..oh yes they were champion!
Finally to complete our dream season we were notified of the outcome of the Top Spec points award and Rosie had won with Alex and come second with Natalie which meant that she was the overall champion. This gave us a great thrill and Alexandra especially enjoyed collecting the prizes on the day,. It made us feel part of the Dartmoor Pony Society which has welcomed us in our first year as members.
Thanks must go to Kate Carter for all her hard work, my parents for taking Alex to shows when we weren’t able, Anne Rigby who bred her and has been so supportive and finally to Rosie for being the most wonderful pony a family could wish to own. Looking ahead, Alex and Rosie have ventured off the lead and are really enjoying themselves!
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