THE EQUESTRIAN EVENT OF THE YEAR! - Countrywide Farmers

Exeter’s Jessica Please could be a hot tip for victory with the Exmoor Tawbitts Mystic Major. Picture by www.kathrynpearnmedia.co.ukwon a passage to Birmingham at the Wales & West qualifier. This son of RegalEmblas is described by Jo-Ann as her ‘walking miracle.’ “He’s been with me forten years and is extremely special,” said the Bampton-based rider. “He nearly diedsix-years-ago. A vet gave him an overdose of cortisone and he spent a year in thestable recovering. He’s one in a million.”Exeter’s Jessica Please could be a hot tip for victory with the super Exmoor TawbittsMystic Major. Bred on Exmoor by his owner’s Jackie Ablett and Gill Langdon, thisten-year-old gelding has enjoyed a prolific season with his talented jockey. EmmaEdwards-Brady from Hatherleigh made her dream come true at Kent County withher home-bred hack Runnon Daisy May who picked up a coveted ticket in theHOYS Cuddy supreme in-hand qualifier. “It’s amazing,” said Emma who wasjoined in the final judging by her mother Sue who was leading their prolific hackbroodmare Little Miss Tittle Tattle. “I’ve been in this final with seven differenthorses but never been given the nod. She’s one of our home-breds and extra special- mum and I were in tears.”horses apart from my old pony Chiddock Crossbow who helped my return backto the saddle.” As her confidence grew, Abbi made the decision to start competingagain and in 2008 she spotted Khlassic Design as a two-year-old colt. “He’d beenshown in hand very successfully,” she said. “We sent him to a producer to bebroken and bring him out under saddle. He ended the season by winning theBritish National novice ridden stallion championship. He returned home for thewinter and I started hacking him out. My confidence grew enough to show himmyself and I aimed to do a handful of shows. I never dreamt we’d enjoy thissuccess and qualify for HOYS. It’s a dream come true.”Breeder, Charles Upham of the Langaller Stud, Newton Abbot increased theregion’s chances by claiming his HOYS ticket to the Cuddy final at the NPSchampionships with Tawstock Fedora. Another emotional ticket fell to AbbiHolmes and her Arab stallion Khlassic Design at the Arab Horse Society NationalChampionship Show, Malvern. “It’s our first year competing together and myfirst year back in the ring after a 10-year break,” said Abbi who lives at Redruth.“I started the season as a complete nervous wreck and he (Khlassic Design) justcarried me around – I think this says a lot for a five-year-old stallion. I couldn’tbe more proud of him and what he has achieved both in the ring and in regainingmy confidence.”Abbi broke her back in a riding accident at the age of 15 and spent three monthsin a body cast. “I was told not to ride for a year,” she explained. “We sold all ourDarren Cummings secured his passage with a win in the ridden Arab mare ofthe year qualifier at the Royal Bath & West Show on Summer Place Blossom.Picture by www.kathrynpearnmedia.co.ukTown & Country Matters Autumn 2011 www.townandcountrysupplies.co.uk 11