Equestrian Life Magazine February 2018 Edition

local events and reports
Olympia News
Puissance expert, Holly
Smith, triumphs again
Holly Smith and her nineyear
old horse, Quality
Old Joker, came within
a whisker of winning
for the second year in succession
the top prize in the Cayenne
Puissance held on 14 December at
the London International Horse
Show at Olympia. But all was
forgiven, as her mount rose to the
occasion, only two weeks later, to
jointly share the top spot with two
other competitors at the Equitop
Myoplast puissance at the Liverpool
International Horse show on 30
December.
It was first for Wymeswold-based
Holly last year at Olympia with
nine-year old Quality Old Joker
(known as George at home) but
this year she had to settle for joint
second place. With only two fences
to jump, they get higher and higher
after each round. Holly made it
through to the fifth and final round
where the monumental wall stood
at an incredible 7ft 3ins. But this
time her luck ran out as her horse
tapped a brick on the top of wall
ABOVE: Graham and
Holly Smith wait in
the collecting ring
at Olympia. Photo
Frances McKim
BELOW: Holly Smith
and Quality Old
Joker sail over the
massive wall at
Olympia
and this was enough to knock it to
the ground.
However, at Liverpool George was
foot perfect and cleared the wall
in the fifth and final round at the
maximum height of 7ft 3ins (2.2m)
so shared the red rosette with
Louise Saywell and Chris Megahey.
A delighted Holly said: “George is
just incredible. He always comes
out with a smile on his face and
tries his heart out for you. Some
horses get sour if you attempt too
many puissance classes – but not
George! He’s a real all-rounder as
he has won a speed class at HOYS,
a two-star grand prix in Spain and
was third in this year’s Hickstead
Derby.”
Standing at 18hh, George is
somewhat of an unlikely star. He
was originally bought by Graham
Smith, Holly’s husband, in Ireland
for her as a ladies show jumper.
But fate intervened when he was
lent to joint Quorn master, James
Mossman, for a day’s hunting.
James fell in love with him and
ABOVE: George stands at an
incredible 18hh. Photo Frances
McKim
bought him there and then.
George then spent a year acting as
James’ field master’s horse before
returning to Holly for a jumping
refresher. Holly took him to a few
competitions which he started
winning, so has stayed with Holly at
Fox Covert farm ever since.
“James still owns half of George,”
explains Graham, “But each time he
comes to see him compete it always
seems to go wrong. So we have
banned him from coming!”
JULIAN PORTCH PHOTOGRAPHY
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