Puissance First-Timer Shares Spoils

A puissance debutant claims first place alongside this year’s Hickstead Derby winners

IT’S been a landmark year for Irish rider Mikey Pender and Brit William Whitaker, and they kept themselves firmly in the spotlight when they divided the spoils in a thrilling Cayenne puissance.

Mikey, riding Paul van den Bosch’s Hearton Du Bois Halleux, blasted into the frame with a victory in this year’s Hickstead Derby, while William has had a great year jumping the Global Champions Tour circuit with new US employer Rushy Marsh Farms.

Both made a return to British soil to jump at Olympia, and these two combinations exuded precision and class as they aced the full five rounds, finishing up with a flawless trip over the 7ft 2in (2.18m) wall.

Incredibly, it was William’s ride RMF Charly’s first puissance and he was foot-perfect in every heat. Brought to the show as a fourth horse just for this class, his stylishness and scope indicated a deep pool of talent in the Yorkshireman’s string.

“You don’t jump a horse in the puissance if you don’t think he can do it, and we knew he was capable,” said William. “He has a really good canter that helps you, so I just try to stay in balance with him, with a good stride, and give him a chance to jump it. It felt as good as it looked.”

William has been riding the horse since the 10-year-old was purchased by Rushy Marsh at the beginning of this year, and he has been a versatile addition.

“He’s one of those horses you can slot in anywhere. He can do a speed class if you need him to, he can do a grand Prix and now we know he can do a puissance as well. It doesn’t take a lot out of him,” he said.

It’s said that a good puissance horse is often a good Derby stamp — they both require scope and bravery in spades — but where Hearton Du Bois Halleux stands out is that his boldness doesn’t compromise his rideability.