Woodhead enjoys Fairy Tale show

Amy Woodhead clinches six wins over the course of the show, including the grand prix with a mare who has benefited from time at the beach

- LUCY ELDER

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AMY WOODHEAD proved unstoppable, claiming six wins on four different horses, including the competitive grand prix aboard a star from the Mount St John stud.

Amy and Mount St John Kom Fairy Tale (Furst Heinrich x Weltmeyer) topped Thursday’s inter II on 73.73%, following this up with a grand prix victory the following evening.

This was only the lightly competed 14-year-old mare’s third attempt at grand prix, having stepped up to this level just six weeks ago, but she oozed confidence to top the leaderboard on 72.17%.

The mare is stunning – liver chestnut with a head like a Stubbs painting, but with the sort of power and athleticism to make her a top athlete. Her trot halfpasses were elegant and light, while her piaffe and pirouettes were a real highlight. Her free walk was relaxed and athletic, and the only perceivable moment of tension passed fleetingly in the flying change between the two pirouettes.

“Amy took on the ride about a year ago now and they make a really nice partnership,” said owner Emma Blundell of the Mount St John stud. “She’s a very hot horse and she gets a bit nervous, so Amy has been really giving her confidence. They’ve spent a lot of time at the beach, playing and having fun, which has really boosted her confidence.

“The tricky movements are the things she finds easiest. Her talents are the piaffe/passage and pirouettes, where she’s really strong in the collected work. She finds relaxing harder, so seeing her relaxed in that extended walk was the biggest thing for me.”