SOME strong combinations battled for the remaining spots for the Events Through a Lens talent seeker inc seven-year-old championship but none could match Nicole Pavitt and Cornet Of Follyfoot, who were back at the top of their game.
“Normally he’s the most consistent horse but recently he’s had a patch of four faultitis,” said Nicole, who has also qualified the seven-year-old for this year’s newcomers and Foxhunter finals, all on the winning ticket. “Today he really felt back to himself.”
Nicole was second to go of 16 through to the jump-off, and followed a very fast opening bid by Chloe Winchester and Korlenski, who were the quickest of the class but tipped the penultimate fence.
Lauren Caroline and Be Cuick One, also a sevenyear-old, and Max Routledge (Ascadina PPZ) were 0.20sec apart in second and third, more than a second off Nicole’s lead.
“Because he is careful and has a big stride, you can go one fewer in places where other people can’t, that has always been my advantage with him,” said Nicole.
Each qualifier has four tickets for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), one of which must go to the highest-placed seven-year-old, which can make bids strategic.
“We’ve tried to qualify for the talent seekers this year twice before — at Chard we had the fastest time by several seconds but had the last fence down. There were 30 in the jump-off and the highestplaced seven-year-old was fifth or sixth, so I could have been five or six seconds slower and still qualified,” Nicole said.
“What was nice about Coombelands was that they put all the seven-year-olds first in the draw, so you knew what you had to do.”
Sally Jobson-Scott’s gelding won the newcomers final at HOYS last year with Nicole’s sister Louise, as Nicole had broken her collarbone. This year Nicole has the Foxhunter final, a title she has never taken, as a particular target with him.
Denne historien er fra August 29, 2024-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra August 29, 2024-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
Communication, says long-standing and highly respected Belvoir master Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is the key to all, as Catherine Austen discovers
Access all areas Cavalier Centre
The Cavalier Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art equestrian centre designed to improve lives through horse-based activities. Ellie May Forrester pays a visit
'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
