A huge achievement

Hollie Gerken accumulates an incredible haul of ribbons and an "almost perfect" pony lands a second title

HOLLIE GERKEN rode all week at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) with a lucky stone in her pocket. And it seems to have worked – as she took two wins, two seconds and a third.

Hollie won the leading pony showjumper of the year, was placed in the newcomers and Foxhunter finals, then topped it all off by taking the 138cm title.

Having earned 10 HOYS tickets, the 13-year-old must have thought she had a good chance of a result. As was the case – having finished second and third in the newcomers, on Ballycarrow Mirahs Sparrow and Velini’s Silver Star, she went one better on Deborah Doyle’s Ramiro High Society to take her first HOYS win, the prestigious pony showjumper title.

Last in, Hollie knew what she had to do. Of six in the jump-off, only Harriet Hodge and Little Charlie II had jumped clear, three of the four others having had refusals at the double after a tight rollback. But Hollie and the big striding, 12-year-old Ramiro B mare made nothing of the turn, finishing clear and half a second ahead.

“I was aware of the problems but I know my pony doesn’t mind turns, so I just had to keep my outside leg on and stay forward,” Hollie said. “She doesn’t have poles often so I just had to stay confident, hope for the best and go for it.

“The top showjumpers riding for Britain have won this, so for me to do it – it’s amazing.”