NMW's clients and staff excel at showing shows and Easter in-house events

kirstenmbinnie
May 2
5 min read

NMW Riding Academy's clients and staff have got their spring show season off to a winning start with qualifications for classes at Scone and taking championships at open shows.

Meanwhile, riders of varying levels from NMW took part in the in-house Easter Showing Show and showjumping during the school holidsys, cementing the skills they have acquired through instruction at the academy.

The young riders gathered for the showjumping at Keithall, Inverurie, and classes ranged from poles on the ground to a Chase-me-Charlie.

At the showing show, judged by Carys McIntosh, they worked hard to turn out beautifully washed and presented ponies for lead rein, equitation and fancy dress.

Further away from home, proprietor Rachael Doubleday took her horse, NMW Bogton KitKat to Tillyoch's BS show in April along with clients Sophie Sayers riding NMW Chakra (Charlie) and Sadie Ballantyne with her own Garvagh Honey.

A few days later staff and clients went to the Bogenraith Equestrian Spring Showing Show with Rachael riding KitKat and Kilrush Bertie, client Rae Graham and school pony Montgomery, client and weekend helper Lucy Abel took Lionheart Evita and livery Limekiln Tinman with his rider and NMW staff member Kelsi Stewart.

At Tillyoch's 3-day showjumping, which included BS classes, on the first day, Sadie Ballantyne rode double clears with Garvagh Honey and was 5th in the 70cm.

Sadie Ballantyne and Garvagh Honey. Image by Faron McLellan Photography.

Meanwhile, Sophie Sayers took NMW Chakra (Charlie) to Tillyoch Equestrian and was placed in the 70cm and 80cm.

Rachael and Bogton KitKat secured two qualifications to Scone Horse Trials Working Hunter Finals, at Tillyoch in the 1m Dodson and Horrell Working Hunter and 105 Perth Equine Vets Working Hunter.

At the first outside showing show of their season, Rachael rode KitKat and Albert (Kilrush Bertie) at Bogenraith Equestrian's showing show.

With KitKat, she contested the 1.05m working hunter, was third in the Ridden Hunter and Reserve Champion in the horse working hunter; while Albert took second place in the Ridden Heavy Breeds.

Rachael and KitKat in the working hunter at Bogenraith Equestrian. Image by Stephen Hammond Photography.

Rae Graham (10) with NMW riding school pony Montgomery (Monty) won her working hunter and the Best PC pony classs, then went on to take champion in the PC/RC section.

Rae and Montgomery in the Working Hunter at Bogenraith Equestrian. Image by Stephen Hammond Photography.

Monty is a rescue pony owned by Alison Bradford and was brought over from Ireland at less than 6 months old in a group of abandoned colt foals. Now 11, the bay gelding is a favourite at NMW and lives at the centre with his friend Moggy.

Rae and Montgomery. Image by Stephen Hammond Photography.

Rachael said:"He was in very poor condition so the expectations were low when he and his pal Moggy arrived. They learned the handling skills with Aly and stayed with her until they were five, then went to Steph Slater to be backed.

"They came to me to continue their education and started work in the school. Kelsi started taking him out to shows to give him a good experience.

"Rae started riding with us about two years ago and found her bond with Monty about 10-12 months ago. Rae is such a tidy wee rider and is a pleasure to teach because she listens to the coaches, tries really hard and you can see she genuinely loves and enjoys not only the riding but being around the horses and learning.

Rae's mum, Anne Robertson Graham, and Rae's gran, went to Bogenraith to witness her and Monty receiving their championshop rosette and sash.

Lucy Abel and Lionheart Evita at Bogenraith Equestrian. Image by Dawn Brown Photography.

Lucy Abel rode the five-year-old coloured mare Lionheart Evita, owned by John and Anne Middler of Orcadia, Keithall, where NMW are based, at Lucy's first away from home show and contested the the coloured pony classes.

Staff member Kelsi Stewart took NMW livery Limekiln Tinman, a New Forest, in the in-hand large Mountain & Moorland to secure 2nd place, and he gained some ring experience in the large Mountain & Moorland Novice Ridden.

Full results are on the Tillyoch BS three-day results pages and the Bogenraith Equestrian Spring Showing Show results page.

There are also two further pages of results from the in-house NMW Riding Academy Easter shows in this edition of The Equine Times.

East Aberdeenshire PC successes

A group of competitors from NMW attended the East Aberdeenshire branch of the Pony Club's Showing Show and Working Hunter at New Deer Showground just before we went live for April.

Rachael and KitKat won the 90cm Working Hunter and took Reserve Champion, winning their first sash together.

Sharon Robertson-Turner and Smarty (Marty) at the East Aberdeenshire Pony Club Showing Show.

Livery and NMW volunteer Sharon Robertson-Turner and Smarty (Marty) won the in-hand Veteran and in-hand Veteran Championship and was third in the senior handler class.

New Forest livery Limekiln Tinman and Kelsi Stewart were second in the in-hand Large Mountain & Moorland and won the Open Ridden Large Mountain & Moortland.

Kelsi Stewart with Limekiln Tinman at the East Aberdeenshire Pony Club show. Image by Kirsten Binnie.

Pony Club test achievements

A number of riding school clients and members of the NMW Pony Club took their Pony Club tests over the Easter holidays.

The recipients of their new badges were:

Big Road Rider Badge - Olivia Foreman, Holly Simpson (both from East Aberdeenshire Pony Club), Skylar Evans, Sadie Ballantyne.

Mini Road Rider Badge - Emma Dixon, Florence Gillespie, Zoe Mitchell, Abi Finnie.

D Test - Frankie Kiddell, Skylar Evans.

D Test Plus - Jessica Connon, Skylar Evans, Rubi Paice.

C Test (assessed by Lorraine Buchan) - Sadie Ballantyne, Rae Graham, Elise Clement.

Clients of NMW Pony Club with their certificates.

C Test pupils with Lorraine Buchan.

Farm Badge for Pony Club

A GROUP of riders from NMW went to SRUC College, Aberdeen, and were taken to the college site by volunteers Tracy Grant and Amy King, to complete their Farm Badge for the Pony Club. It includes subjects such as crop development, machinery, identifying crops, the various animals raised on farms, harvesting and what aspects of farming make money.

The following riders gained this badge - Sophie Taylor, Emily Henderson, Amy Stewart (NMW Pony Club) and Sienna Black (Deeside Pony Club).

Farm Badge participants.

NMW dressage and showjumping

THE summer league of NMW's in-house showjumping started in April with the Easter showjumping, and continues on May 22nd, June 19th, August 10th, September 18th and October 2nd.

Summer camps

A NUMBER of camps will be held at the academy during the summer, and there are still a few places open for the camp on 4th to 7th June.

The theme this year is The Traitors. Participants can choose between sticking to flatwork or jumping and there is the option to do cross-country up to 85cm, where riders can work on cross country technique and aim for higher fences than usual or add in arena eventing fences to expand their skills.

Booking is on Horsemonkey.com