Stars of the future shine at Cornbury House Horse Trials 2021

Two real stars of the future shone on the final day of Cornbury House Horse Trials (8-12 September 2021) in Oxfordshire.

Seventeen-year-old Finn Healy, individual and team gold medallist for Britain at the 2019 Pony European Championships, won the NAF Youth Performance CCI2*-S riding the 10-year-old 17hh grey mare Fathers Compromise. The pair finished on their dressage score of 26.7.

Finn said:

It feels amazing to win! Fathers Compromise is so cool – she’s stepped up the levels really quickly, from BE100s last year to her first novice at the end of the season. She’s gone from strength to strength.”

Finn Healy on Fathers Compromise Cornbury House Horse Trials 2021. Image credit Sarah Farnsworth Photography

This was Finn’s first visit to Cornbury House Horse Trials.

He said:

It’s a beautiful place with a really good atmosphere, it’s a traditional event and I am definitely coming back here – I’ve loved it.”

The NAF Youth Performance CCI3*-S went to Tom Woodward, 19, who has made a remarkable comeback from injury, riding Low Moor Lucky.

At the end of March, two days before his first event of the year, Tom broke his left leg, suffering a compound fracture. He was told his 2021 season was over, yet he has recovered quicker than was expected.

He said:

I am absolutely delighted with Lucky. It is the first international win for both of us and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Tom and Low Moor Lucky, who is owned by his parents David Woodward and Sue Thompson, achieved a double clear at Cornbury, finishing on their dressage score of 31.7.

Cornbury House feels like a major international event. The cross-country is big and bold, the fences are dressed so well; it’s a lovely track to jump around,”

he said.

Cornbury House Horse Trials’ founder and president David Howden is very keen that the Charlbury event – which is in its second year – becomes a nurturing ground for the best of British-based equine and human talent.

He said:

The young horses – and the young riders – are the future of our sport, and Cornbury House Horse Trials, with its big-event feel, spectacular setting and excellent courses and conditions can hopefully provide them with the grounding and the experience to set them on the path to the very top.”

Sunday’s national class winners included Tokyo gold medallist Laura Collett with her CCI5* partner Mr Bass, and Piggy French and her forthcoming European Championships ride Brookfield Inocent, underlining the quality of the huge entry to Cornbury House 2021.