Durham Based Showjumper Scoops Eight Entries to the 2018 Horse of the Year Show

A Durham-based showjumper has enjoyed a clean sweep after becoming the only competitor to gain eight entries to the 2018 Horse of the Year Show.

Annabel Shields, and Robert Shields’ mare Gerona confirmed thier potential by qualifying for the Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter and Talent Seekers inc. 7 Year Old Championship on her first attempt. Annabel also qualified for the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Championship. Gerona is the known as the “princess” of the yard and is naturally quick over a course allowing Annabel to use the mare’s carefulness and long stride to her advantage during jump offs. Chloe Page’s black gelding Epke, also ridden by Annabel, has qualified for the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Championship after coming second to Gerona at Fife Agricultural Show.

Another of Annabel’s rides with multiple qualifications for HOYS 2018 is the grey mare Creevagh Carisma who has qualified for the Equitop Myoplast Senior Foxhunter and Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Championship. The mare previously competed in eventing and is a recent addition to Annabel’s string of horses, but Annabel believes Carisma is ready to step up to bigger classes.

Rubin VHS came third at the Royal Highland Show to see Annabel qualify another one for the Talent Seekers inc. 7 Year Old Championship. It will be a return visit to HOYS for the eight year old gelding as he competed for two national titles at HOYS 2017. Rubin VHS and Gerona will be joined in the Talent Seekers by Capriole II, a 10 year old bay gelding owned by Robert Shields, who qualified at the North Yorkshire Area Show.

Riding at HOYS is always an honour and to have eight qualification tickets is just brilliant! You have a great feeling of pride riding at this fantastic show and it’s a super testament for my family run yard and the effort everyone puts in,”

explains a delighted Annabel.

The National Showjumping classes run throughout the week at HOYS from Wednesday – Sunday. The International Showjumping at HOYS starts on Friday 5^th running over the weekend until Sunday 7^th with classes such as; the Five Fence Challenge, the Puissance and the Leading Showjumper of the Year Grand Prix. The British riders confirmed so far include; Michael Whitaker, Robert Whitaker, John Whitaker, Guy Williams, Julie Andrews, Jessica Dimmock, Joe Clayton, Paul Barker, Mennell Watson, Helen Tredwell and Robert Murphy.

To get your showjumping fix be sure to purchase your tickets to #HOYS2018 and join in the 70^th Anniversary celebrations. Call the Box Office on 0844 581 8282 or visit https://hoys.co.uk/tickets/

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.