The rise from humble beginnings to winning The Welsh Masters twice in two years!
Samantha Kellett, a talented show jumper from Gloucestershire has won the coveted Welsh Masters Title with her Grade A show jumper, V Ramsez Z, for the second time in two years.
Their amazing journey stated only 6 years ago, this is how it began.
It was during a cross-country lesson at Rabson Manor with the late Tom Searle on her previous horse called Corky, which wasn’t going to plan. Tom said to Sam, “if you really want to event, then we’d better find you another horse”
Within a couple of weeks Tom had found something suitable but, described him as quirky! So, Sam went over to give “Deacon” a try.
At the time, he was owned by John Westmore who had done a handful of BE90’s and BE100’s. John’s wife Sophie rode him first. On first impressions Sam didn’t think he was that special. However, she then hopped on and he produced a buck in his first canter! Sam decided there was something cheeky about this horse and tried him over some poles. He made 1.10m look effortless and the power he had was phenomenal! He was definitely the horse for her and the deal was done.
On getting him home it was evident Deacon had many quirks including dragging Sam to and from the field, jumping out of his paddock, not wanting to be tied up and napping and spooking out on hacks!
However, despite this, over the next few months Sam took Deacon eventing and won her class at West Wilts progressing to BE100 and gained a double clear at Howick. It then became evident that Deacon was not a fan of water and so the doubt about him having an eventing career crept in.
Joe MacDonald was one of the first people to give Sam the confidence to pursue her show jumping career. Deacon rapid qualified for the British Novice Finals having won nearly every qualifying class he entered. This talented combination then started to progress through the ranks from Newcomers to Foxhunters and qualified for the Blue Chip restricted 1.10m class and the 1.20m class. They’ve since gone on to qualify for the Blue Chip finals every year since.
Her consistency meant that sponsorship came her way in the form of Equiboodle, a tack shop based in South Cerny, near Cirencester who she is an ambassador for.
Roland Fernyhough now trains this awesome due and has improved their consistency of jumping double clears at 1.10m and 1.15m seeing them progress to Grade A status.
Deacon and Sam went on to win the 1.10m Welsh Masters Championship in 2016, followed up by reserve champion in 2017 and have now regained their Championship title in 2018, something Sam thought would only ever be a dream.
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.