Willa Newton has announced the retirement of her popular event horse, Neelix
Willa Newton has announced her Gold medal winning ride Neelix, or ‘Chip’ as he is affectionately known at home, will retire. Chip will spend his retirement days on the Newton’s Hall Place Farm near Melton Mowbray.
Irish Sports horse Neelix, who is now 18, and Willa were on the Gold medal winning Team at the Junior Europeans in 2008 and then went on to three consecutive Young Rider European Championships, taking Team Gold and Individual Silver at Blair in 2011. The combination were 9th in The Bramham Under 25 International that year before going on to complete The Luhmuhlen 4* International in 2014.
Neelix narrowly missed out on a Hartpury CIC*** victory two years running when he finished third in 2016 and second last year. His final competition year (2017) ended on a high, with the combination going double clear in all their runnings, including a 6th in the Bramham CIC*** and Burgham CIC*** events.
“Neelix is a horse of lifetime; he has taught me so much and I owe him everything! There aren’t many horses that can take you from Pony Club and Juniors, to four star. We will hugely miss him at the competitions as he so enjoyed his job; but are very grateful that he will retire healthy and happy at home with us all.”
27 year old Willa is one of the youngest British Event Riders in the World’s Top 40.
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.