The Veteran Horse Society again is about to show the equine world the standard of veteran horses and ponies that are registered within the society.

10 horses and ponies have competed against hundreds of other hopeful veteran horse owners and carers to get to the prestigious event in December.

There have been over eighty area rounds qualifying to Regional Rounds and these 10 champions all represent their areas within the UK.

National Show Co-ordinator Linda McLintock spoke from their showing office in Powys today,' we are absolutely delighted about the standard of horses and ponies this year again, they are a credit to their owners and carers, it is also lovely to see a golden veteran at 30 years of age competing. The event helps to raise the profile of VHS,veteran's and their welfare and are delighted that already the event is a sell out'.

The Society also has a new Sponsor for this year's final and that is Ssang Yong who have just launched their new 4 x 4 Rexton.

A spokesman for the company spoke of their association with the final today 'SsangYong are proud to be sponsors of the VHS Supreme Final at Olympia 2003. Complementing the speed, power and agility of the new Rexton with an equestrian event such as this is tremendous for the showcasing of this new car into the UK'

The class will start at approximately 10.00am on Sunday 21st December in the main arena, make sure that you get there early to see these fabulous horses.

Regional Finalists for Olympia 2003

1) Anglia

Cottrell Fanfare - Owner/ Mrs Jane Taylor Rider/ Hannah Jarman
12.3hh Part Welsh Sec B 1986 Bay Gelding

Cottrell Fanfare or Dragon as he is known at home has done it, he has qualified for Olympia! This is the icing on the cake for him and his young jockey Hannah Jarman aged 12. They have achieved so much this year in the show ring, with Championships and Supreme Championships that you need more than two hands to count them all. Dragon is a 17yr old 12.3hh part breed Welsh gelding by the late Rotherwood State Occasion, he is the most wonderful pony, which we have had the pleasure of owning for the last 5yrs. He has manners to burn and can turn his hoof to anything, competing in show jumping and cross country events and is always in the ribbons.

We are all so very proud and can't wait to travel down to Olympia, good luck Hannah and Dragon!!!!

2) Midlands

Zanna Owner/Rider - Michelle Spiers
16hh T.B. 23yrs Grey Mare

Zanna has been with me now for over four years now. Zanna is a thoroughbred mare, aged 23, out of racing parents she was a polo pony for many years. Before becoming a very sucessful dressage horse. Having a short break for a while, we ended up together and have had endless hours of fun hacking, going down the gallops, competing at dressage and of course having a bash at the veteran showing scene.

I was so thrilled to win the qualifier, as the standard of veterans was fabulous and we can't wait to go to Olympia.

3) Wales

Hudson Bay Owner/Rider - Sarah Fraser
16.2hh CBxTB 30yrs Bay Gelding

Hudson Bay spent his working life on Active Duty with Staffordshire Constabulary, until at eighteen years of age he was retired an given to HAPPA based in Brockweir, Gwent, who were asked to find him a suitable home. When he arrived in Gwent he was in a sorry state, having contracted a virus whilst travelling. Eventually he recovered and I was able to try him and then take him home. That was 12 years ago. We have now been showing for 3 years, this was really started to keep his mind occupied, and has gone from there. He also successfully competes at dressage during the winter months.

4) North Scotland

Shah of Persia Rider - Myles Watt
13.2hh Welsh Arab 1981 Chestnut Gelding

We have had Shah for nearly 3 years having purchased him form the D.C. Mr James Wellear of the Angus P.C. Shah or Shah of Persia his show name has done everything. Myles has gone from being dumped at a 1ft fence jumping to going round B.S.J.A. tracks earlier this year. His forte is everything, he always does a lovely dressage test, he loves cross-country but doesn't like sand on the landing side (spooky). He is a super character, he knows what he wants, he does his tricks like saying please for a polo.

It was a great achievement for Myles and Shah to win the qualifier, but all that Shah has gone through the years giving so much fun and confidence to his little jockeys we felt he deserved it.

Shahs plans for the coming year is hopefully Myles younger brother Marcus will take on the ride of Shah to continue competing in the Veteran Classes and dressage.

5) South West

Curtis Mill Flyer Owner - Kay Davies
14.3hh Welsh Sec D 1982 Grey Stallion

Flyer is a 21 year old grey Welsh Cob Stallion. He was mainly driven before starting a ridden career at the age of 16 with his current owner and currently still competes at affiliated dressage. He now has 147 BD points and has qualified for dressage regional finals 2004 at Elementary level as well as competing his first Advanced Medium test this year.

In 2002 WPCS performance competition he was Overall Champion Stallion as well as winning Section D stallion, Senior Dressage and Veteran Sections.

Before retiring from the show ring he had some success winning ridden class at New Forest Show and being Reserv4e Ridden Section D Stallion at Welsh International Show in Holland in 2000.

He is a perfect gentleman and still has boundless enthusiasm for his work. He has 12 registered progeny and another due next year.

6) South Scotland

Bowdel Beau Gest Owner/Rider - Lizzie Santer
14.2hh Arab/Welsh Sec B 23 years Palmino Gelding

We bought Jester about 18 months ago from a gypsy friend of ours (Jim), who deals in horses. I was asked to ride him and I fell in love with him instantly. Jim told us that if we didn't have him, Jester would be taken to Appleby market, knowing full well we would not let him take Jester there! Over many debates, I persuaded mum and dad that another horse to add to our collection was a good idea! We were originally told that Jester was 12, but when we got his papers he was actually 22! He looked terrible when we got him, he was thin, had no topline and his neck was up side down. We had his teeth done, he saw the osteopath, and we fed him Top Spec supplements. After 6 months he was looking great.

We managed to trace his owners all the way back to the lady who bred him, and we were pleased to find out that in the past Jester had done a lot of Show Jumping, and he was also picked for the BYRDS dressage team. Jester and I have been having loads of fun together, we were on the Rother Valley RC SJ team and we did really well. We also do very well at shows in WHP, SHP, RP, and many other spheres. We are also goin to have a go at some side-saddle next year.

I could not believe it when we qualified for Olympia at the Strathendrick RC Show, and nor could my mum who was jumping up and down at the ringside! Jester was an absolute star that day, and I was very proud of him. I have loads of friends and family coming to watch and I cannot wait!!

7) North West

Imgemisco's Tryline Owner/Rider - Anthea Hutchinson-Redfern
16.1hh Idx 1988 Bay Mare

Having owned Lucy for a number of years, we have had a great success at local and county level doing working hunter/show hunter classes.

In one year Lucy competed at HOYS, was Ridden Hunter Champion at the festival of Champions and qualified for the National Hunter Show. The following year Lucy qualified for Royal International Show and Ridden Hunter Show.

But tragedy was to strike, Lucy had a bad fall and it was put into question whether she could be ridden again. With dedication and lots of hard work she came through, this is her first show season for a number of years.

8) Cumbria

Bobby Owner/Rider - Lucinda Helme
15hh Unknown 1980 Skewbald Gelding

We bought Bobby when he was 7 from a riding school in Durham. He did well at local PC jumping but found fame in endurance riding in 1991 when he comp[leted 100 miles in 1 day and won the E.H.P.S. junior championships with Rebecca Helme. The ride was then passed on to younger sister Donna who in 1994 represented Great Britain at the world equestrian games and Bobby again completed 100 miles in 1 day. Donna at 16 yrears being the youngest ever to compete in the British team.

The ride was then passed to Lucy and again Bobby stayed at the top, together they were on the British young riders endurance team in 1996 which took the team bronza medal.

In his endurance career Bobby won:

The E.H.P.S. Supreme National Championship 2 times
The E.H.P.S. Supreme National Junior Championship 4 times
Represented Great Britain 2 times
Completed 5 - 100 miles
And completed over 5000 competitive miles

With Lucy still riding Bobby his showing career started and again he excelled himself, starting at local PC level that took the in-hand and ridden championship in their first season. Then they joined CHAPS where he won the veteran class at the championship show. He qualified for Ponies UK 3 years on the run, taking 10th, 9th and 8th respectively. This year we have only done the veteran shows, and he went all the way again to take the Cumbrian championship.

So now we are off to Olympia which is a great achievement for a former endurance champion who started off as just a normal riding school pony.

9) North East

Orient Magic Owner/Rider - Charmaine Lambert
17.11/2hh ArabxI.D. 1985 Bay Gelding

Orient Magic is 18years young and stands at 17.11/2hh He is by a show Arab out of an I.D. mare which gives him substance and preserve.

Charmaine acquired him when he was 15 years old and competed him at Elementary/Medium dressage. He had previously competed at National level but in March 2002, Charmaine decided that the pair would take up side-saddle and they were an instant success. He has been a prolific winner during 2002 and 2003 taking championships, supremes, qualifiers, wins at the side-saddle nationals, and Blue Chip and Equilibria championships. He is so versatile and has won riding horse championships, show hunters, equitation classes, dressage and veterans. The highlights of this year was competing in the full Moulin Rouge costumes to the Pas Soul at the side-saddle nationals and then of course qualifying for Olympia.

He is fully magical as his name suggests and he gains a fan club wherever he goes with his manners and foot perfect showmanship. But his biggest fans are us, his family who simply adore him and he knows this and goes from strength to strength.

10) South East

Bean There Done That Owner/Rider - Kathleen Botting
16.2hh Irish T.B. 22yrs Bay Gelding

There are few horse owners who can say that their horses has lived up to its name, but Bean There Done That certainly has. Bean has been a Grad A show jumper, an intermediate eventer, a medium dressage horse, supreme champion show horse, and is currently the side-saddle's supreme Performance Champion.

Bean is a 16.2hh Bay Gelding whom I have had for four and a half years. Initially I had him
on loan and was then offered him with a box of rubber matting for the huge sum of £100!

He can be very grumpy, but I love him!

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