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Mount Ballan Monmouthshire October 18Jacqui Bradbury and Aschir had a successful end to 2009 competitions. Aschir excelled in the cross country: many of the large obstacles required control, accuracy and boldness, which he showed in abundance, while staying completely focussed. He so obviously enjoys himself that Jacqui is looking forward to next year. The commentator reading out all Jacqui’s notes, on Aschir and the Akhal Teke, was an added bonus.   
British Eventing One Day Events, SeptemberJacqui Bradbury competed on Aschir at Cleobury Mortimer on September 6. She writes: after an improved dressage Aschir went clear in both the showjumping and the cross country, both inside the time, and came 11th, only missing out on a rosette by 0.7 of a point. He seems to be gaining in confidence every time he goes out - I hope it keeps going. It certainly did for the event at West Wilts Horse Trials on September 12, where he came 5th, being 'on fire' in the showjumping and cross country.   
Vale of Evesham Autumn Show, September 13Team Teke was at this popular show held at Moyfield Riding School, South Littleton, Worcestershire. After the show championships, Gill Suttle of Kyzyl Akhal-Tekes riding her gelding Atamekan, and Lizzie Nicholl, leading Gill’s colt Djargalan, made an appearance in the show ring, with David Webb commentating. Spectators were able to obtain leaflets on the Akhal Teke breed from the Team Teke stand, which presented information, photos of Akhal Tekes past and present, and Turkoman clothing and tack.  
British Eventing One Day Event, August 19At the event held at Sapey, Herefordshire, Jacqui Bradbury entered on her stallion Aschir: she writes ‘After a disastrous dressage, where Aschir completely lost the plot, he jumped a double clear in the show jumping and cross country (with no time penalties) and produced the fastest time of the day. Hurrah! What a buzz!’   
Stephanie Richards competes on PaxEdenbridge and Oxted Show 27th August 2009 The Edenbridge and Oxted Show is a big agricultural show about half an hour from where we live. Having had a couple of shows where Pax has got very excited with all the crowds and noise I bought him some ear plugs to see if he behaved any better. We entered the Equitation Class and Pax did a lovely show, just about managing to keep all four feet on the ground even when the hounds were taken past on their way to the main ring! Unfortunately we were not placed very highly although I was very pleased with the way he went. Alresford Show 3rd September 2009 The Alresford Show is an agricultural show in Hampshire so we had a very early start leaving at 6.00am in order to get there in time to be ready for our 9.30am class. This was the Equitation Class which went well considering it was in a very small ring on a slope. Pax managed to remain calm and did a lovely show: we gained a fourth rosette. In the afternoon we entered the Historical Costume Class, the first time we had attempted this. The class is judged on the elegance of the costume and the picture of horse and rider. I was wearing an original 1920's hunting habit which had belonged to my great grandfather’s sister and has been passed down through the family. By the start of the class the show was becoming very busy and Pax was excited and nervous: by the time we got into the main ring he was leaping all over the place! As part of my costume I was carrying a hunting crop which I had not realised would prevent me using the curb rein. Pax ended up going faster and faster and in the end I was able to do my show on one rein only as I could not hold him back on the other. I think next time I will find a much smaller show in which to do this class! Stephanie adds: This is the last of my showing for this year as I am about to return to university for my final year. We competed in a Hunter Trial on September 20: Pax jumped clear but rather fast, so we were 55 seconds under the optimum time. I may enter some dressage competitions at Christmas. The Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead. 25th July 2009 Ladies Side Saddle Class Hickstead did not get off to the best of starts as the evening before, having been bathed, plaited and trimmed, Pax managed to stand on a shoe and leave it far too loose to ride with. We were unable to get hold of our farrier and so we decided to take Pax to Hickstead and see if the show farrier would be able to sort it out for us. We set off on Saturday morning still not knowing if we would actually make it to the ring or not, but the show farrier put the shoe back on and we were able to warm up and get the side saddle on. There were 30 people in the class and so they split the competitors so that everyone had more room. We did our individual shows in pairs in which Pax behaved very well although, as we were riding round, the other lady's horse slipped over: but both horse and rider were fine and we completed our show. As it had rained so heavily the day before we were not allowed into the main ring as they only took 10 forward which was a shame but I was very pleased with how Pax went especially in such a big class and on very slippy ground. Side Saddle National Show, Addington, Buckinghamshire. 31st July - 1st August 2009 We travelled to Addington on the Thursday so that Pax would be ready for his class early on Friday morning: after spending two hours stuck on the M25 we settled Pax into his stable, set up the tents and started the BBQ. On Friday morning I did the newcomers equitation test which is judged on riding and turnout, we were 12th in this class and I was very pleased with how Pax behaved. We then did a couple of dressage tests and although I was not placed in these as an individual, my team won the team competition. On Saturday I rode the novice equitation championship test which Pax performed very well: I was very pleased to get 7s and 8s for the riding and turnout and we were placed 11th out of 27 competitors. Mid Sussex Riding Club Dressage. 9 August 2009 This was a local dressage competition which was run by the riding club. I did each class riding side saddle against competitors astride. We did Prelim 4 and Prelim 14 and were 1st and 2nd respectively. We received a score of 65% in both classes so I was very pleased with him.  
Akhal-Teke Breed Show, 18 July 2009Thankfully the weather was favourable for the show held at The Three Counties Showground at Malvern. We had been invited to take a ring for the show by the British Palomino Society, who were holding their show at the same time. A select group of pure and part bred Akhal-Tekes competed in six classes, in-hand and ridden. The judge, Caroline Baldock, has seen these horses in their native Turkmenistan, and, as a jockey, has raced Thoroughbreds, their descendants. She gave the competitors their moneysworth by discussing each horse with the handler/rider, and after she had made her decisions, she explained how she had arrived at them to the spectators: everyone felt involved! A big thank you to our sponsors: Chaseview Veterinary Clinic and Giffords. Sport Arabian – Trakehner Performance Event, 20 June 2009This annual event was held at the Warwickshire College, Moreton Morrell, with its extensive facilities, to show the abilities of Arabs, Trakehners, and this year Akhal-Tekes, (as relatives of these horses)as sport horses. The Akhal-Teke was represented by Gill Suttle’s mare Ainur, ridden by Roz Shepherd, and gelding Tedzhen ridden by Gill, in the Show Jumping and Preliminary Dressage Tests. Ainur gained a rosette for her test. And by Beth Dee’s two year old palomino gelding , Midoak Magic Icon, bred by David Webb, who came second in an in hand class for youngstock. There was a good representation of Arabs and Trakehners, the cream of which were shown at a ridden stallion parade in the middle of the day. 'Exotic Horses' EveningAn evening on ‘Exotic Horses’ was held at Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire College, on Friday 17 April, postponed from February because of the snow. An audience of about forty was treated to histories and information on the Palomino, Akhal-Teke and Caspian. David Webb, Palomino breeder and organiser of the event, started us off by throwing in some thought provoking questions such as ‘what do we want a horse to do’ – very relevant to the other two breeds. A short break, while we consumed copious amounts of tea and cake, and bought raffle tickets, was followed by Gill Suttle regaling us with the colourful history of the Akhal-Teke, accompanied by many slides and maps. Surely few breeds can quote ‘slave raiding’ as their raison d’etre! Maria Marquise Baverstock brought us back down to earth with the complications of registering Akhal Tekes with the mother stud book in Russia. The raffle was then drawn – donors of prizes had been numerous and generous, items ranged from a numnah donated by ‘Shires’, a hand made dog lead from Mongolia, knitted slippers from Turkmenistan and many alcoholic bottles. Finally Ruth Staines spoke on ‘The origins of the Caspian Horse’, with emphasis on the life and work of Louise Firouz. Comments ranged from ‘I shall look at Caspians in a completely different light now’ to ‘(Louise) really shines out’. It is to be hoped that interest in all these horses has now spread a little further. |
