HOYS SEIB Race Horse to Riding Horse Championship 2011

Night Prayers on top in HOYS Racehorse Championship

The South Essex Insurance Broker’s Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship reached a thrilling finale at this year’s Horse of the Year Show, having become one of the most popular highlights of the show. Crowds packed the Caldene arena to see how these ex-racehorses performed and they were not to be disappointed, with Mr and Mrs Michael Jerram’s immaculate chestnut, Night Prayers, ridden by their daughter Katie, putting in a superb performance to take the championship. Oliver Hood rode Mr Paul Rackham’s Bridgham to take the reserve title.

The SEIB Racehorse To Riding Horse Show Championship was created to support and encourage the re-education of thoroughbreds taken out of racing, re-schooling them and preparing them for a new career in the show ring. The series is supported by the charity Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) and Night Prayers having won the HOYS title will also collect the valuable ROR/SEIB Elite Performance Award for Showing at the British Breeding Breeders Dinner in London in January 2012.

All the horses in this class must have raced but the standard was extremely high and manners were impeccable among the twelve horses that came before conformation judge, Marjorie Ramsay, and ride judge, Sam Fisher. Marjorie said “Night Prayers is a horse I would love to have, beautiful and full of quality. The second horse was beautiful – it was a very difficult decision between the first two”. The horses responded well to ride judge, Sam Fisher, who said “the winner gave me a lovely ride – I was able to put my leg on and he did what I wanted him to do. The second horse also went beautifully.

The 9 year old Night Prayers, By Night Shift (USA) out of Eleanor Antoinette (IRE), put in an impeccable performance ridden by Katie Jerram from Great Dunmow to take the title. Owned by Mr and Mrs Michael Jerram, he was bred by C Corrigan and went into training with Brian Smart in North Yorkshire. Night Prayers ran 7 times on the flat and won once. The Jerram’s bought him from Steve Pitt and Vicky Smith in Wales. Night Prayers was reserve champion in this class in 2010. Katie said “I adore this horse and he has done really well, coming 4th in the Open Hacks this morning and then coming in here to win. The competition in this class was the hottest I have ever seen here – I was really taken by the competition and so the win is really special. He won the Classic Supreme at the BSHA championships, but has only been lightly shown. We have put a lot of time into his retraining. He is the epitome of a large hack and his career will be in open hack classes”. Night Prayers former trainer, Bryan Smart, who had 4 of his ex-racehorses in this Championship was in attendance at HOYS to see Night Prayers victory. “It is great that Bryan is such a keen supporter of this series, it is really good for the sport” added Katie.

Reserve spot went to Oliver Hood from Diss, with Paul Rackham’s 9 year old, Bridgham (IRE), by Fourstars Allstar (USA) out of Mossie House. Bridgham was in training with Nigel Bloom and ran in 6 point to points until 2009, he was placed three times in all. Oliver said “Bridgham is a lovely horse and as genuine as they come, he is fantastic to ride. This class is very popular, I think it is a fantastic idea”. Bridgham will now go home to Paul Rackham for a winter holiday before next season. Oliver said “we hope to get to HOYS in the racehorse class again next year and the plan is to try and go one better! We will also compete in some lightweight hunter classes with the intention of qualifying for HOYS in that as well”.

The Racehorse To Riding Horse Show Championship series helps to recognise the abilities of the many horses that come out of racing each year, providing them with a worthwhile competition opportunity. The classes are judged as for Riding Horses but the best of type, whether hack, riding horse or hunter, is deemed the winner.

“It is great to see the huge support of riders with ex-racehorses competing in the Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship. The series of competitions give ex-racehorses the chance to embark on a new career. As many riders know, taking on an ex-racehorse can be a challenge but is both worthwhile and rewarding and I hope that this encourages more people to have a go and take part”, says Nicolina Mackenzie.

South Essex Insurance Brokers, a leading equestrian insurer, instigated the Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship, supported by the charity, Retraining of Racehorses, to show how, with time and patience, an ex-racehorse can be re-trained to become a top class show horse.

SEIB have another success to celebrate on top of a brilliant week at HOYS, they are winners of the ‘Customer Service Provider’ award at the Insurance Age UK Broker awards. This is a National award within the insurance industry and SEIB were voted the best in the UK!

SEIB RACEHORSE TO RIDING HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 – FULL RESULTS

1st Night Prayers, owned by Mr & Mrs M Jerram and ridden by Katie Jerram of Great Dunmow, Essex
2nd Bridgham, owned by Mr Paul Rackham and ridden by Oliver Hood of Diss, Norfolk
3rd Stealth Project, owned by Baileys Horse Feeds and Lynn Russell and ridden by Lynn Russell of Dunsfold, Surrey
4th Blue Rondo, owned and ridden by Miss Sara Neachell of Walsall, West Midlands
5th Perfect Choice, owned and ridden by Angela Lance of Lewes, East Sussex
6th Chivola, owned and ridden by Mrs Victoria Smart of Thirsk, N Yorks
7th Bond Playboy, owned and ridden by Heather Hume of Malton, North Yorks
8th Saintsaire, owned by Carol Bardo and ridden by Jayne Webber of Holyport, Berkshire
9th Deep Reflection, owned by Jason Newbold and ridden by Helen Newbold of Milton Keynes

Other Finalists:

Macbury, owned by Esme Humpston and ridden by Rosie Skier of Aylesbury, Bucks
Star Structure, owned by Cate Preston and ridden by Brigit Ensten of Monks Eleigh, Suffolk

Vale View Equestrian Centre – 14th August 2011

Racehorse to Riding Horse

Results

1st, Giggles O’Shea, owned by Mrs Mia Bone and ridden by Jack Bowlby of Wantage, Oxon2nd, Star Structure, owned by Cate Preston and ridden by Brigit Ensten of Monks Eleigh, Suffolk

Report

The SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Horse qualifiers continued to prove their popularity as the biggest class of the day at Vale View with 39 entries. The class was split for the preliminary judging, giving the judges David Ingle (conformation) and Richard Mills (Ride) plenty to do. When the top 6 returned for the final placing, first went to Giggles O’Shea, ridden by 15 year old Jack Bowlby, and owned by Greg and Mia Bone, who also owned Ironman Muldoon, winner of the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship in 2009. At that time Jack was still riding ponies but it was his enthusiasm for showing that encouraged his parents to enter the horse. Amanda Bowlby trained Giggles O’Shea as a 3 year old and then he went to Richard Rowe, but he was not enthused by racing and went back to the Bowlby’s for Jack to produce as a show horse. “The owners are racing people but their priority is their horses. Jack also has a welsh section D for Lady Vesty and a show hunter pony qualified for HOYS”, said father. “We have some really fantastic owners”, says Jack. “I was lucky enough to go and spend a week with Jayne Webber before RIHS and she let me ride The Philanderer and The Humdinger, and was really helpful”, he added. This was only their 4th ever show but Jack has already built a good partnership with Giggles O’Shea, having won the ROR class at Three counties show and South West Ponies Association show. “I am hoping to do some open and intermediate small riding horse classes next”, said Jack, who is a student from Lambourn.Second place went to Cate Preston’s Star Structure, ridden by Bridget Enstone of Hadley, Suffolk. This bay gelding by Saddler’s Wells was with event rider, Mark Todd. “He called me to say he did not think it was going to make an eventer, but it was very handsome and would I like to have a look”, said Cate. She liked what she saw and sent him to Bridget to produce as a show horse. “I am delighted to have something by the renowned stallion, Saddler’s Wells, who died this year, so it will be great to represent him at HOYS” said Cate. Having owned him for just a few months, this was the horse’s first ever show. “We were not sure if he was ready but as he has such a good temperament we thought we could risk it. We plan to do large riding horse classes with him next year but he needs to build up for that, so we will just do some dressage and bits and pieces to keep him going. He has such a good temperament, he is not bothered by clapping and noise so we will just keep socialising him in preparation for HOYS”, explained Cate, from Roxwell, Essex.Judge, Richard Mills, said “The standard just gets better and people are producing them well”.The SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship qualifiers take place alongside the SEIB Search For A Star series, but the ex-racehorse classes are open to any owner, rider and producer. The SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship, which is supported by the charity, Retraining of Racehorses, was initiated by South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) to help ex racehorses when they come out of training and help to recognise their abilities in the show ring. Horses need to have been in training with a recognised trainer and have raced to be eligible for these classes, which provide an opportunity to qualify for the prestigious HOYS finals.The South Essex Insurance Brokers Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship finals will be held at the Horse Of The Year Show, 4th – 9th October 2011, at NEC, Birmingham.The SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship qualifiers take place alongside the SEIB Search For A Star series, but the ex-racehorse classes are open to any owner, rider and producer. The SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Show Championship, which is supported by the charity, Retraining of Racehorses, was initiated by South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) to help ex racehorses when they come out of training and help to recognise their abilities in the show ring. Horses need to have been in training with a recognised trainer and have raced to be eligible for these classes, which provide an opportunity to qualify for the prestigious HOYS finals.The South Essex Insurance Brokers Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship finals will be held at the Horse Of The Year Show, 4th – 9th October 2011, at NEC, Birmingham.