Absorbine Ambassadors Shine at HOYS!
Our amazing Absorbine ambassadors Jayne Ross and Jo Bates were on top form as usual at this years Horse of the Year show with top spots claimed by both and some of their clients achieving outstanding results!
Jo Bates and her team had an amazing HOYS taking the large hack with the stunning 6-year-old Ballinclare, owned by Ami Miller. Having achieved her ticket for HOYS at the RIHS Annie as she is known gave Jo a beautifully smooth ride throughout and went onto conquer the championship!
Jo said, “It was absolutely magical – Annie has gained confidence in me throughout this year and she completely trusts me now”.
Ami bought Annie from Lorraine and Alice Homer in February this year and she has been with Jo ever since. Ami said, “It is a dream come true; I have never had a winner at HOYS before, let alone a champion”.
This was Annie’s first win at HOYS having been placed 2nd last year in the intermediates and 4th in the large hacks with Alice . As Jo said “Annie had already established a great relationship with Alice so it was a hard act to follow to get her to love me as her next rider, but I feel she does now and I really adore her”.
“Annie just seemed to have that extra sparkle on the day and really understood the occasions and my goodness she rose to it. I was absolutely over the moon when we won. You always hope you have done enough and when we were pulled in top you hope you are going to stay there but it is agony hearing the numbers from 9th being called out. I knew she had done everything she could, and I was so proud of her.”
The ride judge told Jo that Annie was breath taking and interestingly she was 3rd for confirmation so it was not a forgone conclusion – however her ride mark was 25 out of 25 and deservedly came out on top much to Jo, Ami and the whole teams delight. As Jo is the first to say “it is a team effort to get to these results. We are a small yard and we all pull together. I am so proud of everyone and Ami is the most wonderful owner to ride for – she is so supportive.”
Ami’s fabulous HOYS experience also continued riding her own Shildons Plan B in the small hack class finishing fifth with the highest ride mark!
The Team Bates winning streak continued with Annabel Drake who Jo has been teaching and helping for several years. Annabel won both the part-bred pony of the year and the 14.2hh show pony of the year championships with her delightful seven-year-old Stanley Grange Gilt Edge, known as Edward. He was purchased as a four-year-old by Annabel’s mother, Sarah Drake and is produced from home with the help of Jo.
Annabel last won at HOYS in 2019 with her section b Cadlanvalley Allegro. She said “I have always thought Edward could do it and I am absolutely thrilled.”
Jo said “Sarah helps me out during the week and brings Edward up for me to ride, then at the weekend Annabel comes up for lessons. Again, they are part of the family here and I would be lost without them. Sarah spends hours and hours up at her yard grooming and looking after Edwards every need. She is amazing in her care for him and leaves no stone unturned.”
Annabel rode with real flair and showmanship – so much so that she can do a one-handed show on him. Annabel said “He rides like a little hack and does a perfect rein back. He is trained so perfectly by Jo”.
Jo said “I am so proud of Annabel she rode like a true professional. We always hoped he might win one class but were absolutely thrilled when he took both especially as Annabel is 17 and this will be her last year competing in the 14.2hh. I am also delighted for Sarah, her Mum. I cannot stress enough how much she has done to get Annabel and Edward to this stage – above and beyond.”
Overall, a very memorable HOYS for team Bates. So, what next? Jo tells us that Ami Miller has some 3-year-olds that she has bred coming to Jo for backing and Jo has ladies hunter that she will be producing. Holly Bates, Jo’s daughter, trains and competes her dressage horses so there is never a dull moment at Team Bates HQ.
In Jayne Ross’ camp the week kicked off with Lucinda Martin and Charlotte Clark taking 3rd and 4th in the Ladies with Bloomfields Greystone (owned by Sam Powell and Harbour Master (owned by Charlotte and her mother Liz Trembath).
In the large hacks Linda Upton’s Ballarin Rosabeela was placed 7th with Emma Rees’ own Holmestones Tailor Made coming 8th – fantastic as she has only had him a couple of months and ridden him at one show before!
Rose Bailey finished 9th in the small hunters with Dharmavallye and Charlotte Clark was placed 7th in the light weight hunter to cap a fabulous year for her. Jayne herself partnered Bloomfields Greystone (Liam) to 2nd place in the middle weight hunters, blissfully unaware that seconds were to become a theme for Team Ross this year!
Jayne rode Twinshock Warrior to the 2nd spot in the heavy weight hunters saying “I really thought we had done enough to take the top spot as Bernard went beautifully but it was not to be and he was pipped to the post. Both Bernard and Liam gave me and Olivia fantastic rides in the evening championship and you can not ask for more.
On Saturday Jayne rode Chantilly Sandman, owned by Jo Baker to take another 2nd place in the maxi cobs.
Sunday saw Jayne bring out three five-year-old horses who all performed outstandingly for novices. Firstly, Debbie Harrod’s Lulu de Beau at only the 3rd show of her life was sensible and mature beyond her years achieving a well-deserved 2nd place in the small riding horse, whilst King of Clubs (Pablo), also owned by Debbie did the same in the large riding horse. With both through to the championship Jayne took reserve on Pablo while Olivia had another great ride on Lulu!
It was looking like Team Ross were destined to go home with second place rosettes this year having achieved five by this point. Sadly, KBF Crescendo, Daphne, had to miss HOYS this year following a knock a shortly before. However, Polly Coles had kindly asked Jayne to ride KBF Lucia (Poppy) for her in the coloured non-native ridden. Well, how fortunate was that because Poppy pulled it out the bag and nailed that elusive win! Jayne said “it was great to ride Poppy in the championship where she was mannerly as usual. She is by the same sire as Daphne and has the same wonderful attitude to life whereby they just want to please, and it just shines through. She just went into the ring, ears pricked forward and seemed to say – this is nice let’s go!
Daphne has returned home, completely oblivious to the fact she was missing from HOYS, but she will be back again next year where she will join her full sister who is coming to Jaynes yard. As Jayne said “we were devastated that she had to miss HOYS this year, but she is too precious to take a risk with and she simply could not go. As we all know this is what life is like when you are dealing with horses!”
As Jayne said, “We had a fantastic HOYS with our owner ridden horses having a lovely time, the novice horses were mature beyond their years and what a wonderful way to round off the week with Poppy taking the championship. I cannot thank my team for their hard work and owners for their support throughout the year – another busy but rewarding HOYS.”