An all-round pony of unknown breeding has certified for the London Worldwide Horse Present (LIHS) on the age of 17 along with his devoted rider. Rowena Cooper’s Cooper II certified for the British Present Pony Society (BSPS) efficiency pony remaining along with his rider, Rowena’s 14-year-old daughter Poppy Anderson, at The Royal Welsh Spring Competition. The pair gained their class, took the part championship and completed their run as reserve supreme of present.
Cooper was purchased as a two-year-old “colored fur ball” from good household mates Grace and Hilary. He’s been based mostly with Rowena and Poppy for 5 years. Rowena explains: “He initially got here from the rugged, desolate mountains of rural Wales. There’s no posh strains working by way of this pony’s blood or elaborate, tongue-twisting pedigree names. It’s simply Cooper or Cooper II if he’s doing dressage. He’s gone from a bumbling ugly duckling right into a sleek swan and has a real rags to riches story.”
Cooper II started his ridden profession within the dressage area, reaching novice stage and infrequently coming away with no inserting.
“This pony loves his job,” Rowena continues. “He can fart round within the warm-up ring previous to his take a look at however as quickly as his nostril bobs down that centre line he’s acquired his recreation face on. He places his head down and he’s calm and picked up. He has a sq. halt to die for.”
Alongside his mounting dressage tally, Cooper additionally contended native working hunter lessons earlier than Poppy picked up the exhibiting bug. Poppy runs Cooper from house and she or he is up earlier than faculty each morning to muck out, experience and prepare for reveals.
“Once I say we are able to take this pony anyplace, I imply anyplace,” Rowena says. “He thrives within the noisiest locations and believes the music is for him. He’s a little bit of a prince; he even likes to have an umbrella held for him when it rains. Usually, although, he had an unfortunate fence down leaving him simply out of attain of the win.”
The household had been enticed by the BSPS’s new efficiency pony qualifiers as they believed this might be Cooper’s alternative to shine.
“Competing at HOYS or LIHS is Poppy’s wildest dream,” says Rowena. “Nevertheless, we’ve not had a lot luck for one motive or one other. We’ve additionally discovered the exhibiting world fairly a tough group to infiltrate. All people is in it to win it and we’ve discovered it onerous. We’ve spent all night bathing and prepping all the required apparel solely to find it’s all mistaken! The jacket was too lengthy with the mistaken collar, the boots weren’t oxblood, the jodhpurs too dishevelled, and the navy hat silk on a cranium cap wasn’t proper. The listing has been infinite! One variety girl did take me by way of all the things and we went forward and ordered all the right apparel; all eyes had been on the prize!”
The household’s efforts paid, although, and their dedication ensured their luck modified on the Royal Welsh Spring Competition earlier this 12 months.
“It was a day I’ll always remember,” Rowena says. “I acquired to see my daughter stay her dream on Cooper, a pony who got here off the aspect of a rugged Welsh mountain. If they arrive away with nothing in London it doesn’t matter; we are able to proudly say we took our home-produced pony to one of many largest reveals within the nation. Poppy and Cooper could have a workforce of individuals behind them in December together with his earlier homeowners who gave him the perfect begin in life. We are going to all be there wiping tears from our eyes once we see them in that ring.
“This can be Poppy’s final 12 months of exhibiting with him however he has a brand new little rider in my youngest daughter, Moli, his subsequent associate in crime. He’ll stick with us perpetually and to say we love him could be an understatement. I imagine he’s worthy of being recognised as a type of super-star, one-in-a-million ponies.”
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Credit score: HPower
Credit score: London Worldwide Horse Present
Belion and Rebecca Anders on the 2024 Royal Cheshire Present.
Credit score: Equinepix Images
Credit score: Future
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H&H exhibiting editor
Born and raised within the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the exhibiting scene. She has certified and competed ponies on the Royal Worldwide, Horse of the Yr Present and Olympia and has first-hand information of the present points within the exhibiting world in addition to the horses, ponies and riders who compete within the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 since when she has cemented its place because the main equestrian publication for each exhibiting reviews and present exhibiting information within the UK.
