New Zealand’s top young riders faced tight competition for the prestigious Young Rider Title at the recent Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show, held in Hastings, New Zealand.
Featuring an impressive selection of the country’s elite future stars, it was a neck to neck finish right to the end. South Island riders Emma Malcolm and Hannah Appleton have trailblazed this season, collecting an array of titles and prizes between them. Appleton came into the competition fresh from a convincing win at the Bates New Zealand Championships, where she notched up the National Young Rider title.
In Hastings however, she could afford no mistakes, with just fractions of a percent between her and Malcolm, and little to choose from between their calmly ridden, accurate tests.
In the end, Malcolm and her lovely Reid ‘N’ Dale Landora emerged the victors, winning the CDI-Y Prix St George with 65.700 and the CDI-Y Kur with 69.45, enough to take the overall win.
It was a particularly close competition. Appleton and Zactac Graceful were just a whisker behind, with 65.15 in the first test and 68.75 in the Kur.
Malcolm was delighted with her win, particularly as it is both she and Landora’s first season at Advanced level.
“I’m really pleased at how Landora went, as I think the surface here was quite tiring for her, yet she still gave me 100 per cent effort,” said Malcolm.
“The competition is extremely stiff, so it’s been really satisfying coming out with a win. All the riders really kept the pressure on.”
The 12 year old stationbred/thoroughbred mare has been part of the Malcolm family since she was a yearling. Competed by mum Jane Malcolm to Level 4, Landora enjoyed a few seasons out before Emma picked up the ride.
“I just adore her and she is such a generous mare. She has so much more to offer too which is really exciting.
Future plans include getting the mare to Grand Prix level, along with her second mount, Donnerheim (a 10 year old Oldenburg/Holsteiner), on which she finished second overall in the Horse of the Year Open Medium class, to former Olympian Louisa Hill and Bates Antonello.
In the meantime however, Malcolm is preparing to head off for to Germany where she has been invited to Hubertus Hufendiek’s stables.
“It is such a wonderful opportunity and I’m looking forward to improving my riding and learning as much as possible.”
The CDI Young Rider class saw several promising polished combinations. Final placings overall were: Emma Malcolm, Rend ‘N’ Dale Landora, 1; Hannah Appleton, Zactac Graceful, 2; Alisha Sixtus, Roanoake Just Tru, 3; Rebecca Goldsbury, Glenturret, 4; Sarah Wilkinson, Greendowns Laredo, 5; Kelly Van Dyk, Royal Aspen, 6; Charmian Perason-White, Abendstern, 7; Jasmine Van der Heyden, Charlton Highbrow, 8; Ashleigh Williams, Jaybee Alfredo, 9.
By Lisa Potter
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