“Little unicorn” leads field in inaugural amateur Pony Club showing series

Fighting off competition from children and adults, lead rein pony Thistledown Elpaso and his miniature jockey Emily Hiscox were champions at the popular SEIB Search for a Star finals

Sixteen ponies travelled from across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to the SEIB Search for a Star Pony Club classes at Your Horse Live to compete in the first-ever finals of this series. There were lead rein, first ridden and open championships.

The winner of the inaugural Pony Club lead rein final, Thistledown Elpaso and his seven-year-old rider Emily Hiscox took the top title when they were crowned overall ridden champions out of all the ridden classes – beating off competition from the adults in the open ridden classes, too.

Emily, who is a member of North Warwickshire Pony Club member, and her mother, Heather, pulled off a foot-perfect performance with ‘Elvis’, and Emily finished by showing her fabulous balance and her pony’s steadfastness by standing up on his back for a few seconds – a move that looks to have inspired the next item on Emily’s bucket list: vaulting.

The 12-year-old pony has been a part of the Hiscox family for three years, and Elvis does an array of Pony Club activities as well as hacking and jumping.

“He is Emily’s little unicorn,” said Heather.

Judge Katie Jerram-Hunnable said: “It was a unanimous decision from the judges: myself, Chris Hunnable and Mathew Lawrence. The winning pony’s show was exceptional.”

Pony Club first ridden winner, Emily Elliott and Larchgrove Isabella

The first ridden Pony Club championship went to Rufford Pony Club member Emily Elliott and her roan pony, Larchgrove Isabella. Owned by Connie Elliott, Welsh section B Issy, as the pony is known at home, is the perfect family pony.

“Issy and Emily have done everything from galloping on a racecourse at camp to veteran championships and working hunter pony classes, said Emily’s mum, Connie, who has owned the pony for just over a year. “She is such a polite pony and Emily would love to start to ride her side saddle next year.”

Pony Club open winner, Helena Kitchener and Cavan Mick

In the open Pony Club Search for a Star championship, Mid Surrey member, Helena Kitchener riding Naomi Kitchener’s grey Connemara, Cavan Mick took the win. Helena said: “What an amazing experience, we still have borrowed gear for this but it is fine! Mick wasn’t all that forward going at the start of the year so we’ve had a few showing lessons with help getting him forward. Search for a Star has been great, through the showing I’ve learned to ride with two reins and go through trotting up practice. He is such a patient pony. We will spend the winter arena eventing and we will have another go at Search for a Star next year.” Helena also competes in tetrathlon with Mick and the pair competed at the Pony Club championships this year finishing in the top 20%.

Top results from the Pony Club classes were as follows…

LEAD REIN CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Thistledown Elpaso, owned by Heather Hiscox and ridden by Emily Hiscox
2. Blackhill Osprey, owned by Lisa Croft and ridden by Millie Croft
3. Clearfell Bumblebee owned by Sophie Milczarek and ridden by Florence Milczarek

FIRST RIDDEN CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Larchgrove Isabella, owned by Connie Elliott and ridden by Emily Elliott
2. Desabre Sparrow Hawk, owned by Victoria Cable and ridden by Lucia Cable
3. Nerwyn Leonardo owned by Sarah Fraser and ridden by Annabel Fraser

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Cavan Mick, owned by Naomi Kitchener and ridden by Helena Kitchener
2. Battlestown Jenny, owned by Fiona Radford-Jones and ridden by Isobel Radford-Jones
3. Phantoms Masquerade owned by Sarah Adams and ridden by Grace Adams