The first supreme winner of the Scottish Veteran Horse of the Year Championship was crowned at the 2014 Ingliston Grand Slam.
The in-hand and ridden competition, for qualified combinations only, was run under the auspices of the Veteran Horse Society providing an ultimate showdown between the very best of Scotland’s veteran horse champions from the county show season.
Taking first the ridden championship final win and then supreme title were Hawick rider Marion Hutcheson and her 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Gonzo.
No strangers to success in the show ring, the partnership previously qualified for the VHS supreme final at Olympia, at Osbauldeston last year.
They took their win, and became the first recipients of the Newsflash Perpetual Shield, presented by Lesley Shields and Rhona Sweeting in memory of their former veteran champion and Olympia finalist, after scoring 90 points from an available 100 at Ingliston.
Marion and Gonzo qualified for the final by standing reserve champion at this year’s Border Union Show in Kelso, and were also sixth earlier this year at the Scottish Horse Show.
Outside of the show ring, Gonzo has hunted regularly and was formerly used for whipping in.
Amy MacKillop made her journey south to the Grand Slam from Inverness well worthwhile when she lifted the in-hand championship and stood overall reserve with her 17-year-old mare Balinda H.
Amy, who works part-time in a call centre and also at the stables of her local equine vets to fund her riding, bought Penny when she was a 10-year-old.
The Dutch-bred pony competed successfully at showjumping in Germany before being imported to the UK.
“I originally bought her to jump with, but we tried a bit of showing with her and I really enjoyed it, so I don’t jump as much anymore,” said Amy.
Penny a part-bredArab, sired by the stallion Bayard and out of Carmen M also bred the MacKillops a filly foal last season.
Rounding off what has been a very successful show year for the partnership, Amy said Penny is her “complete pride and joy”.
This season, they won both their classes at the Cabin taking second reserve for the Olympia qualifier won both their classes at Mundole, were reserve champions at the Black Isle and took their qualifier for Ingliston by standing champion at Keith.
They also won a reserve championship at Moray, and were second at Blair.
Taking the runners up positions in the Scottish Veteran Horse of the Year finals in-hand and under saddle were Fiona Reed’s 20-year-old Thoroughbred stallion Bollin Terry, shown at Ingliston by David Scott-Downie, and Holly Stewart’s 15-year-old coloured pony Millpond Look At Me, respectively.
equestrian@thecourier.co.ukResults
Champion: Marion Hutcheson, Gonzo. Reserve: Amy MacKillop, Balinda H.
Scottish Veteran Horse of the Year ridden final: 1 Marion Hutcheson, Gonzo; 2 Holly Stewart, Millpond Look At Me; 3 Ami Conchie, Islandview Lad; 4 Rebecca McRonald, Abervale Sprocket; 5 Morven Miller, Wyken Pyrene; 6 Joyce Hatton, Downtown Disney.
Scottish Veteran Horse of the Year in-hand final: 1 Amy MacKillop, Balinda H; 2 Fiona Reed, Bollin Terry; 3 Andrea and Andrew Nicol, Rebel Run; 4 Jessica Garnett, Phildons Sparkle; 5 Lorna Brand, Amber Ver Immer.