Equestrian Team Beat the Heat to Deliver Outstanding Performances

With temperatures soaring throughout the day, it was certainly a scorcher, but our riders and ponies rose brilliantly to the challenge.

First to compete was Isla W riding Tasha in the 40cm class. The pair produced a lovely clear round to finish in 8th place. Isla also took on the 50cm class, but in the huge arena and challenging heat, Tasha was feeling a little cheeky and picked up two stops. Despite this, Isla rode with great determination and completed her round with a smile.

Next up were Iona and Dinky in the 60cm class. Iona piloted Dinky around a beautiful clear round, finishing comfortably within a very competitive class. A fantastic effort from both pony and rider.

The standout success came in the 70cm, where Iona, Adelyn and Rosie all jumped clear rounds, securing an excellent 1st place team finish and qualification for Hickstead. Rosie came 6th and therefore also qualified as an individual on her new pony Denzel who she has only had for approx 2 months. A special mention goes to Iona as it was her first time competing at 70cm, so very well done to her. The girls achieved three very creditable Top 10 placings in this class with Adelyn and Iona coming 8th and 10th respectively and Adelyn was awarded Best Horsemanship.

Adding to the celebrations, Adelyn was awarded the Best Horsemanship Award, an accolade we are incredibly proud of and one that reflects her dedication, kindness and excellent riding throughout the day.

Moving on to the 70/75cm RPL class, Adelyn and Rosie stepped up once again in the heat of the afternoon. Adelyn rode a fantastic round to finish in 5th place and secure another qualifying place for Hickstead, while Rosie also jumped a speedy clear round to finish in 10th place.

Finally, Adelyn took on the 80/85cm RPL class. Riding her third clear round of the day, she finished in 13th place. Although it wasn’t quite enough for qualification, it was a wonderful achievement and a testament to both her riding and her pony’s consistency throughout the day.

The extreme temperatures certainly added an extra challenge for everyone involved in the equestrian team. Warm-ups had to be carefully managed to avoid overheating the ponies, ice-cold wash downs became essential after every round, and shady spots were highly sought after between classes. Of course, the ice cream van also proved extremely popular with riders and supporters alike!

A huge thank you to all families who give so much time, especially the Dads who gave up a relaxing Father’s Day to support and help the Kings Hawford Equestrian Team flourish. It wouldn’t be possible without you!

A brilliant team effort- well done everyone, and good luck at Hickstead!

A thank you from Ellie King

As this is my final competition report before our year 6 riders leave King’s Hawford, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the King’s Hawford Equestrian Team since it was established in January 2023.

To have grown from just four members to fourteen riders in a little over three years is something I am incredibly proud to have overseen. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our families, who have given enormous amounts of time, effort and financial commitment to help the team flourish.

Together we have organised two successful fundraising show jumping competitions, both of which were extremely well received and generated wonderful feedback. We have represented the school at venues across the country and, remarkably, have qualified for the NSEA Championships at Hickstead every year since the team was formed.

We will, of course, keep everyone updated on our progress at Hickstead in August, and I am sure there will be plenty of updates to come as our riders continue their NSEA journeys at Big King’s and beyond.

Thank you once again for your support, encouragement, and enthusiasm. It has been a privilege to be part of this journey, and I wish the King’s Hawford Equestrian Team every success for the future.