Equestrian Team Shine on National Stage.

During the summer our Equestrian Team put on a dazzling display at the NSEA Grassroots Championships Festival at Hickstead. Having secured their place back in May with a second-place team finish at Redcomb College, the King’s Hawford Equestrian Team had high hopes heading to Hickstead.

The team, Annie, Adelyn, Rosie and Chloe set off first thing on Tuesday morning. Spirits were high and all of the ponies were bathed and looking immaculate. The girls made the three and a half-hour journey to Hickstead, the home of British show jumping and host to some of the best highlights of the global equestrian calendar.

The aim of the Grassroots Festival classes is to give riders a championship experience in a wonderful setting and it certainly delivered that!

On arrival, the girls and their parents headed straight over to sort out the stables and give the ponies’ legs a stretch. They then settled them and set up camp before the first class, the Warm Up for the 40cm, held in the Polo Arena, which was judged on style.

The girls and their ponies did incredibly well, all jumping the skinny (a narrow jump which gives the ponies every opportunity to run out if not ridden accurately), notching up four lovely clear rounds. Annie and Chloe came First and Second respectively out of 39. The team was off to a flying start to the exciting two days of competition.

Second came the Warm Up for the 50cm, again held in the Polo Arena, judged on Optimum Time. This saw a few trickier elements introduced, including a jump with a bright red plank with HICKSTEAD➡️ painted on it. The girls had three clear rounds and Adelyn and Tank flew round to come a fantastic Seventh out of 44.

Day 2 brought the 40cm Final, held once more in the Polo Arena. This saw the introduction of a couple of big elaborate jump wings, the likes of which you see at the Horse of the Year Show, and which the girls (and ponies) had never encountered in competition! We celebrated clear rounds from Annie and Adelyn, with Adelyn Fifth individual out of 82 in the unassisted category. It was a super performance from the team and beyond their wildest dreams to be placed at the National Championships, let alone come Second!

The 50cm Final was held in a grand, imposing arena, flanked with bold advertising hoardings and complete with huge professional jump wings: plenty to spook the ponies and for the girls to be unnerved by. With team spirit flowing freely, the girls cheered each other on, held their nerves and tried their very best. Sadly, it wasn’t their day, with only Chloe getting a clear round. Nevertheless, they were placed tenth out of 17 teams. The girls conducted themselves with great strength, determination and love for their ponies. The King’s Hawford growth mindset was very much on show and it was very moving to see!

All in all, it was an incredible experience for all concerned: girls, ponies and support crew. True memory-making stuff.

Well done girls!