As anticipated the atmosphere was buzzing and the horses and ponies were soaking up the ambience at the Petplan Summer Area Festival at Bicton Arena 19-21 July. We had an amazing three days of competition with such a range of horses and ponies on show all loving their dressage in the mixed weather with rain and sunshine.
“Congratulations to all the competitors who have qualified to go to the Petplan Summer Championship at Arena UK in October,” said Andrew Fell, Co-Director at Bicton Arena. “The Petplans, as we fondly know them, bring their own very special mood and tone to Bicton and we always thoroughly enjoy the event. It’s a real privilege to see all the combinations who have worked so hard to get one of these Area Festivals – a real pinnacle of competition for so many amateur riders.”
The Preliminary Bronze class was won by 12-year-old Neve Moran with her pony Clareville Golden Knight – also known as Cedrick. From South Devon, Neve has only owned Cedrick for five months and this Area Festival was her first time ever at Bicton – she absolutely loved it. The eight-year-old pony was given to Neve as the previous owners found he didn’t like travelling but with family support and time along with a memory foam mattress topper Cedrick is now travelling happily and enjoying going to ‘parties’. Neve’s step mum Emily Farleigh said, “She is already a true horsewoman, bathing and plaiting her pony, cleaning her tack and getting Cedrick ready all by herself she is quite something.”
Alex Farleigh, who happens to also be Neve Moran’s step Grandma also had a couple of great results with a win in the Inter I Silver class and a second in the PSG Silver. Her horse 50 Shades of Bay, known as Socks at home has been with Alex since he was five years old, now 16 he is a much-loved member of the family. It certainly looks like the whole family will be travelling up to Arena UK for the Petplan Area Festival Championships in October – we wish them all well.
Full results from the show can be found here.
Keep up to date with Bicton Arena news and events:
Please check your junk folder for confirmation email.