Palmer's perfectly placed for Horse of the Year Show chance

FUNTINGTON rider Jan Palmer has qualified for premier national equestrian championships and now has the chance to compete alongside seasoned professionals at the prestigious Horse of the Year Show 2012.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Aug 2012, 09:11 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 19:42 BST

Donatella – owned, bred and ridden by Palmer – took second spot in the Riding Horse and Hack class.

When the chestnut filly was born Palmer vowed to sell her, but she ended up keeping her and backed the now six-year-old herself.

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“We have been doing dressage this year and I’ve started to ask her a few more questions. She’s extremely powerful so I ride her with caution but as we get going we are making a better team” said Palmer.

As a three-year-old, Roo, as the mare is affectionately known, won the Sport Horse Breeding in-hand class at the New Forest Show and they have more recently competed at Surrey County Show.

“My friend was coming here so I thought it might be worth having a go” said Palmer. “The judges said she was a hack not a riding horse, which is probably why we did so badly at Surrey County.”

Palmer now plans to put in a lot of work at home before they head off to HOYS.

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Show judge Richard Ramsay added: “This competition gives amateurs the chance to compete at HOYS, a dream which many riders would love to realise and the standard gets better every year.”

The South Essex Insurance Brokers Search For A Star championship finals will be held at the Horse Of The Year Show, which euns from October 3 to 7 at the Birmingham NEC.