On 5 October a team of 4 New Forest Ponies arrived at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre to compete in the SEIB Quadrille of the Year Competition, with the final being held at Olympia at Christmas. The team consisted of Burley Branston (Wendy Adams), Chester II (Sally Ann Pearson), Farriers Fingerprint (Martine Reeves) and Farriers Foxglove (Helen Campbell), along with Chef d’Equipe, Sarah Green and our trainer Claire Moir.

Rehearsals had begun in January with the chosen theme of square dancing. Our quadrille is quite fast and furious and rehearsals did not always run smoothly! The team also has 2 reserves - Long Copse Elton (Mandy Pidgley) and Kilncopse Fly By Night (Dawn Vear) who also had to attend rehearsals regularly.

The Quadrille of the Year is a very hotly contested event and each year costumes and moves become more and more elaborate. The selection trials at Addington have a turn out section and then a performance. Four teams then qualify to compete at Olympia. Seventeen teams were out in force for the selection trials, with themes ranging from pirates to weddings and fire engines to highwaymen. Again ours the only pony team in the event!

An incredible amount of work goes into this competition and we had a fantastically efficient group of helpers to dress ponies conjure up costumes, do make up and laugh at us in our cowboy gear! Even the ponies wore mini Stetsons!

Our performance was perhaps one of the best we have ever achieved, helped by the crowd who were very enthusiastic, clapping and stamping in time to the music. We then had a nail biting wait for all of the teams to be called back to see who had qualified for Olympia with 4 teams going through. 17 teams stood anxiously awaiting the announcement in a moment worthy of X-Factor! With a huge cheer our team was picked to go forward to Olympia. The final will be held on 19 December.

The British Riding Club National Dressage to Music Championships followed the next day, with our only Junior Sophie Albery (Brookshill Beethoven) going first for the team. Sophie produced a polished test and was 4th. Next the seniors, Sarah Green (Knightwood Golden Eye) took it all in their stride and finished 9th in a large class. Our pairs representatives were Dawn Vear (Kilncopse Fly By Night) and Mandy Pidgley and Long Copse Elton. These 2 ponies work regularly as a pair and were a very impressive 2nd.

Caroline Saker and Wayland Loganberry represented us in the novice and elementary and finished 3rd in both these classes, producing imaginative and enjoyable tests to watch. Martine Reeves and Farriers Fingerprint were also 10th in this class, this time without the cowboy outfit!

Some fantastic results for our ponies, vastly outnumbered by horses again at these championships. Also a big thank you to all the supporters and helpers who made the journey to come and cheer us on. Book those tickets for Olympia! The NFPEC is also selling t-shirts in our quadrille colours to raise money for the quadrille fund, please contact the club for details.

Martine Reeves