A 12.2hh pony proved he may combine it with the large weapons within the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold Championship on the 2024 NAF 5 Star Winter Dressage Championships. Glenlichd Honest Un Sq., ridden by a beaming 14-year-old Violet Hawkins, scored 70.28%, with Pam Bushell the decide at C awarding them 73.89%. The category was gained by Jezz Palmer on Toddington Debut (75.37%).

Honest Un Sq., a 14-year-old by Llanarth Charmer, strutted across the blue-lit indoor enviornment at Addington like a horse twice his dimension, together with his purposeful stroll and medium canter the highlights.

“He undoubtedly is aware of he’s as vital as all the opposite horses,” mentioned Violet. “Everyone seems to be at all times coming as much as him and telling him how candy he’s. We’re questioning if he’s the smallest ever pony within the gold part.”

Violet has been using the horse since she was 9 years previous.

“In Covid, I used to be with him all day every single day, I did all the things with him – and I believe that’s what makes our bond so robust,” she mentioned. “He does a little bit of leaping, we did some exhibiting final yr, and certified for Olympia, nevertheless it was irritating at all times coming second!

“He’s a type of that simply tries the very best no matter you ask him, he’ll say ‘OK, I’ll give {that a} attempt’.”

Together with his dinky Welsh Part B face, melting butter springs to thoughts, however he’s a feisty character.

“He’s sassy, very sassy, and candy – and at all times hungry!” she mentioned.

2024 Winter Dressage Championships: “A showman who makes me smile”

Violet’s large grin as she rode by way of her freestyle routine matched the gray’s bonny angle and he or she defined how he makes her smile all through her check.

“I used to should make myself smile, nevertheless it simply comes naturally using him, he’s a showman and he simply loves his music. I actually wished to experience him in there as we speak.”

Violet selected her eclectic music, which included The Lovecats, for Honest Un Sq. again in 2020.

“It’s fairly jazzy and never all judges prefer it, but when they do, they actually adore it and it fits him very well,” she says. “I began him on it in unaffiliated prelim and have moved it on to the lengthy enviornment and novices. If I play Lovecats at residence, he is aware of it’s his music.”

Honest Un Sq. isn’t the one performer on this partnership. Simply earlier than Covid hit, Violet was shortlisted for a component in Matilda, when all theatre was stopped. As an alternative, in lockdown, she switched all her consideration to dressage.

“It was her sliding doorways second,” mentioned her mum. “It may have been the West Finish or dressage.”

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Martha is an skilled journalist who’s mad-keen on canines of all styles and sizes. After rising up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she loved 14 years with two rescue canines, one a avenue canine from Gambia who was deserted at three weeks previous. Now, her fixed companion, whether or not by her toes at her desk or strolling cross-country programs, is Fidget, a particularly energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on matters as various as a high horse’s clone to the most effective GPS trackers for canines, in addition to equestrian and rural issues for Nation Life, The Subject, The Occasions, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.