It was a day of celebration for Oxfordshire-based rider, Christina Brooks, and her 16-year-old Fell stallion, Guards Jester, who stood Supreme Champion in the Senior In- Hand Showing Series Championships at Olympia Horse Show on their very first appearance.
Having only contested a couple of in-hand classes, the pair secured their ticket to Olympia at Brook Farm in Essex back in September before taking the top spot at the prestigious championships.
However, two years ago it was a worrying time for Guards Jester (Pookie). At the age of 14 he was operated on for a cancerous tumour and lengthy treatment left him lacking condition. Christina worried that he wouldn’t pull through, let alone be back in the show ring, so to have achieved what he has is quite phenomenal.
Said Christina: “Since his recovery and turning 15, I have been aiming him at the ridden Senior Showing and Dressage Ltd. (SSADL) qualifiers. So to win an in-hand championship at Olympia was fantastic as we haven’t done much in-hand showing. He was such a star in the arena and I’m so proud of him.”
Christina and Pookie have notched up some credible results in the show ring under saddle but unfortunately missed out on an Olympia ticket.
Added Christina: “He has stood Reserve Supreme Champion twice at the SSADL Summer Championship Show, but on both occasions we missed out qualifying for Olympia in the ridden section. This year our dreams came true. I’m over the moon with him, he was a real star in the arena.
“Feeding him on TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer has really helped to bring his sparkle and condition back whilst keeping him calm and the results speak for themselves. He is looking very well now and in top show-winning condition, always receiving high marks for suppleness and condition.”