Shadowfax in at double as Ruth has edge over rivals

The four-star international event rider, who is based in Cumbria, looks set to replicate her success in last year’s winter championships after gaining seven championship qualifications from seven rides.

With her four dressage horses, Ruth featured in the top three of every class she entered, gaining five scores in excess of 70 per cent.

In the medium open, she took first and second places, winning the class with the seven-year-old British-bred Charlesfield Dante on 72.25 per cent and was placed second with her own horse, Zero, on 70.99 per cent.

Both horses went on to contest the advanced medium open, where Ruth took the top three spots. She won with her her own Shadowfax on 72.89 per cent and took second and third with Zero and Charlesfield Dante, respectively.

Following this victory, Ruth and Shadowfax then took the Prix St Georges (PSG) music freestyle championship with a score of 74.42 per cent, which was over seven per cent clear of their nearest rivals.

A third place in the elementary open with the six-year-old British Sports Horse stallion Mister Maccondy completed an extremely successful day.

Commenting on her two wins with Shadowfax, one of her event horses, Ruth said: “I was thrilled with him as he hasn’t been out much recently.

“He had a fabulous time and enjoyed himself, we had a new floor plan and it really worked.”

The German-bred nine-year-old has been with Ruth since he was four and will be competing in the PSG class at his first premier league competition this month.

Over the past year, Ruth, who competes in both dressage and eventing, has had 37 first places from 52 rides in the dressage arena.

Derbyshire rider Jane Green also performed well at the last winter regional dressage competition of the year at Willerby Hill in East Yorkshire.

She won three classes riding Theresa Stokes’s Dutch gelding Valentime.

“I’m very lucky,” said Jane. “Theresa and her husband bought Valentime with the intention of me riding him and he’s the best horse I’ve ever had. He really suits me, we are a real pair and if I was to describe my perfect horse, it would be him.”

The pair won the medium open, advanced medium open and advanced medium freestyle with 69.28 per cent, 68.07 per cent and 71.22 per cent, respectively.

Dressage star Carl Hester is the only other person to have ridden Valentime.

Jane and Valentime have been undefeated since November last year in eight classes from medium to advanced level and she has high hopes of this horse. “I want to take him all the way and compete internationally, I think that’s everyone’s dream... but I have to be sensible about it and take it at the correct pace for him.”

Sheffield’s Hannah Esberger-Shepherd also did well at the event with her geldings, Welkom and Belluga, winning the elementary open on 68.96 per cent and the medium freestyle with 70.57 per cent.

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