Winter Dressage Championships 2024: Violet Hawkins

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 received by Jezz Palmer on Toddington Debut (75.37%).

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

“He positively is aware of he’s as vital as all the opposite horses,” stated Violet. “Everyone seems to be all the time 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Violet has been driving the horse since she was 9 years outdated.

“In Covid, I used to be with him all day on daily basis, I did all the pieces with him – and I believe that’s what makes our bond so sturdy,” she stated. “He does a little bit of leaping, we did some displaying final 12 months, and certified for Olympia, however it was irritating all the time coming second!

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

Along 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 all the time hungry!” she stated.

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

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

“I used to should make myself smile, however it simply comes naturally driving him, he’s a showman and he simply loves his music. I actually needed to journey 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 rather well,” she says. “I began him on it in unaffiliated prelim and have moved it on to the lengthy area and novices. If I play Lovecats at house, 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 an element in Matilda, when all theatre was stopped. As a substitute, in lockdown, she switched all her consideration to dressage.

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

You may additionally get pleasure from studying…

Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is filled with all the newest information and reviews, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can get pleasure from the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and reviews in addition to different advantages.

H&H options editor

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 road canine from Gambia who was deserted at three weeks outdated. Now, her fixed companion, whether or not by her toes at her desk or strolling cross-country programs, is Fidget, an especially energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on matters as numerous as a prime horse’s clone to the very best 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.