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Owston Golden Sovereign

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 Skyehouse Agricultural Show 2014

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Cheshire County 2016 - Photo John Ritter

Introducing Ben Spoor
Native Pony Bridles Junior Handler of The Year
Showing World / Showing Council, Showing Personality of The Year Awards 2016

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 I was over the moon to win the Native Pony Bridles Junior Show Handler of the Year award hosted by The Showing  Council/Showing World Magazine. I had been extremely pleased to be runner up for the past two years but to win was  unbelievable!

 I started showing when I was 8 years old with my palomino section A mare, Owston Hoity Toity. We had a lot of success  together especially in veteran classes. She gave me the confidence to show at County level and we won at Lincoln and  The Royal Three Counties shows. Unfortunately, we had to have her put to sleep earlier this year at the age of 20 as she  was suffering with Cushings.

  At the end of 2015 I was gifted back a palomino homebred gelding called Owston Golden Sovereign. We competed at a  couple of shows at the end of the year, one of which was the British Elite Horse Show where we were placed 2nd  Reserve Supreme in Hand! We have gone from strength to strength this year, having gained many championships,  including 2 Millcroft Welsh Gelding championships and my highlight was being able to show at the Royal Welsh for the      first time, one of my dreams! We had a fantastic day coming 2nd in a massive Palomino 4 years and over class and 5th    in the Welsh Section A gelding class too. It was a brilliant day and one I will never forget. I can’t wait until next year!

  We have 10 ponies and I enjoy looking after them with my parents. I help with the mucking out and all the other ‘everyday’   jobs. I also really enjoy getting them ready for shows and seeing the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of them.

  Next year I am looking forward to doing lots more showing and I will be old enough to show a friend’s stallion too. My   dream is to become a producer when I finish school and I hope to take a pony for producing when I’m 16.

My favourite shows have to be the big county shows as it is an honour to be in the ring at such shows, regardless of the placings.

I also have a homebred coloured Welsh Part Bred colt foal, Owston Smart Design, who I look forward to showing next year too- something a bit different!

My Mum is Secretary of the NCPA Yorkshire Branch and last year I put an idea to her about running a show just for children, after I qualified for the evening performance at the British Elite Horse Show. She said it was a good idea and we worked hard on putting a schedule together and then bringing it to reality. I am pleased to say it was a huge success with record entries. We held an evening performance too which went down really well with everyone dressed up in evening wear. It went on late into the night as so many people turned up. We are holding another one next year on 2nd April  2017.

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