‘I Spye’ Wins Major Young Event Horse Title

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Thrilled to have my super horse I Spye win this prestigious Young Event Horse event.

From a field of 50 competitors I Spye won the Dubarry Young Event horse at the Gatcombe Festival of British Eventing.

I Spye joined my team as a four year old and from day one I have rated him as a horse with outstanding talent for the future. Very gratifying to have a panel of international judges agree.

Also very pleased for Sam, my New Zealand working pupil, who I allowed ride I Spye so I could compete Gigilo VK for my wonderful owner – Jane Bell. Giggle VK went into the final phase of judging in second place, one mark from I Spye, but sadly got pipped to 9th place for the final section of judging – a top 10 place still a credible result for Jane and her promising young horse.

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THE DUBARRY BURGHLEY YOUNG EVENT HORSE 
This hugely popular competition has been integral to Burghley Horse Trials for nearly 30 years and is still acknowledged as the shop window to view potential ‘four star’ horses at an early age.
Open to four and five year olds, the aim of the Series is to encourage breeders and trainers to produce and present the type of young horse which will be considered to be the best material to make a world class three day event horse.
The judges look for an athletic, loose moving horse with a promising jumping technique and attitude which, with correct training and production, will develop physically and mentally into a strong three day eventer.
The winner is that with the highest overall marks from four sections:
SECTION MARKS
I Dressage Out of 30
II Jumping – 1.05m for 5 year olds – Out of 40
III Conformation (12 marks) & Quality (8 marks) – Out of 40
IV Suitability & Potential – 1 – 10
Dressage: each horse performs a simple dressage test to demonstrate obedience, suppleness and, correct, elastic and regular gaits. Marks are not awarded for individual movements.
Jumping: follows immediately after the dressage. Judges are looking for a bold athletic horse with good technique.A horse should not necessarily be penalised for knocking down one fence (or even a four year old having one refusal), providing he learns from his mistake.However, a fall of horse or rider or three cumulative refusals will result in elimination.
Conformation and Quality: assessed in hand. The horses’ build and type should enable them to withstand the demands of the sport in terms of soundness, speed and stamina.
SuitabilityandPotential: the top ten highest scoring horses from sections I – III are invited to come into the Ring to be assessed on potential international quality. The horses are brought into line in the order that the judge sees their potential.Ten marks will be awarded to the horse that the judge selects first, 9 to the second, 8 to the third, etc down to 1 mark to the tenth horse.These marks are added to those from the previous 3 sections to establish the winner
One horse per 15 starters at today’s event will qualify for the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals which take place at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials on Friday, 2 September.