Zoe Hume is living dream at top show (From Gazette & Herald)
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Zoe Hume is living dream at top show
3:01pm Wednesday 17th October 2012 in Equestrian
Zoe Hume and Goliath’s Boy prove themselves among the cream of the crop at the Horse of the Year Show Picture courtesy of E S Photography
THE Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) sits at the pinnacle of the national showing calendar and many horse owners and riders spend years trying to qualify for the glittering event but will only ever dream of taking their turn under the spotlight.
Fifteen-year-old Zoe Hume is living the dream. She has earned her place in the show ring at HOYS on many occasions throughout a very successful career on ponies but this is the first time she has competed against senior riders.
Zoe, from Amotherby, wowed the judges to feature among the final line-up in the Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship on board Goliaths Boy, or Colin as he is affectionately known at home. Following a smooth and stylish performance, the combination were awarded fifth place in the hotly-contested class.
Colin, a six-year-old chestnut gelding, came out of the yard of trainer Richard Fahey two years ago and spent a year in the field before coming back into work at the start of this season.
Zoe gained her HOYS ticket early in the year, at Osbaldeston Equestrian Centre in May, on her first ever attempt at a HOYS racehorse qualifier.
The fledgling partnership only contested two shows before qualifying for HOYS, one being Hambleton Show, where Zoe won the racehorse class ahead of her mum, Heather Hume, on Bond Playboy, who had to settle for second place on that occasion.
HOYS was only Colin’s sixth ever outing but he performed like a true professional and caught the eye of the judge to be pulled in fifth.
“Colin behaved impeccably at HOYS and did not put a foot wrong, he absolutely loved it,” said Heather Hume.
“Zoe is rather pleased with her fifth this year as she bettered my seventh place with Bond Playboy last year.”
The Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship title was claimed by Vicky Smart, wife of racehorse trainer Bryan Smart, riding her homebred gelding, Roger’s Revenge.
When his career on the flat came to an end, Roger’s Revenge was re-schooled by Vicky and has gone on to enjoy great success in the show ring. He also won the Racehorse to Riding Horse class amid some stiff competition from a field of more than 40 competitors at the Great Yorkshire Show this year.
