Junge Reiterin Fährt Auf Dem 25-jährigen Sohn Einer Stute Nach Hickstead, Die Ihre Mutter Vor 27 Jahren Dort Ritt

Auf dem 25-jährigen Sohn der Stute, die ihre Mutter vor fast drei Jahrzehnten dort ritt, geht eine 12-jährige Reiterin nach Hickstead.

Sarah Olifent züchtete Frankium oder Frankie aus ihrer geliebten New Forest-Stute Nightwood Salina, mit der sie in Hicksteads internationaler Arena als Teil eines Teams sprang, das vor 27 Jahren den zweiten Platz in der Schulmeisterschaft belegte.

Sie erzählte H&H Frankie wurde in ihrer heutigen Küche geboren.

„Mein Cottage war früher ein kleiner strohgedeckter Stall, also wurde er genau dort geboren, wo mein Aga jetzt ist“, sagte sie.

“his dam was a cracking little mare, who was my hunting pony but we did eventing and showjumping too, and we kept her for ever.

“she was such a good mare, we wanted to breed a foal so she went to a new forest stallion, and we got frankie.”

the 14.1hh gelding was intended for sarah’s younger sister jade so after sarah herself had ridden him for a while, and a couple of years on loan to friends, he came home and “did all the pony club things”. after jade outgrew him, he was loaned out again, then returned for sarah’s daughter amelia, now 12, to ride. in those years, he has earned an enviable reputation.

“he’s hunted with the blackmore & sparkford vale pretty much every season since he was five,” sarah said. “i should think there isn’t a hedge in the vale he hasn’t jumped.

“he’s really quite special. people would always tuck in behind him because they knew there was nothing he wouldn’t jump.

“he’s an absolute star. he’s won county-level working hunter pony classes, evented to pre-novice and i should think done more pony club camps than anyone in the country. he’s taken tinies to mini camp, done polocrosse; he does it all and anyone can ride him.”

amelia has now qualified for the national schools equestrian association arena eventing championships at hickstead on 29 may.

“it will be really special,” sarah said. “my mum’s really excited. she’s got motor neurone disease so won’t be able to go but we’ll facetime her as they go in the ring.

“she’s hugely fond of frankie and has seen him all the way through so i think it will be quite emotional for all of us.

“it will be special for all of us just because of the pony he is but to know how long he’s been doing it, and that i did it before on his mum; that probably doesn’t happen very often.

“we keep thinking ‘this might be his last year’ but he carries on, and he’s with us for ever.”