LOCAL equestrian lass, Christine Booth and her horse, I am Will, won an overall series title recently, just months after Christine started training with I am Will.
Having been riding horses since a young age, Christine said she’s very proud of the former racehorse turned show jumper. The pair kicked the season off with the Midlands Arena Eventing series, which comprised of four competitions in the series.
I am Will and Christine started their winning journey when he was bought in October last year: “He was a race horse for two years and two weeks after his final race my instructor, Heidi Caine, organised him for me. He’s been training with Craig Udey in Summerveld.”
Christine said it’s usually a difficult task to transition race horses into jump horses, but added that it came naturally for I am Will.
He proved his worth at the first competition in the Midlands Arena Eventing series at Treverton School in February, where he won his first class 60 centimetre jump.
Throughout the year the pair went on to compete in different events, notching up more points, until I am Will upgraded to a one meter jump at the final competition in the Midlands Arena Eventing, the season finale for the two.
They went full circle in the event and competed in their last jump for the season at Treverton again in October. There, I am will started with a jump of 90 centimetres, but upgraded to a one meter jump on the same day, where he won in his class, ultimately earning them the title of the overall series winners. They won a three night, four day cruise to the Portuguese islands.
“I will continue riding I am Will as he’s a very young horse at only five years old. He will do very well again in next year’s season,” Christine said.
Christine thanked her trainer, instructor and support team for their ongoing support through the season.