Rachel riding high after success at top show

Rachel riding high after success at top show

14 October 2015

A SAINTFIELD  rider is jumping for joy after achieving second place at the world’s most famous horse show.

Twenty year-old Rachel Moore has just returned home from the prestigious Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham where she finished just one point behind the winner in the Underwood 153cm Working Hunter Pony of the Year class on Fortview Toy Boy.

Rachel and her nine year-old gelding, known at home as Louie, competed in a massive class against the best of ponies in the United Kingdom. 

During a series of qualifying heats for the competition this summer, Fortview Toy Boy also earned fourth place in the Most Consistent Pony of the Year category.

In a bittersweet twist, Rachel has now parted company from her horse, which she owned for the past seven years and which qualified for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) four times, as she now moves to the next class.

As she begins the difficult task of finding a horse suitable for the next class, Rachel realises it will be difficult to recreate their joint success.

Taught by her mother Shirley, an accomplished award winning rider and winner in the showing ring, Rachel was introduced to the saddle as a toddler and first competed when she was five years old.

With Fortview Toy Boy she won Royal Dublin Show twice, qualified for the Royal International Show several times achieving fourth place this year, champion at Royal Balmoral Show, first at the Royal Highland Show, second at Cheshire County Show, third at the Scottish Horse Show, second at Royal Highland Show, third at HOYS  BSPS, first at NPS Area 4  fourth at the Royal International Show, first in the Inter County Teams and first in both 2014 and 2015 at the Northern Ireland Festival.

“He is my one in a million pony, the best boy. He never let me down,” said Rachel. “It will be hard to find another like him.”

However, Rachel, who works full-time with her horses, has already set her sights on her next achievement.

“My next goal is to win the Horse of the Year Show instead of coming second,” she said.