Eight golden oldies in bid for this year’s open veteran title

Call The Shots

Charlotte Bunting from Norfolk has owned this 19-year-old traditional cob since he was a five-year-old.

They contest veteran showing classes and have plans to try dressage as well.

Charlotte works in children’s services and has an eight-month-old baby. She qualified for Your Horse Live at Arena UK.

Colour Coded

This 16-year-old tri-coloured gelding belongs to his rider, Jill Wormall, who hails from Leicestershire.

Colour Coded has won multiple coloured showing classes at county level, as well as at Great Yorkshire Show and the Royal International.

He qualified for Your Horse Live at Vale View Equestrian Centre.

Cormoy Lad

Somerset’s Carol Quantrill pilots this 17-year-old cob, who earned his Your Horse Live ticket on his first appearance in the show ring in over a year.

The duo also competes in dressage and recently contested a Petplan Area Festival.

Cormoy Lad has mainly competed at county level as a maxi cob. He was retired from the show ring a couple of years ago to concentrate on dressage, until Carol saw this SEIB Search for a Star class.

Carol works for the equine dentistry equipment company Equine Blades Direct.

Gallifrey

This 18-year-old coloured cob is owned by Carole West and ridden by Surrey-based professional show horse producer Lynn Russell.

Lynn takes Gallifrey to a few shows each year and says he “absolutely loves it”.

She adds that the Search for a Star Open Ridden Veteran is a great series for older horses. “It is difficult to find classes Gallifrey and I can compete in,” she says.

Gallifrey has been in Lynn’s yard since he was a three-year-old and has done coloured classes, working hunters, side-saddle and lightweight cobs.

They qualified for Your Horse Live at Stoneleigh Park.

Legolas

At 21 years old, Legolas is the eldest of the equine finalists. He is ridden by Wiltshire-based Deborah Newman, who has owned the 17.3hh former para equestrian horse for four years.

They earned their ticket to this final at Stoneleigh at their first ever show, and can usually be found competing in the dressage arena up to Prix St Georges level.

Deborah is hoping to compete Legolas in their first Grand Prix dressage class soon.

Millenium Indi

Lidl store manager Victoria Laverty owns and rides this 18-year-old mare, and they possibly have the furthest to travel of all this year’s Your Horse Live finalists.

They made the long journey over from Northern Ireland — which includes an eight-hour overnight ferry trip — to qualify at Arena UK in the summer, and they will embark on the same journey to attend the championship.

Victoria’s aunt bred Indi from her Thoroughbred mare out of an Irish Draught stallion. Victoria later bought her as a three-year-old for riding club, working hunter and showing classes.

Paris Party Girl

This piebald mare belongs to her rider, Lisa Counsell, aged 20. Together compete in showing and novice- and elementary-level dressage, as well as one-day events.

Silvermines Irish Ruby

Chestnut mare Silver Mines Irish Ruby is 17 years old and has been owned by her rider, Paige Thompson, since she was aged four.

They compete in show horse classes as well as workers, having started their showing career on the 15hh working hunter pony circuit.

The pair also do horse trials, arena eventing and jumping.