Louise Marriott rides Clicquot
Using show hunter to help what used to be a nervous and neurotic horse paid off for Louise Marriott when she and Clicquot rode off with two series titles.
The Rangiora horsewoman won the NRM Open High Points and Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation series without even having to start at the Glistening Waters Championship show in Masterton at the weekend.
“I thought show hunter would be good for him,” said Louise. “He would get in the ring and be panicky and worried. It was so good for him. It worked brilliantly . . . the judges liked him and he won prizes.”
She embarked on a second season of show hunter with the big black Eurosport Centavos gelding and reaped the rewards. “He really enjoyed it too.”
Clicquot, who has just gone to his new home, is eight but didn’t start competing until he was six. But he certainly made up for it bagging eight wins in the open high points and seven in the adult equitation series.
“I really didn’t expect to win even one series,” says Louise. “It was an exercise in producing the horse and a bonus he is so good at it. He is such a handsome horse and is a really good person – he is genuine, kind and lovely. He’s now cruisey and low key.”
She says show hunter has been the making of him. “It has made an incredible difference to him.”
She plans to bring another youngster into the show hunter arenas next season. “For those who are struggling in competition, show hunter is really good. I am a big advocate for it – it isn’t for everyone but does offer that low key and chilled environment.”
She admits there will probably be a few tears when the series’ winner’s rugs arrive.
Louise works with a lot of young horses and thoroughly enjoys producing them. “I find it really rewarding,” she says. The 40-year-old horsewoman started riding at two and hardly looked back despite a few years off running her own transport company in Kaikoura, and a further seven driving trucks. The trucking world wasn’t kind on her health so she decided to take a year off and enjoy her horses, taking in a few breakers to help pay the bills. “It quickly grew into a business and I am now really busy with a very long list to get through this winter.”
She has a lifestyle block that is well set up for horses and she is loving it.
NRM Open High Points Final (sponsored by Printcraft & Design Hive): Lauren Mitchell (Kumeu) Craighaven Black Heart 1, Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 2, Olivia Woodward (Palmerston North) Whittaker II 3, Lauren Mitchell (Kumeu) Marokopa CJ 4, Emily Twort (Henderson) Cameo KSNZ 5.
NRM Open High Points Series: Louise Marriott (Rangiora) Clicquot 46 points 1, Merran Hain/Luke Dee/Logan Massie/Tim Wilson (Gisborne) Untouchable 38 2, Anna Parsons and Jesse Linton (Hastings) Snapchat Me 35 3, Emily Twort (Henderson) Cameo KSNZ 35 4, Lauren Mitchell (Kumeu) Marokopa CJ 32 5, Lauren Mitchell (Kumeu) Craighaven Black Heart 28 6.
Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation Series Final: Rebecca Conole (Masterton) Private Benjamin III 1, Emily Twort (Henderson) Cameo KSNZ 2, Sophie Fourie (Oakura) Moritz 3, Antonio Matangi (Levin) Shoeshine Polish 4, Sonya Glennie (Wanganui) El Diablo 5.
Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Equitation Series: Louise Marriott (Rangiora) 48 points 1, Emily Twort (Henderson) 42 2, Diana Cottle (Palmerston North) 39 3, Antonio Matangi (Levin) 35 4, Rebecca Conole (Masterton) 33 5, Emily Cammock (Christchurch) 29 6.
For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz
The Jumping Team
28 April 2022