Katharine Coleman rides Double J Sunshine. Photo by Kampic
THE BRAVE PANTS COMPANY PRO AM RIDER SERIES
Winner: Katharine Coleman
Someone has forgotten to tell Double J Sunshine that at 17 he should be slowing down a little. Instead he helped his doting owner Katharine Coleman win The Brave Pants Company Pro-Am Rider Series – another trophy in an already bulging cabinet filled with eventing trophies and a treble of Pro-Am titles from this season.
“He feels as good as ever,” says Katharine. “He has been the most genuine horse since a five-year-old.”
She bought him as a four-year-old from Brooke and Oliver Edgecombe who had sent him to her to sell. “I thought actually, he is quite cool.”
She evented him and they moved through the grades to 4* quickly winning Kihikihi, Puhinui, eventing series and at Taupo. But he was plagued by injuries and hasn’t evented since he was eight.
“I only jumped him this season to do a few shows because I had nothing else jumping above ring three.”
However, they finished 18 points ahead of runner-up Paula Mussen (Pukekohe). “It’s been a very good season on the old guy. We won three titles this year – the pro-am at Nationals, HOY and now the series too.”
It is her first showjumping series crown and their HOY crown was also a first although she admits to having won “heaps” of flat titles there. It was a real highlight to win the Pro-Am HOY title on a horse nearing the end of his career.
“We won three premier Pro-Ams which helped with the points. I didn’t feel I chased the series and it was not until I won at Nationals and was in the lead that I figured I should have a go at winning it – especially at his age.”
The horse is now enjoying a well-earned holiday and Katharine says she will see how he feels when he comes back in. “He has never done well just sitting in the paddock. He hates it so I will just keep him ticking over.”
She describes him as “the family pet”. He is pretty easy to have around but can drive me crazy some days when I can’t catch him. He can’t be on his own, is pretty needy and diabolical to hack out but I just adore him!”
She’s hopeful there is a youngster coming through who could fill his shoes when he finally does retire but says it will be a very hard ask.
Katharine moved from Palmerston North to Blenheim two years ago but this was her first season competing from her new base. “There is a lot of travel to be done from here,” she says. “There is one show at Marlborough and then five hours to the next closest one! It’s quite a bit different to Palmie which is so central.”
Rose Cruden, owner of series sponsor The Brave Pants Company, says that while they are relatively new to sponsoring ESNZ Jumping series, they’ve been sponsoring equestrian events since her company started. They aim to put at least 10% of their profits back into the sport.
“Sure it is good marketing, but our brand is based on community so we know the importance of supporting events to help keep the sport going and our community thriving,” says Rose, who just recently welcomed her new baby, George, to the Brave Pants family.
“We think that is pretty exciting! We are also in the process of signing off on our samples for our winter hoodies and other new products that are set to be released later this year, so that is always fun.”
She adores hearing from riders. “The Pro-Am riders are the best at emailing through their results and thank yous. It really makes us want to keep sponsoring.”
Results – Katharine Coleman (Blenheim) 141 1, Paula Mussen (Pukekohe) 123 2, Lucy Fell ( Palmerston North) 118 3, Ashley Konig (Christchurch ) 109 4.
Diana Dobson
May 2025