Logan Massie’s goal for Phoenix ECPH was just to produce three good days of jumping . . . but the horse had other ideas and carried him to victory in the Four-Year-Old Championship at the YHS.

He’s had the horse around three months and admits he was quite green coming into the show but stepped up, went well and showed “a bit of stamina”, finishing on 12 faults from the four rounds over three days.

 

Logan Massie rides Phoenix ECPH to win the National 4 Year Old Title at the National Young Horse Jumping Championship 2025. Photo Credit to Cornege Media.

 

“As a four-year-old you have not much expectation and are here to showcase the horse and jump some nice rounds. Where they end up is where they end up,” says Logan. “They are predominantly here for fun and experience.”

So it was a nice bonus to win the championship and rewarding for the breeders ECPH who had put a lot of work and time into the gelding.

“He is a very nice horse,” says Logan. “I will be looking to produce him for another 12 months before selling him to a young rider to take him further. He is a good jumper and will suit a lot of people.”

Seventeen combinations lined up on the opening day of competition with 13 coming through to the final day. Heather Gee-Taylor (Rangiwahia) and Taco Tuesday were the only ones to start the day on zero faults but a 12 faults round pushed her off the podium. Instead there was an eight fault jump-off where the top two had a rail apiece. Logan and Phoenix ECPH took the win with their 40.02 second time, with Dakota Phillibert (Te Kowhai) and Lennox Awsr second in 49.95. Olympian Katie Laurie (Canada) was third aboard Cactus on eight faults.

The style prize went to Heather Gee-Taylor (Rangiwahia) and Taco Tuesday.

 

Results –

Four-Year-Old Championship (sponsored by Advice4Life): Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Phoenix ECPH (Pommerol de Muze x Cassiana ECPH/Cassiano – bred by ECPH and owned by ECPH) 1, Dakota Phillibert (Te Kowhai) Lennox Awsr (Casebrook Lamond x Hazel NZPH/Kannan) 2, Katie Laurie (Canada) Cactus HPNZ (Casall x Olive/Chacco Silver, bred by Henwood Park and owned by Carissa McCall) 3, Kimberley Carrington (Takapau) Double J Ladies Man (Double J Repicharge x La de da/Littorio – bred by Wendy Jacobs and owned by Kimberley Carrington) 4, Heather Gee-Taylor (Rangiwahia) Taco Tuesday (Captivate VWNZ x PS Phar Bea Nar/Cachassini II – bred by Ariana Kohn and owned by Heather Gee-Taylor) 5, Amanda Illston (Masterton) Mountain Hunters Centastage (Eurosport Centavos x Ngahiwi Splendour/Blue Indoctro – bred by Mountain Hunters Sport Horses and owned by Amanda Illston), Tanya Hansen (Taranaki) Finesse VF (Diamant de Semilly x Diamant de Semilly/Indoctro, bred by Vista Farm and owned by Tanya Hansen), Morgan Baddeley (Canterbury) KF Big Tom (Comthago VDL x LT Holst Elle Star/Big Star, owned by Kokako Farms Ltd). =6.