Laura van Velthooven wins the Show Hunter Adult Equitation Series at The Land Rover Horse of the Year 2020, HB A&P Showgrounds, Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Credit: KAMPIC / Sarah Lord

Laura van Velthooven has a thing about equitation and it shows. The vet nurse from Feilding has won her fourth consecutive Petticoat Lane Performance Adult Rider Equitation, this time aboard Montbelle Donahue, but it didn’t quite all go her way.

She and Kate Meredith (Ohoka) were tied at the end of the series but the nod went to Laura with her 10 wins to Kate’s nine.

“We had a bit of a slower start to the season,” says 28-year-old Laura, “but he’s had a busy second half.”

She is rapt to have successfully defended her series crown – again. “I do enjoy the equitation classes. It is more of a thinking class – you have to think about your riding and where you place the horse. The judges are watching you and what you do with your horse.”

She’s a stickler for impeccable turnout. “The equitation is always very competitive and it is where they are some of the harder questions. You have to have a plan, and a back-up one too. I love it when it all comes together and that’s when the wins come.”

She’s had Monty for four years. “I enjoy the show hunter and he is good at it. Monty is a real sweetheart and very gentle, but he is also a worker and loves to get moving.”

Laura has retired her star horse Sirocco Daisy. The mare was injured over winter, so Laura put her into foal to Claudia Hays’ Daimant B. “I am missing Daisy this season. She is quirky but so clever.”

The final at HOY went the way of Kirsten Hence (Karaka) aboard Zig Zag with Stephie Smith (Taupo) and Disney second and Victoria How (Taupo) aboard Kiwi Icon filling third.

Laura extended a huge thanks to the new series sponsor Petticoat Lane Performance Horses.

 

Results –

 

Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Rider Equitation Series: Laura van Velthooven (Feilding) 66 points 1, Kate Meredith (Ohoka) 66 points 2, Emily Twort (Henderson) 62 points 3, Antonio Matangi (Levin) 56 points 4, Jade McRae (Invercargill) 42 points 5, Rebecca Conole (Masterton) 37 points 6.

 

Petticoat Lane Performance Horses Adult Rider Equitation Final: Kirsten Hence (Karaka) Zig Zag 1, Stephie Smith (Taupo) Disney 2, Victoria How (Taupo) Kiwi Icon 3, Jo Craddock (Waimauku) Dawn 4, Jane Ward (Waipukurau) Meersbrooke Fire ‘N’ Ice 5, Claudia Odlin (Benneydale) Rei Huia Arnie 6.

 

 

By Diana Dobson

12 March 2020