Renee Faulkner had every confidence LSH Chivenor Bloemenhof could do well in the National Young Event Horse Championship on the opening day of the New Zealand National Three Day Eventing Championships.

It was a small class of predominantly five-year-olds who were judged on dressage, showjumping, conformation, cross country jumping and gallop, but it was Renee who took an early lead and triumphed in the end on the only four-year-old in the field.

“I knew he could have a pretty good run in this category,” says Renee. “It’s up to the judges and they really liked him on the day. He was great the whole time and just tried his heart out.”

LSH Chivenor Bloemenhof is bred and owned by Alex Donald, who also shares the ride with Renee. He’s the first one Lochinvar Sport Horses have bred, and is by Contenda and out of Gina VTNZ Bloemenhof, who Renee will compete aboard in the CCI3*-L.

“He is just so cool,” says 23-year-old Renee who has previously ridden for New Zealand at both young rider and senior level. “He has really progressed in the last six months. He is a really easy horse to have around, so kind and just a real dude. He tried his heart out today and just didn’t put a foot wrong.”

The Auckland combination did their first pre-training at Hawke’s Bay to qualify and flew through. “He likes a big fence and is super brave. We always had this event in mind for him.”

She figures the horse could turn his hand to any discipline. “He is a very good all-rounder and already has three really nice disciplines. He would actually make a great hunter.”

The horse, who today won the Mary Bowling Memorial Trophy, is currently for sale. “There are quite a few cool babies in the paddock, so we need to make some room!”

Renee is in her second year of a sport and recreation degree at AUT.

National Young Event Horse Championship: Renee Faulkner (Auckland) LSH Chivenor Bloemenhof 1, Karen Patrick (Wairarapa) Caio 2, Monica Oakley (Taupo) Carousal 3, Karen Niederer (Taupo) Only the Brave 4, Anne Marie Styles (Auckland) Get Go 5.

Best mare: Monica Oakley (Taupo) Carousal.

Best performed four-year-old: Renee Faulkner (Auckland) LSH Chivenor Bloemenhof.

Best performed thoroughbred: Karen Patrick (Wairarapa) Caio.

Full Results Here