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The Bowen sisters shine at ‘Horse of the Year’ show
Two young ladies from Haverfordwest are certainly catching the eye in the equine world and flying the Pembrokeshire Flag with distinction as both recently took part in the ‘Horse of the Year’ show at the NEC, Birmingham.
Sisters Olivia and Nicole Bowen have been riding horses almost before they could walk and that depth of experience is beginning to pay off because Nicole (9) won the Minis Championship on ’Copy Bush Moon Sprite’, a five year old bred by Sarah baker of St Florence, near Tenby, at the NEC. Olivia (10) came fourth on ‘Helsington Material Girl’ in the Working Hunter classes, no mean feat since her mount was still a novice and needed careful handling in her first year.
Nicole takes the honours
Not content with winning her own class, Nicole also took the honours when judged against the other first and second places in all the lead rein classes, where the main aim is to show that the pony is suitable to carry a young child on a lead rein – and Nicole had to keep very calm and focussed in walking away from the judge, trotting back, trotting a figure of eight, a canter on both sides of the rein and a final salute. It nicely rounded off a superb year where she the Royal Windsor, Three Counties Malvern, Royal Welsh, Lincoln County and the Welsh Championship (all other than Royal Windsor with the overall championship as well.) Now that her mount has been sold and gone to Sheffield, next season will see her riding a new 12.2hh novice pony.
Olivia does really well
Olivia and her pony, which is known at home as ‘Magic’ had to show that the mount is suitable for hunting and so she had to safely negotiate a range of obstacles, which included jumps, water, stiles and hedges. It was her first season with ‘Magic’ so she took things steadily but still won the Lincoln County and Championship, plus the summer show at Lincoln. She also rode a 13.2hh show pony for Ron and Debbie Thomas, of Llandarog, and came ninth – and next season will be doing more in the Working Hunter classes on ‘Purple Ronnie’.
Family support – and experience
Both girls attend St Aidens VC School in Wiston and live at New Bridge Farm in Crundale, with parents Leo Bowen and Rosanna Todaro-Bowen also heavily involved in the equine world for many years. So the girls could ride almost before they could walk, using a Shetland Pony called ‘Chi-Chi’ which is now over 20 years old and still going strong with Anna Rider-Richardson at Manor House Park. Leo is the brother of top trainer Peter Bowen and so has been heavily involved in training and schooling horses since he was very young, whilst Rosanna, whose dad Frank Todaro, always allowed her to have a horse when she was young, describes herself as a ‘happy hacker’ who has sometimes ridden with the local hunt – and readily admits that it is Leo who does all the hard preparatory work for the girls, who muck out their own horses, often before school.
It all adds up to a family that is very much geared to being involved with horses and PembrokeshireSport.co.uk is confident that we will hear a great deal more of Olivia and Nicole Bowen in the years to come!
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