Supreme double for Leoni at Turriff
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YOUNG local rider Leoni Kennedy recently rode to success at the Turriff Show taking home both supreme placings in the ridden horse section.
It was a clean sweep for 10-year-old Leoni, of Blarmhor House, Halkirk, who won her first ridden, cradle stakes and nursery stakes before securing the champion mini show pony and champion working hunter pony titles and going on to take the supreme overall ridden title.
She did this partnering her 14-year-old pony Popalbee Minnie Mouse, which she qualified for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) last year, but was sadly unable to go. They narrowly missed out on qualifying again this year when they came second in their class at the Scottish Horse Show in July.
Leoni's new pony Shanrye Finlay, a five-year-old part-bred Arab gelding, took the show hunter pony title at Turriff and then went on to take the reserve supreme ridden horse award.
The young rider's mum Lisa said: "It was an amazing achievement being placed in the supreme but taking the double was a shock as she asked a friend to ride Minnie for her who had never sat on her before."
Grandparents George and Pauline Coghill, of Stemster Mains Farm, missed the show due to being at a wedding, but they were delighted to receive the news from Leoni over the phone.
Both ponies have had a great season with many championships between them and Minnie was supreme horse at the Canisbay Show earlier this year.
Leoni is an active member of both the Caithness Pony Club and Riding Club, and she enjoys taking part in lots of different disciplines with her ponies.
