Dressage victory by Emmie proves a double delight

A PRESTIGIOUS dressage victory by Mighells Midnight Mazourka, ridden by Twineham-based Kate Purchase, was a triumph not only for his rider but also for owner-breeder Jan Botting of Pulborough.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Oct 2008, 14:54 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:22 BST

The 15.3hh bay gelding, now seven, won the Novice Open Dressage Section of the regional Petplan Area Festival Championships at the Royal Leisure Centre near Henfield.

Midnight Mazourka, known affectionately at home as Emmie, was bred by Jan at her Mighells Stud in Tote Lane Pulborough. He is now for sale because Jan never keeps geldings she has bred.

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"Kate was an obvious person to compete with him. My husband and I had farmed near Ansty before moving to Pulborough and were friends of her parents. Kate had bought a coloured horse of mine as a yearling and I said to her 'If you want a project, here he is' and it went from there," said Jan.

Kate has had a highly successful riding career, having shown to top level with the Jago family, riding their show ponies. She competed in eventing and was long-listed in British team trials for the European championships.

"Then I got married and had children. The horse I had then was not very brave at cross-country and I started to concentrate on dressage, trained by Eileen O'Connor and now by Marion Pace," she explained.

This has been her first season of affiliated dressage with Emmie, who was not broken until he was five.

For full story see Sussex Horse World, West Sussex Gazette, October 22

Related topics:Henfield