Ever thought of jumping 1m 85? Maybe? How about... Bareback?!!
Barnsby teamed up with leading equine insurers to provide crowd pleaser at Blenheim
Barnsby as a company is always looking to put something back into equine sport and an ideal opportunity arose when AmTrust Equine undertook sponsorship of one of this season's fun competitions and Barnsby linked in.
The AmTrust Equine High Jump Challenge is rather like a Puissance for eventers and has run this year at Barbury Castle, Dauntsey and Blenheim.
Part of the fun of the challenge is that riders are able to buy or forfeit something for a 'life' if they fail to clear a particular height. And Barnsby decided their contribution would be that the rider who jumped the highest bareback should win a saddle!
At Blenheim, various forfeit options were chosen by a handful of riders including Mark Todd who took off his shirt to the delight of the crowd; eventual winner Jay Halim who paid a fine to Blenheim's chosen charity, and Barnsby sponsored Laura Collett and 19 year old Angus Humfrey who both jumped bareback.
Laura Collette (above) on her bareback jump
And, the bareback winner was Angus Humfrey, pictured, who will soon be the proud owner of a Barnsby Xtreem Eventing saddle for being the only rider to clear the 1m85 fence with nothing between him and his horse!
Angus who also competed at the AmTrust Equine High Jump Challenge at Barbury said: "It was tricky at Blenheim in front of such a big crowd all around the arena, and I'm sure with the uphill run to the jump it was actually at least 10cm taller than we thought! My novice horse Vadermus lost his concentration a couple of times with the oohs, aahs and cheers, but he was fabulous on the day and we're delighted to have won a made-to-measure Barnsby saddle. We'd love to do the AmTrust Equine High Challenge again as it's a really good class.
"I'm really looking forward to having Barnsby onto the yard to fit the new saddle and to perhaps competing in it next season!"
International Eventer Jay Halim on Millennium Mission beat fierce competition to win with an amazing 1m85cm jump. Competitors for the £1,000 prize included amongst others, Olympian Mark Todd, Laura Collett, Julie Tew, Jo Chipperfield, Vicky Linden as well as Angus.
After a delayed start, the excitement started with a 1m 50cm jump and increased in height until Julie Tew dropped out at 1m 70cm. Laura Collett jumped bareback at 1m 80cm and Mark Todd, without shirt but with saddle, dropped out at 1m 85cm.
Winner Jay Halim said: "This was a good fun competition that even the non-horsey visitors to Blenheim could relate to. Millennium Mission is a capable jumper and we'd practised jumping at home to about 1m 75cm so we were confident and just enjoyed ourselves. The crowd was fantastic and winning just made our day and part of the prize money will also help my chosen charity the Eloise & Katy Memorial Trust."
Keep an eye out on the website for our follow up story on our visit to Angus' yard to fit his new saddle.