FOUR top prizes from the British Hanoverian Horse Society's annual show were recently awarded to Amanda Coleshill from Mary Tavy.

Amanda, who works in Tavistock as a registered osteopath, attended the show at Buckingham on Sunday, September 28 with her brown colt foal Fargeau and his mother Rian —not thinking her foal would walk away with three top prizes.

During the competition there were two classes for both the colts and fillies, with two groups per class for foals born before June 1 and after June 1. Fargeau was born on April 28, 2008.

The judges looked at how the colts were standing, how they were built and the presence they had.

The top two from each group in both classes then came back for the judging of the best champion foal — which was awarded to Fargeau.

During the show Fargeau was awarded best colt foal, best British bred colt foal and champion foal. And Amanda came away with the breeder of best British-bred foal.

The judges were from the German Verband, based in Verden, and were both members of the Stallion Committee.

Some of their comments amazed Amanda. They said Fargeau was a 'stunning foal', 'supple, athletic and correct in all ways', that he had a 'fantastic temperament' and was a 'stallion for the future'.

Amanda said: 'It was overwhelming to do so well, especially as I have been breeding for such a short time — I am absolutely thrilled.

'We were up against some big names in British breeding, people who have years of experience.

'Now Fargeau will be weaned and will moved to Brownscombe stud to be sold. And I will get ready for next year.'

Amanda expressed thanks to her vet Judith Webster for all her help and support and stud work over the past two years.