TWO Tavistock ladies who entered their horses in the Honiton Agricultural Show each came away with a top trophies — despite stiff competition.
Mrs Miranda Toop, of Crowndale Farm, Tavistock, won the show hunter pony championship with her eight-year-old part bred Arab 'Beavergayle', and Mrs Diana James, of Wallabrook Farm, Heathfield, Tavistock, won the heavy horse championship with her seven-year-old shire mare 'Heathfield Redwing'.
Both local owners —who bred the champion horses themselves — faced entries from all over the country.
'I was delighted. I did the initial training but Mrs Biddy Peck from Crediton trained him on and it took just nine weeks to get fit after being off for one year,' said Mrs Toop.
She said her horse had worked so hard in novice dressage that it was decided to give him a rest —and instead of six months she gave him a year.
'He went from dressage straight into show hunter pony class. Within nine weeks of him being trained he was the champion, having beaten more than 20 horses in various classes to win!'
Mrs James was also delighted with her shire horse which has been in 'good winning form' since she was 12 months old.
For two years 'Heathfield Redwing', a bay mare, was runner up in the qualifier for the Horse of the Year heavy horse section.
Mrs James will be showing he at the Devon County Show on Saturday.