Hawke’s Bay teenager Brittany Tilson is hoping to repeat her HOY form of recent years.

In 2013 the 16-year-old from Crownthorpe – on the Napier Taihape Road – won both the NZ Pinto Horse Society In hand Pony of the Year (not to exceed 148cm) and NZ Pinto Horse Society Ridden Pony of the Year (not to exceed 148cm) last year aboard Alonzo Fanticy.

And the year before, they picked up the Débutante Saddle Hunter of the Year crown along with the NZ Pinto Horse Society Ridden Pony of the Year (not to exceed 148cm) title, only just missing out on the in hand one with a runners-up ribbon.

Tilson has had the 11-year-old mare for five years and together they do mostly pre-novice eventing, but have been to plenty of HOY shows over the years.

“We usually do the pinto in hand classes because she’s quite good at that,” says Tilson.

This year they will again do both the in hand and ridden pinto classes.

“We have been focussing on eventing this past year so didn’t qualify for anything else at HOY.”

They are also trialling for the Hawke’s Bay Champs.

Tilson has two ponies at home – Fanticy and five-year-old Annie who while loves to jump, hasn’t seen any competition just year. That is set to change in the not too distant future, and she’s picking that Annie just could be the one to take her further through the ranks of eventing.

“I love eventing – there is lot more adrenaline in the cross country than most other stuff,” says Tilson.

She is hopeful that one day she will get to compete in her favourite discipline at HOY.

PHOTO CREDIT -  by Mendip Farm Photography.