EMMA DOREY has described the opportunity of jumping in the world-renowned international arena at Hickstead as ‘unbelievable’. The Guernsey rider and Snaffles Purple Patch, her home-produced chestnut gelding, were at the famous ground to compete in the Longines Royal International Horse Show.

Having had a 17-hour journey on the Monday, Dorey decided to rest Snaffles the following day and so they missed two warm-up classes.

Their main one was the Derby House Winter Novice Championships, for which they had qualified at Addington Manor EC in November.

With the jumps set at 1.25m with huge spreads, it proved to be a very testing track and although both horse and rider lack competition experience at that height, they coped extremely well.

The last line was a big treble combination and Snaffles jumped in a bit short, had to stretch for the middle element and caught a pole between his legs making it impossible to clear the final one.

Now on 12 faults, Dorey decided to retire and save Snaffles for further competitions.

There were only five clear rounds and the eventual winner was a foxhunter finalist for the Horse of the Year Show.

On the following day, the combination jumped a foxhunter class in ring four and had an unlucky four faults in the jump-off, finishing just outside the ribbons.

Their next class was the 1.15m Royston Novice Stakes in which they jumped a superb round finishing in third spot.

The final competition was a foxhunter in ring two which was absolutely massive and they finished in a very creditable 13th position after jumping extremely well.

‘Snaffles got better and better as the week went on,’ said Dorey.

‘It’s a shame the Winter Novice Championships were not at the end of the week rather than the beginning, but the horse was brilliant and I could not have asked for more.

‘It was an unbelievable experience to jump in the international arena alongside the professionals.’

The next major competition for Dorey and Snaffles is at Bicester and Finmere where they have a Scope qualifier and newcomers’ second round.