OXFORDSHIRE’S Ginny Howe enjoyed success aboard her new horse Man Trouble at the Purston Manor Horse Trials in Northamptonshire.
Howe, from Duns Tew, near Banbury, and the seven-year-old Rubinston gelding took first place in the pre-novice event at the competition at Farthinghoe, near Brackley.
It was an outstanding achievement as Man Trouble was making his first appearance in the eventing world.
The combination posted an excellent dressage score of 25, before going clear in the cross country and show jumping.
Howe said: “It was such a shock which we never expected, we never even looked at his dressage score although he moves beautifully.
“A horse’s first dressage test is usually quite erratic and the scores are terrible.
“But he surprised us all and we are really pleased with him.”
Howe also took third place with the Shelly Hadley-owned mare Mixed Metaphors, who was competing in his third event.
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