News
24th February 2025
Nice gains his Discovery Double Clears
A Nice Du Bois De Goesnes had another successful weekend of competing. The young pony finished second in the Discovery class at Duckhurst Farm in Kent on Saturday, gaining his fourth Discovery double clear meaning he is now eligible to jump the Discovery Second round classes this summer. Nice also jumped another double clear in the Newcomers class, finishing sixth under Hugo.
24th February 2025
Olive continues to please new Owners
Young Connemara pony Olive, who was sold last summer, continues to please her new owners. The now six-year-old mare was bought from the field and broken in two years ago by us. She started off her show jumping career and was also exposed to cross country while with us. Her new owners have continued this on and she pleased them at Hickstead over the weekend - jumping everything that was asked of her. “Just giving you a little Olive update. She’s doing so well - took her for a little arena eventing fun today … as usual she was an angel - jumped everything with no fuss or bother - such a good girl.”
19th February 2025
Nice gains Blue Chip ticket
A Nice Du Bois De Goesnes won the Bliss of London Pony Sapphire Winter Championship Qualifier at Bury Farm on Saturday, gaining himself a ticket to the Blue Chip Winter Championships in April. The now six-year-old gelding jumped a good clear in the first round of Saturday's class under Hugo Boman, one of five combinations to make it to the jump off. The pair recorded a speedy jump off time of 43.56 seconds, almost four seconds faster than their nearest rival.
20th January 2025
Skye enjoyed a successful show at Aintree
Ardfry Skye and Hugo Boman enjoyed a successful show at Aintree Equestrian Centre over the weekend of 18 - 19 January. On Saturday, the pair placed third while on Sunday, the combination posted a quick time of 53.58 seconds in the JA Handicap to again finish in the placings. Ardfry Skye will have an easy few weeks before the Large Pony Premier at Southview Equestrian Centre, which will be held on the first weekend of February.
21st January 2025
First Pony Premier for Nice
Six-year-old 148 pony A Nice Du Bois De Goesnes attended his first Large Pony Premier at Aintree Equestrian Centre over the weekend of 18 - 19 January. Nice jumped two classes over the two days, showing his willing attitude in the Newcomers class on both Saturday and Sunday morning. With many having problems in the class, Nice jumped well for a few poles and we are looking forward to the rest of the Large Pony Premiers with this young pony.
24th December 2024
Nice adds to his double clear tally at Onley
Five-year-old 148 Belgian import A Nice Du Bois De Goesnes continued to add to his double clear tally at Onley Grounds over the weekend. Under Lara Boman, the new team recruit gained another Discovery double clear on Saturday. The gelding finished 10th in the class which was contested by 57 ponies.
25th November 2024
Olive and Freya making good strides
A positive update from ex Rising Sun Showjumping horse, Olive, who is continuing to thrive with new rider Freya. "I've not updated you for so long. Olive is doing AMAZING! We are so happy with her, she's always so honest and tries so hard. The pair are building a lovely rapport. We even get a little neigh when we call her in from the field."
19th November 2024
International placings in Belgium for Santa and Lara
Lara and Santa Maria Optima continued their good run of recent form at their final international show, the CSI Youth Show which was held at Sentower Park in Belgium last week. The warm up class on Thursday saw Hugo and Ardfry Sky finish on a score of 6 while Lara and Santa Maria Optima finished on a score of 8. The following day, Lara and Santa enjoyed a placed finish when they recorded a double clear in the CSIP 1m25 Table A competition against the clock. The pair recorded a time of 62.94 seconds for their round, four seconds behind the winning time to secure their placing against 62 riders from all over Europe.
19th November 2024
Jack & Liesel off to Hickstead
Jack, who has only ridden My Little Liesel a handful of times, qualified for the NSEA Championships at Hickstead in May with a victory in the 70cm NSEA Qualifier at Forest Edge on Sunday. Representing his school, Jack and My Little Liesel recorded a double clear in a quick time of 41.30 seconds in the jump off with the team finishing on a zero score. A total of 40 riders were entered for the class and the zero score from three of their four riders ensured the Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School team take victory over the six other schools who fielded teams in the class.
12th November 2024
Santa wins at Forest Edge
Lara and Santa Maria Optima continued their winning form with a victory on Saturday in the Junior 1.25m Open at Forest Edge in Norfolk. The pair enjoyed a successful show at last week’s English Home Pony at Southview in Cheshire and jumped just one class at Forest Edge on Saturday and were the only combination who enjoyed a double clear in the 1.25m Open. Next the pair head to Sentower Park in Belgium.
12th November 2024
Nice gains his first double clear for next year
A Nice Du Bois De Goesnes gained his first double clear for 2025 at Forest Edge on Saturday. With Lara aboard him for the first time, the pair jumped double clear in the Discovery to gain the first of the four double clears that are needed for the second rounds in 2025. The pair also contested Nice’s first metre, jumping clear in the first round and having a couple of rails down in the jump off. When the rest of the team are back from Sentower Park in Belgium later this month, focus will be on gaining Nice’s remaining clears for next year.
4th November 2024
Nice makes his UK debut at Southview
New addition - 5yo Belgian-bred gelding A Nice Du Bois De Goesnes made his UK show debut at the English Home Pony at Southview Equestrian Centre in Cheshire last week. Partnered by Hugo, Nice jumped each day in the Discovery classes, jumping round well and improving throughout the week. This young pony will be an exciting prospect for 2025.
4th November 2024
Lara and Santa on form at English Home Pony
Lara and Santa Maria Optima enjoyed a successful English Home Pony at Southview Equestrian Centre in Cheshire over the weekend. The pair finished a close second in Thursday's competitive 1.25m Junior Open. Of the 40 plus starters, 12 recorded double clears with Lara and Santa posting a jump off time of 39.34 seconds. Two days later, the pair went one better, taking victory in the 1.25m Junior Open in a time of 34.76 seconds, just under a second ahead of Irish raider Sam Widger.
14th October 2024
Ardfry Skye wins at Onley
Hugo and Ardfry Skye were on winning form at Onley Grounds Equestrian over the weekend. The pair took second place in the Junior 1.10m Open before winning the 148 Class, posting a double clear with a winning time of 47.79 seconds. The pair are aiming towards the Home Pony at Southview in Cheshire at the end of the month before heading overseas to compete in Holland and Belgium.
25th September 2024
Santa returns with a win
As jumping moves inside for the winter, Santa Maria Optima and Ardfry Skye had a successful first indoor show of the season, at Bury Farm on Saturday. Ardfry Skye and Hugo posted a close third in the Junior 1.10m Open, their first class since the Welsh Home Pony in July. In their next class, the Junior 1.20m Open, the combination took 6th with a fast time but a pole at the penultimate fence. That class was won by Lara and Santa Maria Optima a who posted a fast time of 28.96 seconds in the jump off to take the victory. That pair also contested the final class of the day - the Junior 1.25m Open, jumping clear in the first round and finished a good fourth after a competitive jump off.
11th September 2024
Belview Rocky wins again
Rising Sun Stables graduate Belview Rocky continues to add to his awards in the US, crowned Overall Best Junior Foxhunter at the Warrenton Horse Show Hunt Night. Belview Rocky is owned by Folklore Farm, who bought him from us and imported him to the US almost three years ago.
12th August 2024
Santa Maria HOYS bound following success at the National Championships
Lara Boman and Santa Maria Optima have earned themselves a golden ticket to the Horse Of The Year (HOYS) show following a successful weekend at The National Championships, which was held at Stoneleigh Park. The pair started the weekend well, finishing third in the 120 Handicap class on Saturday morning, before placing fifth in the 148 National Championship. Over 50 148 ponies contested the class and Lara and Santa earned one of four tickets for the Pony Showjumper at the Horse of the Year Show, which is held at the NEC in Birmingham in October.
28th July 2024
Lara Boman and Santa Maria Optima are in flying form
Lara Boman aboard Santa Maria Optima secured the win in both the 148cm Series and the Pony 148cm 1.25m at the Welsh Home Pony on Thursday. In the 148 Series, the pair took the win by two seconds over 28 rivals. In the next class, they secured the victory by over three seconds from the second placed pair with 26 in the class.
7th July 2024
Olive excelling in her new home
Five-year-old Connemara mare Olive is thriving in her new home. Bought as a three-year-old in November 2022 and re-broken in January 2023, Olive quickly stepped up to competition life and showed her jumping talent in the show jumping ring, cross country and also hunting. Produced slowly and given time to mature, she was sold in April 2024 and has given her new rider a huge amount of confidence.
30th June 2024
Cold Bay V takes victory in the COH class
Cold Bay V enjoyed a successful weekend at Chard this weekend, placing in all of his classes and taking the win in the final class of the day on Sunday. The gelding has proved competitive in the COH classes since the start of the year and scored a good victory on Sunday, having placed in his other two classes over the weekend.
7th March 2024
Four wins secured in Spain
After four weeks competing in Spain at the Andalucia Sunshine Tour, Lara leaves the country with four wins and five placings over four weekends of jumping. Lara and Santa Maria Optima took four wins, three seconds and two thirds in the pony classes. Aboard new recruit Cold Bay V, the pair began the tour in the CSI1* 120 classes, putting in some good rounds before they stepped up to 130 CSI2* classes where they secured placings in some highly competitive classes.
