H&C blogger Sharon Hunt introduces us to the horses at her yard.

Tankers Town
Stable Name: Jasper
DOB: 1994
Gender: gelding
Breed: Irish sport horse
Height: 16.2hh
Colour: chestnut
Points: 1,121
Owners: the Hunt family
2008 Competition Results: Burnham Adv - 6th; Belton CIC3* - 6th; Badminton - 5th; Beijing Olympics - Team Bronze
2009 Competition Results: Poplar Park Horse Trials OI – 11th; Burnham Market International Horse Trials CIC3* - 2nd
Aims for 2009: Badminton International Horse Trials and European Championships
Profile: Jasper is very intelligent and a bit of a prima donna. He is full of character – it’s amusing to watch new staff deal with him as he can be a little bit tricky, but generally he is all talk and no bite! The process is the same when horses dare to walk past one of his stable doors. Again, he is unlikely to bite but it’s often a close call for the passer by. Outside of the stable he is generally very pleasant except when he is being groomed or washed off. In the lorry, he kicks when others are with him – he genuinely thinks it is his personal vehicle and he shouldn’t have to put up with the others! To ride, he’s adorable but quite hot. He can also be difficult to mount but generally only for Sharon - he stands like a rock for other members of the team! He likes hacking out whatever the weather. He enjoys dressage and his jumping is nearly flawless – he’s always very careful and especially brilliant at competitions. Jasper is a very reliable horse and fantastic cross country.

Breeze IV
Stable Name: Beanie
DOB: 2001
Gender: gelding
Breed: Irish sport horse
Height: 16.3hh
Colour: Bay
Points: 16
Owners: the Hunt family
2008 Competition Results: Isleham Nov - 11th; Poplar IN - 8th; Firle Place N - 6th; Little Downham IN - 15th
2009 Competition Results: Somerley Park International Horse Trials Int - 10th
Aims for 2009: CCI**
Profile: Beanie is an extremely cheerful horse; he is a lovely horse to look after and he’s excellent at events too – a real favourite on the yard! He is less established than some of the others on the yard and has only done three Intermediates. His dressage is still developing – this is his least favourite phase as he finds it more challenging than jumping, which he has a natural talent for. Nevertheless he is making good progress on the flat. He can be a little onward bound between fences and is still learning to wait. He absolutely loves his food and is a very good eater.

Azeb
Stable Name: Harry
DOB: 2003
Gender: gelding
Breed: Irish sports horse
Height: 16.2hh
Colour: chestnut
Points: 5
Owner: the Hunt family
2008 Competition Results: Burnham Pre-Nov - Double Clear; Brigstock Pre-Nov - 1st; Ely Pre-Nov - 1st; Great Witchenham Pre-Nov - 3rd; Hambleden 5-yr-old - 4th; Firle Place PN - 5th; Burnham Nov - 2nd
2009 Competition Results: Isleham Horse Trials Open Pre-Novice – 9th
Aims for 2009: six-year-old championships at Le Lion D’angers
Profile: Harry is a real character. He absolutely hates his mane and tail being pulled and is quite happy to throw his weight around in protest against these activities! Like Jasper, he is very good when out at events. He is a handsome horse and very aware of this – he has lots of presence and confidence even verging on arrogance at times. He is a pure pleasure to ride – very smart on the flat and he finds everything easy. His jumping is excellent, although he can sometimes be spooky but this is improving daily. He is a natural galloper and XC is easy work for him. He has always been very bold and is a natural jumper. He is similar to Jasper with respect to knuckling down at competitions – he knows when his performance matters.

Good Sport II
Stable Name: Bob
DOB: 1995
Gender: gelding
Breed: warmblood X thoroughbred
Height: 16.3hh
Colour: bay
Points: 111
Owners: the Hunt family
2008 Competition Results: Poplar Park Open Nov - 8th; Ely - 11th; Barbury Castle CIC*** - completed
Aims for 2009: autumn CCI***
Profile: Bob is a true gentleman to handle and he is always cheerful. He is sometimes a little too cheerful out hacking and occasionally bucks and spooks; likewise in the school, he has bucked Sharon off on the odd occasion, particularly in his early years. However, he is the Ferrari equivalent of a horse – he is massively talented and therefore finds all aspects of his work easy. He has beautiful floating paces and a very scopey jump. He tackles all fences with confidence, even when they are very big and wide.

Jorrocks Curtis
Stable Name: Joe
DOB: 2000
Gender: gelding
Breed: thoroughbred
Height: 17.1hh
Colour: grey
Owners: the Hunt family and Edward and Robert Nicholson
2008 Competition Results: Ely - 8th; Brigstock Nov - 11th; Firle Place - 12th; Burnham OI - 19th
Aims for 2009: autumn CCI**
Profile: Joe is quite a tense horse. He is a pure gentleman to handle on the ground and will do anything to be cuddled, stroked and fed cake – which he will beg for! He is very gentle with children and has beautiful paces. He is very scopey but can have a tendency to lack self-belief, so Sharon is taking things slowly with him in order to build his confidence. Joe has bags of ability and all the potential to be a champion of the future.

Kenny
Stable Name: Kenny
DOB: 1998
Gender: gelding
Breed: warmblood
Height: 17hh
Colour: chestnut
Points: 58
Owner: Mrs Sarah Randall
2008 Competition Results: Houghton - double clear; Little Downham I - 14th; Burnham Adv - 22nd
2009 Competition Results: Poplar Park Horse Trials OI – 12th
Aims for 2009: Blenheim CCI***
Profile: Kenny is a very happy horse. He is massively talented, but lacks confidence on the flat. He can also become a little uptight and needs to relax more, which is what Sharon is working on with him now. He jumps phenomenally well and finds galloping exceptionally easy – he just glides along effortlessly! He has some very specific and unusual routines – for instance after XC he likes to drag whoever is leading him over to any full water buckets and drink a little from each of them, then he likes to knock them all over! He has an exceptionally high-pitched whinny and is very vocal before feed time – he can be heard from a great distance.

Bomber
Stable Name: Bomber
DOB: 2005
Gender: gelding
Breed: Irish sports horse
Height: 15hh
Colour: grey
Owner: the Hunt family
Aims for 2009: young event horse classes
Profile: This sweet youngster has a slightly nervous disposition –but this is getting better and better as he matures. He is a lovely little horse, very talented but could do with taking a deep breath and relaxing! He is very brave in some respects, for example when jumping and out hacking, but riders’ coats and the sound of being patted can be a little too much for him to cope with. He is another horse that needs his confidence building, but Sharon is only too happy to do this as she knows it will be worth it and he is making great progress.

Mightaswell
Stable Name: Dave
DOB: 2000
Gender: gelding
Breed: Irish sport horse
Height: 16.2hh
Colour: bay
Points: 12
Owners: Mr John Huntridge and the Hunt family
2008 Competition Results: 12th - Firle Place; 12th - Little Downham IN; 5th - Burnham Int
Aims for 2009: CCI**
Profile: Dave is very wise and cunning. It’s a mistake to be fooled by his laid-back appearance – he can suddenly become very sharp without warning, but he’s easily tamed with food. He’s excellent at competitions, although he has a tendency to be rather excitable at trot-ups because he’s enthusiastic about his work. He can be a bit of a handful when being turned out too. He’s great on the flat and moves very well. He can become a little tense if pushed too hard. His jumping is very good and he’s extremely brave.

Romeo Z
Stable Name: Romeo
DOB: 2002
Gender: gelding
Breed: Irish sports horse
Points: 5
Height: 16hh
Colour: grey
Owner: Mr John Huntridge
2009 Competition Results: Isleham Horse Trials Open Pre-Novice – 2nd; Poplar Park Horse Trials Open Pre-Novice – 1st; Somerley Park International Horse Trials Nov - 2nd
Aims for 2009: to be successful at Novice level
Profile: Romeo’s character is still developing, but he’s very easy-going and straightforward on the ground. For Sharon, character is very important and she thinks that is what makes each of the horses so special. Romeo is quite quiet but also confident – a lovely combination. He fits in with whatever is happening. He is great to ride and very consistent. He can be quite spooky, but this is improving everyday and generally he doesn’t spook too much at home - just a little at competitions when he’s fresh, but he’ll grow out of this. He loves XC and often squeals with excitement – this horse loves his work!

Charmed
Stable Name: Flo
DOB: 1999
Gender: mare
Breed: Irish sport horse
Height: 16.2hh
Colour: dark brown
Points: 61
Owners: Mrs Pene Parker
2008 Competition Results: Poplar Park I - 3rd; Bramham - completed; Chatsworth - completed; Now qualified to compete in CCI****
2009 Competition Results: Isleham Horse Trials OI – 11th; Lincoln Horse Trials OI – 10th
Aims for 2009: Saumur CCI***
Profile: Flo is an extremely tough mare. She's exceptionally good looking and naturally fit and bright. She is a very talented mare with excellent movement and a scopey jump. She’s incredibly brave and is nearly always clear XC – she has now jumped Bramham 3* clear and Sharon is hoping for a 4* clear later on this year. She can get quite excited at competitions, but she is a perfectionist and doesn't like to make any mistakes. Her show jumping can be the weakest phase because she is too brave and makes up too much distance at times, but this is something Sharon’s continuing to work on and Flo is making good progress. She really enjoys going hacking and galloping. She’s great on the ground and generally very polite and well-behaved.

Ultimate Opposition
Stable Name: Bruno
DOB: 1997
Gender: gelding
Breed: Trakehner X thoroughbred
Height: 16.1hh
Colour: dark bay
Points: 74
Owners: Miss Rosie Bailey and Mrs Jane Bailey
2008 Competition Results: Burnham I - 9th; Houghton - Completed; Osberton - 9th; Salperton I - 9th; Rolleston A - 6th; Burnham Adv - 9th
2009 Competition Results: Lincoln Horse Trials OI – 13th; Somerley Park International Horse Trials OI - 5th
Aims for 2009: Saumur CCI***
Profile: Bruno is full of confidence, which is what makes him so special. He is incredibly talented and a pure pleasure to jump, although he can be strong XC. He rarely has a fence down during show jumping and is generally very solid cross country too. He is an exceptionally handsome black horse and is eye catching in the dressage arena. He is highly intelligent; at his owner’s yard, he gets up to all sorts of tricks - including opening the chicken run gate, which is tied with a rope, in order to let the chickens out!

Red Amber
Stable Name: Amber
DOB: 2000
Gender: Mare
Breed: Warmblood x TB
Height: 16.2hh
Colour: Liver chestnut
Points: 13
Owners: Mr John Huntridge and the Hunt family
Aims for 2009: Intermediate

Impulsive
Stable Name: Imp
DOB: 2001
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Irish Sports, by Master Imp
Height: 16.1hh
Colour: Bay
Points: 60
Owners: The Hunt Family
Aims for 2009: Autumn 2*

Silbato
Stable Name: Tweedy
DOB: 2004
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Irish Sports Horse by Courage
Height: 16.3hh
Colour: Grey
Owners: The Hunt Family
Aims for 2009: Pre-novices
Profile: