Too Hot To Trot

This week brings sad news - an extremely tough decision was made in light of recent events - promising young rider Florence Finzi's planned move to the UK was brought forward, writes Helen Blake.

I know you will have read and heard a lot about this very talented young lady since I started penning the Too Hot To Trot column in GulfWeekly, all of which has been down to her own efforts.

She has shown amazing aptitude and total dedication to her passion for riding. Florence started riding at seven, and was immediately, completely smitten. However, a broken arm put her out of business. But, not to be thwarted, as soon as she could she was back in the saddle and riding at every opportunity.

I can clearly remember standing with Anki, the stable owner of Twin Palms, one afternoon as she taught Florence. Anki simply said: "This is next season's superstar!"

And how right she was! When Florence turned nine, she was given every pony-mad young girl's dream ... her very own called MissPrint. What an ideal pairing, Florence adored her pony and it showed.

It was Florence we all had to beat in 'Best Turned Out' competitions and her commitment to the job in hand was always first class.

When her tack was inspected it was cleaned to perfection. It was never a rush job. She won because she took her tack home regularly and cleaned and cared for it, so on show days all it meant was more spit and polish, unlike the total clean-up job some of us have to perform!

When being judged for 'Tack and Turnout' or 'Best Turned Out' Florence would insist on standing on a mounting block with her pristine boots on top of a towel - so they were still clean underneath - enabling her to mount and give the boots one more quick flick before going into the arena.

There was simply no competition. MissPrint was not the easiest of ponies to ride. She certainly gave Florence some challenges, yet she met each and every one.

It was Florence and her mum Theresa that scoured the internet in an attempt to get rid of the pony's sweet itch, and brought medicines both herbal and non-herbal, which were administered religiously. She was cared for like a baby. MissPrint proved to be a sweetheart and loved her young owner - the pair bonded amazingly.

During their partnership they accrued around 60 rosettes which adorned the child's bedroom. They also excelled at jumping, with 10-year-old Florence competing with teenagers and adults and consistently being placed.

In dressage, it was the same. After excelling in the beginner Working Equitation classes and Dressage tests, she then had to enter the higher classes against much older competition. She was always consistent in her placing. However, keen to compete at all levels she took other ponies into competitions - both dressage and jumping - and has been successful with both Toy Boy and Bling, amongst the many others Florence has also ridden, although MissPrint was always her top priority.

Everyone at Twin Palms will miss Florence, and her piece de resistance has to have been the organisation of our last show jumping event on March 11, as highlighted in last week's column.

Former St Christopher's School pupil Florence has gone back to the family home in Ashmansworth, near Newbury, in Hampshire, and will attend the local Vernham Dean School, where we are sure she will do brilliantly and make tonnes of friends; she just has that way about her.

Florence has already been given her pony challenges. Last summer Maria Chegwin, a close family friend, bought her a pony to keep in England. Winter, a 12.2 dappled grey Dartmoor, that had never seen a trotting pole before Florence took him in hand, was soon jumping everything in his path.

Maria, knowing how sad Florence is to leave Bahrain, decided to keep her busy and entered her into a show in April. We are looking forward to hearing how she gets on.

Another family friend recently bought a pony called Beau. They have not bonded at all and she cannot handle him. Florence has been tasked with riding him, perhaps this will be Florence's new Beau? You never know!

What I do know is that Twin Palms will not be the same without Florence. She will be missed very much by us all. I know she will keep in touch, and one thing is for sure, this is certainly not the last we will hear of this exceptionally dedicated and talented young rider. Good luck Florence, stay safe and be happy.

Dilmun Stables will host its In-House Show Jumping League event on Friday. The start time is 9am. With some of their top riders away at the moment, the leaderboard may change dramatically ... let's wait and see!

Twin Palms Riding Centre will host the second of this year's dressage events on April 1 starting at 9am.

Contact Helen Blake with your equine news by emailing helen2blake@hotmail.com