Ashley Atkinson

Ashley is a 17 year old young man, studying for his A levels but spending every available time training and attending show jumping events to try and achieve his dream of becoming a top International show jumper.

Ashley started with his first pony Amy, a pie-bold cob, competing and winning at local shows. From here he progressed quickly over the course of 5 years, starting by qualifying for the Trailblazer show jumping finals at Stoneleigh with a loan horse, Master William. It soon became clear Ashley was very dedicated and with the support from his parents, a new horse was purchased called Dezimo, a 15.3hh grey. Unfortunately Dezimo had a difficult temperament which resulted in Ashley badly shattering his shoulder following an accident in a training session.

Ashley moved on form Dezimo with his next horse, Quintana, a very active, 16hh, 6 year old chesnut mare. Although the mare showed natural ability, this new partnership presented challenges as she was extremely difficult to load and not an easy ride. Ashley turned to the help of natural horsemanship, parelli, which gave him the opportunity to participate in a two day master class programme event at the NEC with Quintana.

Over the last 8 months Ashley has been training with the International showjumper Graham Lovegrove with his new show jumping horse Dirak Du Don Jon. Ashley is now competing affiliated at BSJA events throughout the UK. After an unfortunate fall at Towerlands earlier in the year, Ashley suffered at broken coller bone which put him out of action for a few weeks. However he is now back in the saddle working hard at achieving his dream.

Ashley has also had the opportunity to spend a week training with Johnny Harris in Bordeaux.
This allowed hin to undertake some intensive one to one training on a few of his top class horses.
Ashley was able go back to basics and refresh on areas, which helped him to improve his general horsemanship and understanding of how the horse works. The training included lots of thorough flatwork, pole-work and jumping complex fences. Ashley was able to gain a huge amount of knowledge around his passion for show jumping and with the busy indoor season coming up he will be able to put all of this into good practice.

Horses

Rider: Ashley Atkinson
Location: Suffolk
Type: Showjumping
Ponies:

Ashleys current ride is Dirak Du Don Jon (Joey) a 17hh gelding with great confidence and a huge jump. His previous horses have included Quintana, a very active 16hh chesnut mare, Dezimo, a 15.3hh grey and his first pony Amy, a pie-bold cob who helped him to discover his passion for sho jumping.

Ashley has recently purchased a new horse, Rocky or "Petrus De Clerfayt." He was purchased in France and his initial training is going very well.

Ashley now has two new horses purchased from France at Christmas, both grade C. Fernando, a 9 year old chestnut dutch warmblood gelding and Del Boy (show name Cordadel) a 8 year old bay bay german bred gelding.

Events

Atlantic Tour
23/02/2009 00:00:00

Towerlands Park
08/07/2009 00:00:00

Patchetts Equestrian Centre
15/07/2009 00:00:00

Arena UK
24/07/2009 00:00:00

Pycombe show
28/07/2009 00:00:00

Bicton Arena Show
04/08/2009 00:00:00

Towerlands Park
15/08/2009 00:00:00

Towerlands Park
19/08/2009 00:00:00

Addington Manor EC
21/08/2009 00:00:00

Moulton College Equestrian Centre
25/10/2009 00:00:00

News

Double clear!
Ashley's first outing with his new horse, Rocky, was a success with a double clear at Towerlands!

Results!
Two 2nd's (1.00m _KBIS Amateur qualifier and 1.10 m open) at Newton Hall Equestrian Centre.Double clears at Patchetts and Towerlands as well as a 4th and 5th with Petrus De Clerfayt and Dirak Du Don Jon in the 1.0m open class and 4 faults in 1.15m class.

College Equestrian Centre
Dirak Du Don Jon qualifies for the Blue Chip Winter Championships and for the 1.20m KBIS Amateur final

Towerlands British Open Amateur Qualifiers
Ashley achieved a clear round on Joey with a tricky water jump in the course but unfortunately had a couple of fences down in the jump off!

Portugal!
Ashley is leaving the UK on the 14th February to compete in Portugal. Good Luck !!

Portugal update
Ashley is doing well in Portugal after the first weekend of competitions on the Atlantic Tour with a 5th placing on Dirak Du Don Jon in the European Amateur riders class.

Portugal!
Ashley was placed 3rd and 5th on Dirak Du Don Jon with good clear rounds over two competitions in the CSI** Tour B.Petrus De Clerfayt missed out by having one fence down.Well done Ashley!

Portugal
The last weekend of the Tour the course was very technical, however, Ashley achieved a good finish being placed 5th and going clear on Dirak Du Don Jon. Petrus De Clerfayt had one fence down and came 8th.

Europe.
I am just about to depart for a four day CSI * show jumping competition in Strazeele. We are then travelling to Comporta in Portugal for 4 weeks competing in the Atlantic Showjumping Tour.

Vicarage Farm
Ashley competed at Vicarage Farm at Sunbury on Thames coming 3rd in the 1.10m Amateur Qualifier. Ashley also achieved 2nd place in the 1.20m Amateur Qualifier at Manor Farm, Huntingdon on Dirak Du Don Jon.