Agria: Poppy & Cooper at London International

We’ve even taken the pony to the circus’

Fourteen-year-old Poppy Anderson will be travelling to London from Bridgend in South Wales with her 17-year-old pony Cooper for the Junior Performance Pony Class on Saturday at the London International.

Cooper is 13hh and has been with Poppy and her mother Rowena for six years, and owned by them for three. “He’ll stay with us forever,” says Rowena. “He’s incredible. He is 17 and was bought off the side of a mountain in Wales for about £50 by his previous owners Grace and Hilary. He’d done a lot of dressage with them but he will do anything asked of him including one day events and showing.”

Cooper is kept at livery close to home with amazing access to sand dunes leading to the beach, where he is regularly ridden.

Poppy attends the Llangeinor Hunt Pony Club (Branch), has lessons with Vicky Semple, and is “so dedicated,” says her Mum. “She does absolutely everything herself at weekends when she is home from school.”

To prepare Cooper for the bright lights of London, Rowena took Cooper in to the Big Top of a circus which visited the arena a while back. “London is a different kettle of fish to his usual shows!”

Cooper is insured with Agria, along with the family’s second pony, two dogs and cat. “I feel it’s really good value for money,” says Rowena.

Stop by the Agria stand (F195) at London International Horse Show next week to see how they can support you. They are also inviting all visitors to pledge their support for equine welfare by signing the Charter for the Horse.