Ashleigh Mckinstry and Pioneer Brass Monkey
In 2012 Ashleigh Mckinstry won the CCI3* at Puhinui International Horse Trials on her part Kaimanawa home bred horse, Pioneer Makokomiko and in 2016 she took the win in the iSpy Horses CCI2* on yet another home bred horse, Pioneer Brass Monkey
Pioneer Brass Monkey is a half-brother to Pioneer Makokomiko and it is particularly satisfying for Ashleigh and her family at the Pioneer stud to have been able to produce two horses to such a high level. Their breeding certainly isn’t the usual mix you find in eventing; the dam of both horses, the Kaimanawa mare Ginger Nut, is only 13.2h and Brass Monkey’s sire is a thoroughbred/Clydesdale cross but it certainly works when all mixed up and Ashleigh has some more yet to come onto the eventing scene
“It’s a bit and miss breeding from this mare – we’ve had a couple of ponies produced – but there are a couple of others from her that I’ve got up my sleeve!”
Ashleigh, who works part time as a farrier as well as being a professional rider, used to take Pioneer Makokomiko pig hunting but admits that she doesn’t do that with Pioneer Brass Monkey
“When I won the 3* I was probably a bit naive as to how precious they are” she laughs “We don’t drag them pig hunting through the bush anymore but they do grow up on the hills, they all live in herds as real horses and jump over ditches and logs in the paddocks where they graze until they are brought in to broken in and start work – then we look after them a bit more carefully!”
Ashleigh and Pioneer Brass Monkey started the competition in second place after the dressage on a score of 47.9 and moved into the lead on cross country when Megan Finlayson and Greensleeves retired on course. A clear round in the show jumping gave them the win ahead of Dannie Lodder on Balmoral Henton and Madison Crowe on Waitangi Pinterest
We talked to Ashleigh after her win
Ashleigh Mckinstry
Lucy Turner and Carbon had two rails down but still finished well clear of the field
Like Ashleigh, Lucy Turner is also hoping to compete in the CCI3* here next year after winning the Honda New Zealand CCI2* Young Rider class this year.
The 17 year old, who won the CCI1* Junior title here last year, has a few years up her sleeve in both Junior and Young Rider classes but she would love to ride in the 3* Open class if all goes well in the next 12 months. However she has to balance her eventing and show jumping with not only school work but also her love of hockey
Abigail Long and Enzo were runners-up in the class and Sarah Young, leader after the dressage phase on Leo Degas, was third
