Emma-Jo Slater Secures Redpost Senior Foxhunter Victory at Weston Lawns

The Redpost Equestrian Senior Foxhunter Second Round at Weston Lawns attracted a competitive field of 49 rider and horse combinations, all vying for qualification opportunities on Kevin Bull’s testing track. 

Riders first faced two demanding rounds, with only eight combinations managing to keep a clean sheet and secure their place in the all-important jump-off. With Horse of the Year Show qualification on offer for the top two finishers, alongside National Championship qualification opportunities, the pressure was on as the finalists returned to battle it out against the clock. 

It was Emma-Jo Slater who rose to the occasion aboard Kim Barzilay’s talented mare, Kimba Luidun. Producing a swift and faultless round, the pair stopped the clock in 35.42 seconds to take the win and secure their place in the prestigious Horse of the Year Show Final. 

Following closely behind was Holly Smith riding United Boy 3. The experienced partnership delivered another polished clear round, crossing the finish line in 37.49 seconds to claim second place and also book their ticket to Horse of the Year Show. 

Third place went to Joseph Trunkfield and Usha Z, who completed the jump-off clear in a time of 39.05 seconds to round out a strong podium finish. 

With the first two placed horses earning qualification for the Horse of the Year Show Final, the class also provided valuable opportunities for riders aiming for the British Showjumping National Championships. The first five horses, excluding those already qualified, secured their places at the Championships, which take place this August. 

“We were gobsmacked to win, we know the mare is good, she has always been good. Myself and Emma spend most of our time producing young horses around the lower levels, we don’t usually jump the big tracks. In fact we weren’t going to go to Weston Lawns, we had entered Parwood with the other horses to jump normal classes but it was cancelled and I was looking for a show and thought it makes sense to go to Weston Lawns and if we are going we might as well do the Fox second round! 

“We went in the warm up class and won it, usually our idea is if you win the warm up you’ll probably have a fence in the main class and that will be it!  We jumped the first round, the water caused issues for a few people, but Luna has no problem with water so she jumped it super, Emma came out with a clear thinking, oh no I’ve got to go back in and jump bigger now!  Then jumped clear again, we had a good draw, last to go in the last jump off. Holly was in the lead, Joe Trunkfield was two seconds behind, and I thought if Joe is two seconds behind, Holly must have absolutely flown there’s no way we can catch that and Emma took two seconds off Holly! Emma is great in a jump off, but their round was amazing, every fence came up perfectly. It was great, Luna has never jumped in that area before, but she is very bold. 

“Luna is seven so we will aim at the Talent Seekers too, we have had lots of interest in her, but we are enjoying the journey with her. It’s a dream to win the Foxhunter final, we have been in it three times and the best we have had is forth.” Said Kim, owner of Kimba Luidun. 

Redpost Equestrian Senior Foxhunter Second Round 

Weston Lawns, Sunday 14 June 2026 

1st – Emma-Jo Slater & Kimba Luidun – 0/0/0 35.42 

2nd – Holly Smith & United Boy 3 – 0/0/0 37.49 

3rd – Joseph Trunkfield & Usha Z – 0/0/0 39.05 

NB: Qualifications will be updated pending official grading of results.     

Image: Simon Coates Photography