Horseytalk.net Special Interview
Bungle
Rare breed Spindle Farm rescue now a showring success
A rare breed horse rescued as part of the well-known Amersham rescue in January 2008 has gone on to not only find a loving home through the Redwings Guardianship Scheme, but to also achieve success in the showring. Gorgeous 16hh horse Bungle, now aged seven, was rescued from Spindle Farmalongside over 100 horses including two other Gelderlanders, named Zippy and George. George has remained here at Redwings due to his cataracts, and Zippy joined our Adoption Club down at Redwings Ada Cole in Essex.
Meanwhile Bungle was rehomed with one of our very own vets, Eve France, through our rehoming scheme as Gelderlanders are not straightforward, and Eve could provide an expert home for Bungle as he matured as well as manage his separation anxiety.
A circle of fate: Here's Bungle being removed from the Amersham site by a member of Redwings staff >>
In a twist of fate, Eve and Bungle’s relationship began before both of them came to Redwings. Before Eve joined our veterinary team, she worked for the RSPCA and was the practice vet when Bungle went from Spindle Farm to an RSPCA boarding yard before we were able to take him in. Eve saw the potential in Bungle but never imagined she would end up as his Guardian; she feels the bond they have was destined to happen!
Bungle's competition career started in April this year; at his first outing he got a 1st and 2nd competing in Preliminary classes. With Eve on board, he has had a busy summer competing in an unaffliliated dressage league with Harmony Dressage group at Preliminary level and has not been unplaced in any outing with 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th placings, generally scoring 58-69%.
“Bungle is such a gentle horse and has been quick to learn and taken everything in his stride,” explains Eve. “He came third in the league without even competing at every event and he was one point off second place and three points behind the winner’s position. I was so, so proud of him!”
Bungle, right, with Zippy and George when they first arrived at Redwings >>
Bungle also went to Equifest where he was placed 5th in the RSPCA Ridden Rescue Horse class. However, his most recent dressage outing was for the first round of the Trailblazers championship at World Horse Welfare’s Overa Farm where he had two 4th placings at Preliminary level and has qualified for the second round competition.
“There is a championship at Stoneleigh next year which I am trying to qualify for,” continues Eve. “Maybe we’ll attempt the dressage to music too if time allows! If he goes well enough through the Winter I will step him up to Novice classes and maybe qualify him for that too.”
Look at him go:
Bungle and Eve in action!
(With thanks to Equinational Photography)
The Gelderlander is quite a rare breed. It is a heavy warmblood breed developed in the Netherlands which, together with the Groninger breed, provided the foundation for the Dutch Warmblood. Originally bred to be a stylishcarriage horse versatile enough to work on the farm, the Gelderlander declined in popularity in the middle of the 20th century. The breed is popular today for not only carriage driving, but also for showjumping as it has a high trot – a characteristic that also works well for dressage.
Well-known Gelderlanders have included Gondelier, the 1972 Dutch Jumping Champion, who cleared 2.2 metres; Zooloog, who competed in the 1991 Pan American Games and Vosmaer who was still competing in Grand Prix dressage at age 20. “There is also the recently retired Grand Prix dressage horse Mr. President,” concludes Eve, “I dream of Bungle following his example which is encouraged by people approaching me to say how much they look alike!”
What a posh combination, well done Eve and Bungle!
(With thanks to Equinational Photography)
Bungle – plus George and Zippy – are not the first Gelderlanders that Redwings has cared for: ex-showjumper Herman was once a resident, and five year old Benedict from the ‘breakast club’ group rescued from Ireland in 2011 lives at our site north of Norwich. Redwings played a key part in the Amersham rescue, helping with transport, taking in 21 horses and donkeys on the day and offering homes to 64 in total including a number of foals as well as giving crucial evidence in the court case. For more information about rehoming a horse from Redwings, please visit our rehoming pages, or if you are not in a position to take on a horse, why not help support the charity for just £12.50 a year and adopt Bungle's best friend Zippy instead by following this link?