Ruby Hughes Takes Over Ride on Mount St. John Jazz Dancer

Dressage

Great Britain

British junior team rider Ruby Hughes has received the ride on Emma Blundell's KWPN mare Jillz, aka Mount St. John Jazz Dance.

She is an 11-year old Dutch warmblood mare by Jazz out of Lantana V (by Hemmingway x Zuidhorn). She is bred by Geert Verdellen and Sandra Kleuskens.

Jamy Ummels

The KPWN elite, IBOP, Prok mare comes out of a famous dam line that produced Grand Prix horse Vitana V and breeding stallion Lantanas.

As a young horse she was ridden and competed by Jamy Ummels for the breeder. The pair finished third in the 2019 Dressage Talent Berlicum. The pair participated in the Dutch team selection trials for the 2020 World Young Horse championships in Verden.

Mount St. John Jazz Dancer

In the autumn of 2021 Emma Blundell acquired the then 7-year old Jillz and renamed the horse Mount St. John Jazz Dancer.

Amy Woodhead competed the mare first in the winter of 2021 at Advanced Medium level through the spring of 2022. Jillz returned to the arena in the U.K. half a year later under Jennifer Martell, while a month later Holly Woodhead showed her for a few months through the winter until February 2023.

Blundell then sent Jillz to Jeanine Nieuwenhuis in The Netherlands for further training and to be sold, but in the end the bay mare returned to the U.K. back to Amy Woodhead's yard. Amy and Jillz competed at Intermediaire I level in December 2024. Their last show was in April 2025 at the Winter Regional Championship in the Prix St Georges

Ruby Hughes

Blundell allocated the ride on Jillz to British junior team rider Ruby Hughes this summer.

The pair made its show debut at Advanced Medium level at Solihul equestrian center on 31 July, winning the class with 71.94%. The pair trains with Ruby's dad Gareth Hughes and godfather, Carl Hester.

"Jillz felt mega as we work up towards that PSG work," Ruby posted. "This mare teaches me everyday and she tries so hard. I’m loving the journey are forming a partnership with her as I feel she’s really starting to trust me."

This weekend the pair won the junior test at Bury farm, scoring 69.7%.

"With us only being a partnership for 6 weeks, we still have a lot of learning to do, so some miscommunications came into the test which of course were expensive! Including us trotting on the last centre line," said Ruby. "At least you can say us practicing our half halts is working!!! Many could also say too much so also little bits like our rein back needs some cleaning up. But what a feeling she gave me! Jillz is one of the most honest horses I’ve ever ridden and tries her heart out for me."