Enjoy Horse & Hound’s comprehensive guide to help you spot the perfect show hunter pony and turn it out correctly, with top tips from expert judges on what they will – and won’t – accept...

One of the most popular children’s plaited showing sections is that for show hunter ponies (SHP), which gained their own specific category within the main governing organisation, the British Show Pony Society (BSPS), in 1983. Until then, children’s plaited classes had been for “riding ponies” — now show ponies — but after the “split”, two distinct types have emerged.

Whereas the modern show pony is elegant and refined, the SHP is sturdier, more workmanlike, should have more bone and must gallop. Many “family” ponies — often those with a dash of native blood — fit into this category well.

What do the judges look for?

Type is everything in SHP ranks and judge Jackie Beatham is a renowned stickler for it. “Put quite simply, the show hunter pony should resemble a scaled-down middleweight hunter,” she says. “It must definitely not be a 13hh or 14hh show pony covered in fat with a false topline.

Horse & Hound’s definitive guide to show pony classes *H&H Plus*

Working hunter pony classes: judges’ tips on how to win *H&H Plus

Horse & Hound asks working hunter pony judges for their expert tips on how to produce a winning performance and

Every rider dreams of trotting — or galloping — down that centre line after winning or standing champion at a big championship fixture. But how would you celebrate your victory?

Here are 10 memorable centre line occasions snapped during the 2019 show season…

1. Our Cashel Blue

Caroline Tyrrell’s legendary cob and his equally renowned rider Allister Hood storm their way down Hickstead’s main arena after clinching the supreme horse title at the Royal International (RIHS).

2. Thistledown Vodka Soda

Welsh section A gelding, handler Sharn Linney and jockey Evie Haywood are picture perfect whilst standing supreme of show at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) winter championships in April.

3. Linsford Ear To The Ground

The Connemara and his owner/rider Lisa Sergeant capture the overall SEIB Search For A Star (SFAS) championship after winning the working pony section at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

4. Coco Bongo

Will Calder’s 13hh grey mare, ridden by Chloe Lemieux, makes history as she becomes the first working hunter to stand supreme pony at HOYS.

5. Drakemyre Puttin on the Ritz

The big-moving part-bred pony and India Till enjoy a stride across the main arena at Hickstead as they stand supreme pony at the RIHS.

6. Killara Brilliant

Sam Walker tops the novice supreme at the BSPS winter championships with Jill Day’s intermediate show hunter ride.

7. Young Lochinvar

At Royal Windsor Horse Show the hack accolade goes to Ali Talbot and the Stanley Grange-produced small winner, who is a previous holder of the Hack of the Year title.

8. Barfield Jackpot

Mia Donaldson steers her 133cm contender to the supreme show hunter pony title at the BSPS summers.

9. Rafeekah

The delightful grey gelding lights up the TopSpec arena at HOYS last October after winning the Ridden Purebred Arab of the Year sash for Kimberly Bates.

10. Birkinbrook Arabella

Coco Lanni gets some pace out of her nursery stakes pony after she lands the mini working hunter pony of the year supreme crown at the BSPS summer finals.

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If you consider the breeding of a champion show horse there are certain dam/sire pairings which spring to mind; and they perhaps wouldn’t necessarily include a Shire horse line.

However, prolific riding horse Times Square III (Monkey, pictured) — who recently featured in H&H’s We Can’t Wait To See feature (23 April issue) — has an interesting heritage. The classy small height contender — who was champion at Royal Windsor last year — is out of a 1/4 bred Shire mare named What A Puzzle (Puzzle).

What A Puzzle jumping at Hexham BE Horse Trials.

Puzzle’s owner and Monkey’s breeder, June Dent, says she decided to unveil the history of the champion — who is now owned by the Mears family — while she was watching an episode of Countryfile.

“It was Sunday evening and Countryfile was running a feature on Shire horses,” says June. “They mentioned how endangered they are and I just thought about what a fantastic foundation the Shire had been for this particular line.”

Monkey’s Shire connection goes back four generations; his great granddam is a purebred Shire who stood breed champion at the Royal Welsh.

“This mare was owned and bred by Mrs Higgon of Newton Hall in Haverfordwest (Pembrokeshire),” adds June. “She did well in the show ring and there was a lot of interest in her from America. But when it came to putting her in foal she wouldn’t hold to the Shire stallion and only took to a pure-bred Thoroughbred. The result was Puzzle’s dam, a mare who Mrs Higgon rode and won the riding club championships on.”

Puzzle — who evented and was also June’s ride while she was a hunt master — was one of six foals from the half-bred Shire mare. Other progeny included an eventer who jumped round Burghley.

“Puzzle was great on the hunt field,” says June. “She jumped anything, had manners to die for and would stand for England. When I broke my back, I decided to put her in foal to the pony stallion Willowcroft Regal Bronze. And together they produced Monkey.

“It’s really amazing that, in my lifetime, the line has gone from a cart horse right through to this beautiful show horse.”

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June sold Monkey as a four-year-old and he was placed at both Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International in his first season as a riding horse in 2019.

“These lines could be used more; instead showing breeders seem to choose the warmblood types and something like a Shire is never considered for the show ring. The Shire temperament has definitely stuck through the generations, too. They’re such placid and trainable horses.”

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Show rider Claire Oliver (pictured) is a former European young rider eventing team and individual gold medallist. She is married to top show rider Robert Oliver, and had her first HOYS win riding the middleweight hunter Enigmatic in 2001.

Training the stars

• Appledark Magic Touch can become anxious in the ring when horses come up behind him, so to help with this problem he’s fitted with earplugs. This makes a great difference to his go-round and prevents him getting strong and tense.
• Loughkeen Dancing Lord was a pleasure to show. I rode him in a short-cheek double bridle and he never pulled or got too strong. I did make sure he had enough work before his class and was carefully introduced to the show ring.

Tackling the issue

1. Practise working with other horses in the arena at home, so the horse becomes accustomed to horses working around and behind him. This situation can often worry a horse and lead him to become strong and tense. Keep working until the horse feels relaxed and comfortable among others.

2. Work on transitions, as this will make your horse more ridable in the ring. Practise half-halts and perform transitions in canter, allowing him to move forwards and then bringing him back to collected canter. Simple changes of canter to walk will help the horse sit on his hocks. Perform these exercises on 20-metre circles and then ride them using the whole of the school.

3. When practising your gallop, increase the canter around the top of the arena and then stride on down the long side. Do not fire off from the top of the long side of the arena, as the horse will definitely learn to anticipate the gallop.

4. When riding in the ring, make use of your space. Do not get too close to the horse in front of you, and also make sure there is not a horse sat on your tail. To gain more space, either ride into your corners or, if you see a large gap, cut across or make a tight turn.

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Consider this…

• Be careful when introducing your horse to the show ring. Ideally, take him to a few smaller shows before going in a big, open ring.
• Practise with your show bridle at home. Use either a correctly fitted double or pelham bridle with a chain or leather curb to suit the horse. There are various types of curb bits and it’s a case of trial and error to find what suits the horse.
• A horse can become strong on the go-round because of its repetitive nature of the walk, trot, canter and, in particular, the gallop. This can be solved by not over-galloping at shows, especially early in the season.

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In these unusual times there are many horses and ponies who have been prepared all winter for the coming show season but have no where to go. This is why the British Palomino Society decided to move their spring show online, rather than cancel it.

Competitors were required to video their horses and ponies performing an individual show (either in-hand or ridden) for entry into one of the palomino or cream dilute classes.

The society panel judges then jumped online to judge the classes.

“The show was really well supported,” says Jessica Regan of the British Palomino Society. “People who would often be too nervous to compete at a show blossomed by being able to take part in a familiar environment. It was also lovely to see the younger generation also getting involved.”

The following champions were crowned…

Fencers Golden Addition

The palomino in-hand championship and overall supreme title was awarded to the two-year-old Welsh Section C. Owned by Hannah De Boorder, the filly already has a tally of wins to her name.

“There is a lot to like about this quality filly,” explains judge Dawn Coldicutt. “She is true to type with lovely movement and is one to watch out for in the future.”

Reserve went to Danni Grogan and Ann Langton’s 19-year-old part-bred Arab Grassendale Golden Legend.

Glebedale Sugar Babe

The palomino ridden championship went to the Welsh section A and Amy Edmonson. Reserve spot was clinched by Casey Cohane riding Littlecourt Showboat.

“Both gave a polished performance beyond their years,” comments Dawn.

Silva Lowki

The cream dilute classes — which included entries of buckskins, cremellos, perlinos, smokey blacks and coloured dilutes — were topped by Jenni Zawadazka’s Andalusian.

“I really liked his balanced and flowing paces,” says Dawn. “He is a lovely type with plenty of limb and substance.”

Yearling buckskin Welsh section C Corstan Aristocrat took reserve for owner Faye Bircher.

The British Palomino Society also intends to hold their summer national championships at Three Counties Showground online, too.

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As the showing season is on pause for the foreseeable due to the Coronavirus lockdown, H&H takes a look back at its June 2019 showing reports, and it was a busy month…

We bring you some memorable stories, thought provoking quotes, horses we loved watching and some top tips for when we can finally hit the show ring again.

Quotes that stuck…

“It is a dream come true for me to have a horse like this” — Allan Birch on his working hunter Parkmore Rowan, who clinched his Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket at Derbyshire Festival.

“This class was like being offered a box of fine chocolates — they were all outstanding” — Judge John Keen on the field of Cuddy in-hand contenders at Royal Three Counties, which was eventually won by Steve Pitt and Vicky Smith’s broodmare Power Of Love.

Stories we loved…

Young working hunter rider Ruby Ward was back to her brilliant best at Midland Counties following a spell in hospital for a mystery virus that attacked her kidneys and immune system. Despite ongoing treatment, she jumped to head the plaited working ponies with her 133cm victor Noble Peppermint (above).

At Royal Cornwall, hunter Chantilly Bojangles went through the card to clinch the hunter title before landing the Queen’s Cup with owner/rider Lucy Lockwood in the saddle. The gelding was bought off the back of Lucy’s wedding not going ahead; he had been offered to Lucy prior to her wedding, but she turned him down on the basis she knew she was getting married and hoping to start a family.

“Things didn’t go to plan and I didn’t get married,” said Lucy. “We call him the wedding pony. Everything happens for a reason and my drastic change in personal circumstances brought this horse into my world.”

Dianne Stennett’s prolific mare Time 2 Reflect (above) made the perfect start to her new job as an in-hand broodmare when she won her first ever Cuddy ticket at South of England.

“This mare is extraordinary,” said her producer and former rider Jayne Ross, who was on the end of the lead rein. “No matter what I ask of her, she tries her heart out and then tries even harder.”

Tips we took home…

Allan Robertson gave readers a taste of how he sets about judging a coveted championships such as a Cuddy in-hand qualifier when officiating at the Royal Bath and West.

“You have to be hyper-critical when you first start looking,” said Allan. “But when you have your top six, you’re looking at the smallest imperfections.”

At Royal Three Counties, the ridden heavy horse qualifier caused much discussion after four horses were given a zero mark for ride. Ride judge Brigit Ensten explained: “It is a ridden class for 
HOYS qualification, so if I get on a horse and it doesn’t go, I cannot give a mark — hence the zeroes. My marks show how each 
horse rode for me on the day. This should give competitors a good indication for improvement and get their homework in order. Horses that gained good ride marks were responsive, balanced and forward-thinking, making for a pleasant, enjoyable ride.”

The horses we wanted in our stables…

Jill Godden’s exquisite show pony mare Rhos Exception (above) netted a Cuddy ticket at Midland Counties with James Crockford. The home-bred mare by Derwent Rainbow Bandit was ridden champion at HOYS in 2015.

At Hambleton and District, a former HOYS show hunter pony champion made a triumphant return to the ring to land her first Olympia ticket in senior ranks. The 19-year-old 2008 HOYS victor Pretoria (above) — also a former Royal International (RIHS) winner — won the ridden title for her owner Kimberley Wright. “She is our horse of a lifetime,” said Kimberley.

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Connemara White Diamond made a triumphant Three Counties debut to take both a HOYS ticket and section championship for owner Katie Goulding. “I don’t have a manège at home, but I think it went in our favour as Nemo just floated through the mud here — his name has proved extremely apt as he loves water,” said Katie.

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The HOYS-winning native pony producer counts horses as her saviours alongside a hectic work schedule. H&H’s showing editor Alex Robinson discovers how she’s made her “hobby” so successful...

Hayley Reynolds has several plates to spin. While many of us admit we can struggle to juggle our work-life balance, the part-time native pony producer from Cheshire seems to have several jobs on the go, late nights and early starts. Hayley, 34, topped off her 2019 show season with a dream win at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

“I’d been third on three occasions,” explains Hayley, who took the New Forest pony of the year title with Lesley Cook’s bay gelding Okedene Justin. Hayley had discovered Justin as a three-year-old in a city centre allotment seven years ago, paying just £250 for him.

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Have we caught a glimpse of the future during the coronavirus crisis? Several showing bodies have conducted their regular gatherings by conference calls, leading one council member to joke that this was probably the nearest experience to appearing on her favourite programme, Celebrity Squares.

Royal Windsor’s virtual showing kept the spirit of competition alive on a truly international level with over 4,000 entries from around the world. Congratulations to the supreme champion, Emma James’ versatile and photogenic Connemara Glenmore Gwennic.

As lockdown restrictions ease and some elite sports resume, we’re all wondering what the implications will be for showing. And will it ever be the same? The answer to the first question is that there seem to be two options – aim for a winter circuit run regionally or write off the 2020 season and start again next year. As for the second, we need to find temporary alternative strategies to give a safe way back to our sport.

No one knows whether Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) will go ahead as planned and if so, what will happen to the qualifiers? The HOYS website says that while it recognises this is an ever-changing situation and that they will be guided by the latest government recommendations, there is currently no direct advice about large events taking place later on in the year. Therefore, they are continuing to organise and prepare for October.

Sally McMillan had no idea her home-bred filly would end the 2019 season by taking the world’s most coveted in-hand accolade – but she did. Alex Robinson speaks to the hobby pony breeder, the filly’s handler and the HOYS judge about what makes her so special...

Heronsmill Tiger Lily

Age: four
Breeding: Chycoose Troubadour x Trellech Courvoisier
Owner/breeder: Sally McMillan
Producer: Sarah Baker
Handler: Matt McGivern

Greatest achievements: shown five times in-hand during 2019, including at HOYS where she won the Cuddy supreme in-hand championship. She landed her HOYS place at the Royal Welsh show where she’d earlier stood riding pony breeding champion.

‘I loved her from the moment I saw her’: HOYS champion dies unexpectedly

8 of the most successful show horses who won at Royal Windsor as novices

If a novice wins at Windsor, you can almost guarantee it will go on to achieve big things in the

We can’t wait to see: ‘Classy’ show horse Times Square III

We miss watching our favourite horses during the Covid-19 lockdown, so we’re finding out more about some of the stars

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Top riders who started off in the show ring *H&H Plus*

Some of the world’s best jockeys, eventers, showjumpers and dressage riders started their equestrian careers in the show ring. Tricia

Surrounding yourself with experienced people and heeding their advice is a fast-track route to success. So we asked our top riders what the best (or funniest) piece of advice they have been given over the years is

Laura Collett, eventer (pictured, above)

Yogi Breisner said to me when I was waiting to go cross-country at the European Pony Championships in 2005: “Believe in yourself because I do.” That has always stuck with me.

Lydia Hannon, eventer

When I was doing juniors, I used to get quite nervous before the dressage. Just before I went down the centre line at one event, a friend said, “Lydia don’t worry, just remember, judges s**t too” — it gave me the giggles and helped me relax.

Rebecca Hughes, dressage rider

Competing young horses at their first show is always nerve-wracking and I remember Michel Assouline telling me to lead them in-hand “until they are bored 
into submission” before getting on. I now always wait until the horse is quiet before mounting.

James Harper, polo player

That to improve a horse you need to spend more time riding and working with them. I probably do twice as much of this as I used to, although they still get plenty of downtime in the paddock.

Lucy Jackson, eventer

“Just look at the f***ing pole!” — Jonelle Price shouted that to me at team training pre-London 2012 when I was having a total meltdown about my inability to canter to a placing role. She was right. When I was younger, I was told: “Don’t panic. The harder you work, the luckier you’ll get”. It’s stood me in fairly good stead.

Stuart Hollings, showing producer and judge

Our friend Stella Harries taught my brother Nigel and myself to never become complacent in the ring and to compete to win every time — even if you think you have a championship in the bag.

Jessica Mendoza, showjumper

Dad [Paul Mendoza] always says you just need to go quicker than everyone else and keep the fences up!

Harriet Nuttall, showjumper

My mum saying: “Remember to breathe”. It’s great advice, but I hope by now that’s the one thing I have sorted.

Nina Clarkin, polo player

I was about 12 and about to start the cross-country phase when I nervously mentioned I might need to go to the loo. The old stalwart lady on the starting box told me that I should never ride with a full bladder as if I fell off my ribs could puncture my bladder and that would slowly poison me to death. Terrified the life out of me and I now ALWAYS go to the loo just before my game starts!

Matt Frost, dressage rider

A wise old soul said: “Row your own boat and make sure the people in it with you aren’t drilling holes.”

Continued below…

‘I didn’t really ride him, I just hung on’: top riders on their (memorable) first ponies

‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ has

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Claire Hart, point-to-point jockey

When I worked for Henrietta Knight, I remember schooling one day and Terry [Biddlecombe] shouted, ‘drop your f***ing irons!’ It taught me that it is far better to ride a bit longer. It balances you better and you can actually ride the horse.

Becky Edwards, dressage rider

My mum is a bit of a stress head and would panic at the slightest thing, until show producer Carol Gilbert-Scott taught us that there is always a solution and no need to panic. Now, instead of going into panic mode, we find a solution.

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The British Show Pony Society (BSPS) has informed its members that it will not be changing the ages of the plaited pony riders for the 2021 show season.

The cancellation of the majority of shows in the present term means some young jockeys have missed out on their last year competing in certain classes. The decision was made by the BSPS council after consultation with the two major showing championships, the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) and the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

The BSPS said in a statement: “The society has received a number of emails and letters asking if we could look at either increasing the ages of riders in all plaited classes for one year or increasing the ages for one year permanently because many shows have been cancelled for 2020 due to Co-vid 19, and some riders would not have their last year on their pony/horse in these classes.

“After several long discussions at virtual BSPS council meetings and after consultation with the RIHS and HOYS, the council has decided not to change the ages for 2021. The council appreciates that this will be disappointing for a number of members in their last year but the general consensus was that the ages of riders should not be increased.”

Emma Wallace’s daughter Miranda won at both HOYS and the RIHS in her last year in intermediate ranks.

“Miranda competed against older children for the majority of her pony showing career as she was so tall,” said Emma. “So I do feel for all the young jockeys — especially the intermedate riders as they will now have to ride in adult classes — who were intending to have their last year in a certain class.”

“But changing the ages has a knock-on effect. Those who will be in their last year during 2021 would no longer be the oldest in their class. It is sad but we live in strange times and hard decisions have to be made; the BSPS made the right call.”

Catherine Taylor’s daughter competes her string of ponies in working hunter ranks at both HOYS and RIHS level, and 2020 was her last year in 15hh classes.

“I am grateful the BSPS looked at the letters of the members and I respect their decision but I do wonder what harm would it have done,” she said.

“Looking at other disciplines and their governing bodies, it does seem possible and valid to take this non-existent competitive season and make allowances and adjustments for 2021.

Continues below…

Delight as competitive showjumping to restart next week

Showjumping is one of the first amateur sports in Britain allowed to restart

H&H entries system aims to help shows run within latest guidelines 

The systems allow online entry, generation of drawn orders and times, and much more

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“For example, if the BSPS increased the age of the nursery stakes riders by one year for one season only, there would be no major difficulty in policing an age change short term. It’s just a temporary rule change and this would help prepare the younger jockeys to move up a class, such as cradle riders moving into nursery, or nursery riders moving into open 13hh. We can all practise at home — some more than others — but there is no substitute for ring experience.

“Also, a lot of children only have a pony for two seasons and are now out of the class; and your last season in a class is nearly always your best as you have more experience.”

What do you think of the decision? Email hhletters@ti-media.com

During this period we’ve been using our spare time wisely. Some of the three-year-olds who would usually be started over winter are now being broken in. I have a feeling that the end of the year could be extremely busy with rescheduled shows, so it has been a welcome change to be working with the young horses in the nice weather.

While showing is on pause, it has been promising to see our sales industry has not wavered. People still want to buy for the show ring, and horses are changing hands again now lockdown has been eased.

A young show producer has certainly had her hands full this lockdown. As well as a string of other natives, Northamptonshire-based Lauren Brill has not one but five Exmoor ponies in her stables.

The Exmoor pony is classified as a rare breed and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) currently reports that the Exmoor is in the endangered category, with only 300 to 500 registered breeding mares.

While Exmoors do have an increasing presence on the show circuit, the breed is still a minority when compared to some of the more popular small breed mountain and moorlands.

Lauren’s love affair with the breed began when she was just 10 years old, with the gelding Stowbrook Snipe, who she had on loan from Jill Cook.

She was then offered the ride on Yolande Jarvis’ gelding Edwinsfield Nocturne (George) who won a host of titles and also gained places at Olympia, Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and the Royal International (RIHS).

“Exmoors are are a very unique breed,” confirmed Lauren. “They can be challenging and quirky, but also very trainable and loveable.

“George was the pony who put me on the map and I am forever thankful to Yolande for the opportunity to ride him.

“I love working with them because they are so rewarding and once you build a bond — which takes a lot of time — you are set for life.”

Continued below…

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Lauren’s current brace of Exmoors includes (L — R, pictured) Jill Stapleton’s three-year-old Thistle, Natasha Foster’s nine-year-old Teagle Swedish Rebel Diamond, Annabel Orrin’s five-year-old Coedywern Tegid, Annette Perry’s seven-year-old Bournefield Celtic Rose and Liz Barker’s eight-year-old Threeshires Edgar.

“I find they usually fit into two categories,” added Lauren. “They are either very sure of themselves, confident and cocky, or timid, nervous and often flighty. You rarely find one in between. But they are full of character one way or another, and they totally get under your skin.”

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Danielle is a leading show horse producer, judge and trainer based in Cheshire. She has won numerous titles at county shows, Royal Windsor and at the Royal International. She has won at Horse of the Year Show four times and has stood champion there on two separate occasions.

The walk is the first and last thing the judge sees, but it’s the pace that often gets overlooked by riders. It dictates your first and last pull in the ring so when training, I work the horses a lot in walk. I got Oathill Take The Biscuit (Hovis) when he was a four-year-old and he didn’t have the best walk. I would ride him long and low so he loosened at the neck and stretched down.

I also move my horses from side-to-side in all paces, as showjumpers often do during the warm-up. Then once at a show, they’ll lift a little and come up to sit nicely in the bridle. A horse can often have a walk that you didn’t even know about.

To celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the famous All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, we decided to pick out just 18 unforgettable moments in the venue’s illustrious history. Established in 1960 by Douglas Bunn and now run by his family, the showground has hosted some thrilling Hickstead Derby finishes, battles for the Nations Cup, lightning-quick jump-offs and some highly decorated championships. Let’s hope the grandstands are full to bursting once again next year.

1. Harvey Smith’s famous V sign

Having won the Hickstead Derby in 1970 on Mattie Brown, Harvey returned the following year without the trophy. He claims to have forgotten it but organisers felt Harvey had defied instructions, being so confident he’d repeat his win. Eventually the trophy was retrieved from Yorkshire and after a jump-off against Steve Hadley on Prospero, Harvey and Mattie Brown crossed the line as victors. BBC viewers saw him stick two fingers up in the direction of the members’ stand and the directors’ box, which Harvey claims was the V-for-victory sign, but Hickstead founder Douglas Bunn saw it otherwise and it was decided Harvey would be eliminated, forfeiting his first prize of £2,000. The story made headline news the following day while the incident was referred to the BSJA stewards in London. Eventually Harvey Smith was reinstated but the episode has become Hickstead legend.

2. Mondriaan’s poignant retirement

William Funnell’s great partner Mondriaan will always be remembered as one of the all-time Derby greats, having taken the title in 2006, 2008 and 2009, recording the class’s 50^th clear round. His retirement ceremony in the international arena in 2011 remains one of the most poignant moments in the showground’s history as the 17-year-old gelding left the scene of some of his greatest triumphs for one last time.

3. The Boss rules at Hickstead

One of the most memorable moments at the Royal International was when Susie Eddis and 13hh worker Beat The Boss took the 2015 supreme pony title. His brilliant paces, self-carriage, great gallop and wonderful manners made him the stand-out choice for the judges.

4. Geoff Billington wins the Hickstead Derby for the first time at 52

Battling through heavy rain in 2007, Geoff Billington and the grey Cassabachus skipped round the Derby track with just a time-fault to give Geoff his first victory at the age of 52.

5. Lucinda Fredericks’ Hickstead success

The rider’s victory in the 2004 running of the Eventing Grand Prix riding the then still up-and-coming 11-year-old Headley Britannia was special as it was one of the first steps to her tremendous wins at Badminton (2006), Burghley (2007) and Kentucky (2009). Nicky Boulter was best of the showjumpers that year with Magna Carta

6. Ladies first

Tina Fletcher (Promised Land) became the latest woman to lift the trophy in 2011, following in the footsteps of Pat Smythe, Alison Westwood (later Dawes), Marion Coakes and Anneli Drummond-Hay.

7. John Whitaker’s fourth win

John’s first Hickstead Derby win came in 1983 with the great Ryan’s Son and he went on to claim victory with the 21-year-old Gammon in 1998, 20-year-old Welham in 2000, before joining the elite group of four-time winners in 2004 with catch-ride Buddy Bunn, Douglas Bunn’s home-bred. John took over from an injured William Funnell, sitting on Buddy Bunn for the first time the day before the class, and beating his niece Ellen Whitaker in a jump-off (John Whitaker and Ryan’s son, pictured).

8. Boomerang and Eddie Macken’s four-in-a-row

The record four-timer set by the Irishman and the heroic Boomerang between 1976 and 1979 allowed him to keep the original gold Derby trophy and a new bronze trophy was commissioned in their honour, the Boomerang Trophy.

9. The pony who cleared the Derby fences

Marion Coakes (later Mould) jumped an amazing three clear rounds in the Derby with the 14.2hh Stroller but only won once, in 1967, when Marion was 20 years old.

10. A new Chapter for showing

The Supreme Ridden Pony Championship was first introduced at the Royal International in 2002 and that inaugural title went to Mrs Michael Coates’ Yealand Chapter. Prior to that year, the pony champions competed against the horses for the supreme ridden title and two ponies lifted the overall – Royal Bronze in 1993 and Trelawn Playboy in 2001.

11. Trick rider takes the trophy

In 1990, Joe Turi — a trick rider from Hungary — rode the stallion Vital to victory in the Derby after a nail-biting jump-off with Nick Skelton, denying the Warwickshire rider a fourth consecutive win. The year before, Joe had ridden Mill Ruby to victory in the Speed Derby, the third running of the class.

12. Guy Williams goes high speed

Guy Williams won the fast and furious Speed Derby for a record fourth time in 2015, breaking the course record in the process with the lightning-quick Casper De Muze. His first win in the class came 13 years previously with his two-time victor Be Precise.

13. Beezie Madden’s historic King George

In 2015, US rider Beezie Madden became the first woman to win the King George V Gold Cup, first run in 1911 and restricted to men only until 2008. Beezie followed up 12 months later with her second success on the occasion-loving Cortes C — it was more than 50 years since any rider had achieved back-to-back victories.

14. A winning debut

Making her Hickstead internatonal debut in 2015, Chloe Winchester landed one of the most prestigious titles in the national sport, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, at the age of 21 with the brilliant mare Avoca Valkyrie.

15. The only horse to rack up five showcase wins

Trevor Breen’s Adventure De Kannan boasted a tremendous record in the international arena. The one-eyed wonder horse “Addy” showed incredible versatility by winning the 2009 Speed Derby, the 2012 Eventing Grand Prix and the All England grand prix at the national show in September, then in 2014 the pair landed the big one itself, the Derby, by jumping 0.02sec faster than Phillip Miller in the jump-off. A month later they returned to Hickstead to triumph in the Queen’s Cup. What a horse.

16. Ben Maher’s Derby double

In 2005, just a year after his Hickstead debut, Ben became the first rider since John Ledingham to win the Speed Derby (on Mercurius) and the Derby (Alfredo) in the same year, returning to top the Speed Derby again in 2006 on Mercurius.

Continued below…

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The amazing moment 14.2hh Stroller won the Hickstead Derby

We rewind the clock 52 years to 1967 when the pint-sized Stroller clinched the Hickstead Derby title...

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17. Home team glory

It’s been a decade since Great Britain last won the Nations Cup on home soil at Hickstead, but as a nation there have been some great triumphs in the series. Great Britain’s greatest run came between 1949 and 1954 with six wins on the trot.

18. From the Grand National to the Speed Derby

Only Robbie Power can claim to have won a Grand National, a Cheltenham Gold Cup and a Hickstead Speed Derby. The former junior showjumper turned leading jump jockey took time away from the racecourse to jump in the 2012 Eventing Grand Prix, finishing third, returning the next year to win the Speed Derby with Doonaveragh O One.

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As we enter the 15th week of lockdown restrictions, I don’t think that anybody ever imagined that it would last this long. At times, it can feel like we are living in a parallel universe where everything is constantly changing. The implications of this virus will linger for some time yet and we will all have to think and act very differently.

In some ways, embracing change is inevitable in order to move with the times, but my fear is that in a world where health and safety has already gone mad, these added restrictions may just add fuel to that already burning fire. I wish people would just take more responsibility for their own actions and accept the consequences should any arise.

While the showing community plans a comeback after the Coronavirus lockdown, H&H takes a look back at its July 2019 showing reports to garner our motivation for some late summer showing.

We bring you some thought provoking quotes, horses we loved watching and some headline-worthy stories from some of the season’s biggest showing fixtures.

Quotes that stuck…

“The winner’s correctness of type and responsive, forward-going show just gave it the edge — it really sat up and looked through its bridle” — Judge Charles Wilkerson on the North of England amateur supreme champion Saatchi (Kimberley Wright)

“My criteria when I bought him was that he must stand while I mounted as I have a knee injury” — Charlotte Gilston on trusty Irish Draught Hawklands Argento Amore who won the ladies’ side-saddle qualifier at Ashby with Floriann Gilston in the saddle.

“It’s great to beat the boss as it certainly doesn’t happen often” — Rose Bailey (Jazz It Up) when she beat her mentor Jill Wormall (Colour Coded) in the ridden supreme at Derbyshire County.

Stories we loved…

At Lincolnshire County, Team Marriott-Payne won a record haul of five wins, five Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) tickets and two championships in the Mountain and Moorland (M&M) classes. Winning the large breeds section was Claire Wigley’s multi-garlanded stallion Greenholme Warbler (above). Warbler retired after appearing at HOYS in 2015 to become a happy hacker.

“Claire phoned me this year to say he was looking so good, perhaps we should try showing him again,” said Katy Marriott-Payne. “He feels amazing and is loving life.”

At Royal Norfolk, Rose Cassapi-Paskins and her Welsh section A mare Westfirle Golden Oriole (above) were called forward as the winners of a strong M&M lead-rein qualifier. Rose’s mother, Tracey Paskins, admitted that she finds lead-rein difficult as she suffers from severe arthritis in her left ankle.

“I’ve been told there is no cartilage left in the ankle but I refuse to have it fused as I won’t be able to run at all,” said Tracy. “I thought I would have to get someone else to lead, so the fact we’ve qualified together has made it all the more special.”

On her Great Yorkshire show debut, accountancy student Bronte Thompson, 19, took third place and a HOYS qualification in the heavyweight hunters riding Elysiums New Dawn.

“We’ve never quite managed a golden ticket before and to do it here is just surreal,” said Bronte. “I produce him totally myself and he does a bit of everything — he even goes to Pony Club.”

Lucinda Burnett topped a strong HOYS working hunter qualifier riding Scarthill Kingdom at the Festival of Hunting. Having had a hip replacement nine weeks previously, Lucinda was not sure whether she should be riding, let alone competing.

“I only started riding six days ago and tried a couple of fences yesterday,” said Lucinda. “When I decided to ‘brave it’, I thought if I felt wobbly, I’d come out.”

Tips we took home…

Judges Matt Cooper and Gemma Stanford ensured overly fat ponies were penalised in the part-bred and Pretty Polly supremes at the North of England pony show.

“In both classes, we were looking for ponies which were fit and not fat, and who also looked like they were enjoying their job,” said Gemma afterwards.

The horses we wanted in our stables…

Topping the open M&M ridden championship at the Royal Highland was Welsh section D stallion Northwick Notorious (above) ridden by accountant Claire Evans. The pair had gained their HOYS qualification at Royal Cheshire County just a few days earlier.

“I wasn’t going to bring him here as he’d already qualified,” said Claire. “But we didn’t have anyone to look after him at home so we brought him along. He lives the life of a gelding at home and is 100% in every way.”

At the National Hunter championships, the supreme working hunter title went to the novice winner Hardingville Sunrise (above) ridden by catch rider Libby Cooke.

“What a lovely forward-going mare she is,” said Libby. “Nothing fazed her and she jumped round a treat.” Earlier in the day, Alice Homer rode the lovely mare to take second place in the ladies’ hunter class and fifth in the HOYS side-saddle qualifer.

We are continuing to produce Horse & Hound as a weekly magazine during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as to keep our website at horseandhound.co.uk up to date with breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

When the Showing Council (TSC) was set up as an umbrella organisation, it faced an uphill struggle. Trying to get a cohesive policy from so many organisations and societies without having any authority must be like trying to herd cats.

However, looking at the way bodies such as British Eventing (BE) and British Dressage (BD) are reacting to the current situation makes me think now is the time for TSC to prove itself.

I’ve always been unsure about what it actually does, and the information on its website and Facebook page seems vague. I appreciate that it was set up to achieve more recognition for showing, but is this its chance to become more than a talking shop?

The winner of more than 40 HOYS championships, Robert Oliver’s breadth of horsemanship is such that few can match. Tricia Johnson looks back at his stellar career

Showing legend Robert Oliver, who celebrated his 80th birthday in May, holds a unique place in the record books. In a career spanning some 70 years, he has won and been champion in every category of horse class at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and Royal International (RIHS) – many times over – and his animals have stood supreme multiple times at both shows.

Since posting their first HOYS wins in 1970, Oliver-produced horses have claimed more than 40 HOYS championships in total, including 12 cob, nine hunter, six hack, two riding horse, two ladies’ and five small hunter titles.