Prince returns with royal form
A 15-year-old Welsh cob stallion comes out of retirement to stand top of the Cuddy line-up while an ex-hunt pony proves a late career change was worth it
IF this show’s story had been part of a novel, it would have had the perfect royal plot. In a starstudded Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Cuddy in-hand qualifier, a stallion called Prince Of Wales stood champion ahead of a horse owned by The Queen, with the Household Cavalry watching from the sidelines before performing their musical ride.
Kent always witnesses a strong Cuddy line-up and any of those forward would have been a worthy HOYS finalist. Judge Julia Ryde-Rogers had a difficult decision but, after choosing six for her short-list, she selected
handler Simon Charlesworth with the Herefordshire-based Bigley family’s wonderful Welsh section D Llanarth Prince Of Wales.
Reserve went to Chris Hunnable and The Queen’s Suffolk show supreme champion, the hunter Lancer, a supermoving three-year-old from showjumping and dressage bloodlines.
Prince Of Wales owned the main arena during his individual show, but Len Bigley was almost overcome by his 15-year-old home-bred stallion’s achievement.
“He’s been retired for the past
three years to run out with mares. We brought him back to have a bit of fun, but we never expected this,” he said. “I was surprised to make the final six and to win a class like this is a great honour. All the horses and ponies are champions.”
Len was grateful that Simon Charlesworth stepped in to show Prince Of Wales after Len’s son was busy haymaking.
“Simon is one of the best handlers in the country and he showed off my stallion brilliantly,” Len assessed.
This wasn’t the only top result here for The Queen. Her homebred hunter Tower Bridge won his Royal International heavyweight class under Chris Hunnable and, as Chris was on duty in the prejudging of the Cuddy qualifier, the Jerram-Hunnable team’s head groom Jo Jack took over for the championship.
Jo and Tower Bridge didn’t put a foot wrong in the huge main ring and after a fabulous gallop became popular champions.
“He’s a real big ring horse and Jo did a beautiful job,” said Katie Jerram-Hunnable.
Jo also rode the Jerrams’ small riding horse Assagart Queens Speech, a granddaughter of Katie’s three-times HOYS hack champion Trevera Verity, into reserve in the HOYS riding horse championship.
The title went to the large class winners; Judy Bennetts’ Firstman and Helen Baker.
“His owner lives for much of the year in Spain and I think he’s like her and enjoys the sun,” said Helen. “Judy’s daughter has already phoned her and her flight home for HOYS is booked.”
TRUE ROYALTY, PURE CLASS
THERE was another royal winner when 15-year-old Kinvara Garner took her HOYS part-bred pony ticket on Her Majesty’s Whalton Highwayman (Fred).
Kinvara has ridden this smart 12-year-old for more than two years and showed him as a hunter pony before turning to part-bred classes, with a Windsor win as one of this season’s highlights. The high-achieving little brother of several 16hh-plus horses, Fred is a family favourite.
“He’s an absolute sweetheart. He gives me kisses every day,” said Kinvara.
Chris Hunnable’s exploits weren’t over, as he was back on day three for two more wins and a reserve championship. He began with victory in the ridden heavy horse class on Brentwoodbased Emma Bowmer’s eightyear-old Shire gelding Ddrydwy Fieldsman.
Fieldsman came to Chris and Katie in October to break in for riding after Emma had been driving him for two years.
“I waited 10 years to own a Shire. I always wanted one but Mum and Dad told me I was too small,” said Emma. “As long as he enjoys himself, a rosette is a bonus, but qualifying for HOYS is a dream come true.”
Then it was off to the cob ring, where Chris stood reserve champion on Liana Stanford’s lightweight winner Knightsbridge Seventh behind the winners of the maxi class, Leon King and Lisa Davey’s Mister Belstaff.
Mister Belstaff, who was fifth at HOYS last year, travels plenty of miles to shows, as he is produced in Cornwall by Brett McKinnon’s team.
“He’s a dude by name and nature: a perfect gentleman. He absolutely loves jumping and I may be brave enough to dig my old jumping boots out and try a working show horse class next,” said Leon.
ONE POINT FROM PERFECT
JUMPING prowess won the HOYS working hunter qualifier for Southerly Roberts, who scored 19 out of 20 in that phase with freelance journalist Daisy Smith and her mother Sandra O’Halloran’s Irish-bred sevenyear-old LVS Jackpot.
This was the fifth win here for Berkshire-based Daisy, whose previous triumphs came in working pony classes. She had to take a break due to ill-health and asked Southerly to ride her horse.
Libby Robertson sported an ear-to-ear grin after she and Hoghton Valentino won the HOYS ladies’ side-saddle class. In a line-up dominated by hunters, Libby and her large riding horse kept their unbeaten record in only their second try in the class.
“I can’t believe it. It was a dream to win at Royal Windsor and now this,” said Libby.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” said Elle Kivlochan after taking the ticket to Olympia’s mountain and moorland (M&M) final on her Connemara Gloves Blakehill William. He is produced by Oliver and Jo Burchell and Elle has owned him since the beginning of May.
“My previous Connemara went to Olympia in 2012 and qualified for HOYS five times before I retired him. I always thought I’d have another, but they were very big boots to fill,” she said. “Then the Burchells found me a pony in Somerset who’d never been shown before but had hunted and done unaffiliated dressage, so had a great all-round education. He rose to the occasion here — the judge asked me if he would fit in the boot of her car.”
A super line-up contested the supreme M&M in-hand championship and Jennie Loriston-Clarke took her time before selecting the Welsh section C Tyreos Aragorn.
This super-moving 11-year-old has been leased by Tony Newman for the season.
“He carries two generation of our bloodlines,” said Tony. “He has a fabulous temperament and is used for riding, too. I’ve come close in this championship several times but this is the first time I’ve
been at the top.”
A thrilled Izzy Stanley took the HOYS working pony title on the 133cm winner, her mother Samantha’s Killaughey Golden Cascade (Sandy), who was still showing her heart out at the end of an incredibly hot day.
Twelve-year-old Izzy, who has lessons with Polly Eddis, has owned Sandy for a year after having her on loan. This will be her first HOYS ride since going there with a lead-rein pony.
SHOW PONY TREBLE
JOHN HARVEY’S team won three show pony classes here. Their champion was Gita Jago and Penny Carvosso’s 138cm winner Brookwater Candyfloss, beautifully ridden by Olivia Turner, with Ella Georgakis reserve for the team on her father Tony’s home-bred 128cm Mansionhill Magic Star.
Candyfloss, who has already been second twice at HOYS, was bought last September.
“We’ve always liked her because she’s very correct. She’s also made the final six of a Cuddy qualifier, so she could go on to have a career as a broodmare,” said Penny, whose four-year-old Stretcholt About Time won the novice show pony class.
There were several top ponies forward in both mini show pony classes and the overall title went to the lead-rein winners, sevenyear-old Jessica McIntosh and her mother Charlotte’s Cosford Charming Gift (Daisy), with Poppy Baxter-Davies and the first ridden pony Seamoor Lady Derby in reserve.
“This pony lives up to her name. Every child who meets her adores her,” said Charlotte.
Daisy and Jessica earned their HOYS ticket here, and there was also qualification on offer in the lead-rein show hunter pony class.
A strong line-up was headed by Cate Mitchell on her mother’s Claire’s Trefriw Earl. Produced by Edward Young, this pair now have the chance to go one place better than their second spot on their first HOYS appearance in 2017.
Harriet Miller had a great day, going home with two wins and the precious HOYS ticket in the miniature horse classes with Rachel Isaacs’ two-year-old colt Rosemont Dreamers Caballero.
“He’s exactly what I look for in a miniature horse,” said Harriet, who has 11 miniature horses to show for owners from her Somerset stud.