JUDGE STUART HOLLINGS

“MY first impression of the pony, when I first saw him as a five-year-old after capturing the show pony championship at the Horse of the Year Show [HOYS] in 2018, was that he was a true type of 138cm show pony with scope and movement, but needed to strengthen behind.

“At Midland Counties in 2019, he headed a respectable HOYS part-bred qualifier under me and I was astonished at how much he had improved. His clever trainer Katy Carter later revealed that she had put heavy shoes on him behind over the winter with a heel and slight extension, which had done the trick.

“The following month, I judged the conformation section of the show ponies at RIHS. Even though he only received my second highest mark of 45 in the class, he went foot-perfect in his show, just as he had gone on the go-round, and was a well deserved winner of the strongest class before landing the coveted championship.

“However, it was later during the pony supreme in the Hickstead main ring that Drakemyre Puttin On The Ritz really lived up to his name with India Till aboard; the pair gave a memorable display worthy of the supreme title, well choreographed by Katy. It was a masterpiece of ringcraft in that awkward space. They didn’t disappear behind the jumps or into the distance, but respectfully performed in front of the three judges.”