SHOWING
A stallion bred in Holland is the top inhand pony, while a Connemara shines once more at his favourite showground
A BIG-MOVING Welsh section A took a break from his main post as a ridden pony to become the new Horse &Hound mountain and moorland (M&M) supreme inhand champion.
Melanie Peters’ 11-year-old Hoekhorst Example (Harry) is a well-known performance animal, having previously won at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
On this day, however, his quality, type and Welsh character was enough to earn him one of the season’s most prestigious in-hand honours.
The stallion, led out to perfection by Tom Clark – who had only met him at the show on the morning of his class – ate up the ground in the Castle Arena to impress supreme judge Jackie Beatham.
“He oozed presence and had wonderful athletic movement. I also felt he would stamp his stock well,” said Jackie of the Idyllic Senator son.
Harry was bred by the Hoeke family in Holland. He started his career under saddle with Cadlanvalley Stud’s Hayley and Libby Grota, winners here in hot ridden ranks with their home-bred section B Cadlanvalley Masterclass.
Libby rode Harry to two Royal Welsh victories and reserve supreme M&M at HOYS in 2021.
Melanie, for whom Royal Windsor is her local show, bought Harry for her daughter, Maisie, last August and he is currently based with producer Russell Ingram.
“He’s a very kind stallion who Maisie can do everything with,” said Melanie. “And he’s been beautifully produced in his previous home too.”
Tom was also delighted with the result: “He’s been a star. This is the first time I’ve won this one, it’s actually the first time I’ve been in the main ring.” Cathy Wood’s consistent Connemara Cloverhill Magic posted reserve, led out by Jamie Frost.
The seven-year-old Glencarrig Knight son has already appeared at HOYS multiple times. He achieved his best result at the final last year, when he finished third in the in-hand pony section.
“I liked him as a type, and he had both depth and limb in equal measures,” said Jackie.
“HE UPPED HIS GAME”
A FIELD of 12 beautiful natives vied for the coveted British Show Pony Society (BSPS) ridden M&M championship.
Making history as he came out on top of the Connemara and New Forest class for the third consecutive year and the championship for the second year on the trot was Amanda Sharman’s immaculate Connemara stallion Castle Kestrel – another by Glencarrig Knight – piloted by his longterm producer Lucy Glover.
While the championship was due to
