IN THE FRAME
■ WENDY TOOMER HARLOW and her majestic 14-year-old Clydesdale gelding, Walton Bomber, made history at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in October when they won the inaugural Driven Heavy Horse of the Year Championship.
Spectators were treated to a fabulous display of 11 heavy horses, including Shires, Percherons and Clydesdales, for this new driven showcase which, along with the ridden championship (won by Gemma McClorey and her Shire gelding, Cotebrook Sgurr Alasdair), the organisers hope will further support the work of the societies in promoting these heavy horse breeds, some of which continue to feature on rare and endangered breed lists.
In the mainstream showing classes, the Supreme Horse of the Year title was awarded to Guy Mears and Isabella Mears-Wood’s Champion Hack, Forgeland Hyde Park, who was produced by Danielle Heath. He oozed star quality under the dazzling spotlight of the HOYS main arena, which led Danielle to comment: “He’s such a showman; he carries it off and I can just enjoy the moment.”
Taking the pony equivalent was Jerome Harforth’s eyecatching home-bred mare, Swan Lake, for whom this was a first trip to HOYS.
There was world class showjumping aplenty right through the week, but the star of the show
