Allister Hood dominated the British Horse Society supreme ridden horse championship at the Longines Royal International Horse Show this afternoon (Sunday 30 July), piloting Diamonds Are Forever to take the prestigious top title.

Diamonds Are Forever (‘Freddie’) was home-bred by his owner Annabel Jenks and came through to the supreme after standing riding horse champion on Friday.

The three supreme judges rewarded Freddie’s elegant individual show with 28 marks — two nines and a 10 — from a possible 30.

The only other 10 went to Our Cashel Blue.

“What an achievement for Freddie and Annabel, especially after she’s had the patience to stay with him,” said Allister, who started producing Freddie as a four-year-old but the gelding missed his fifth and sixth years due to an unusual growth spurt.

“He grew unevenly. As a four-year-old he was only 15.2hh, but then he grew behind — up to 16hh — and didn’t grow in front, so he was downhill.

“At six he grew level but needed time to mature, so I had him back at Christmas when he was coming seven. Since then he’s been unbeaten and this is his first supreme championship.”

Allister also piloted Lady Caroline Tyrrell’s cob champion Our Cashel Blue to stand reserve supreme for the second year running.

Allister’s son, Oliver, finished third on the Lisha Leeman-owned coloured champion, Kellythorpes Master Key.

It has rained heavily this week and the ground in the international arena was soft in places, but Freddie looked balanced and graceful throughout — Allister even cantering by the judges with one hand off the reins.

“We hack out a lot at home and he has to cope with all sorts of ground, so a bit of mud wouldn’t bother a horse like him,” added Allister. “He’s a beautiful moving horse and when a judge sits on him he’s the most soft, easy horse to ride.”

Due to the going, galloping was not allowed in individual shows. The gallop is normally a speciality for the defending champion Time 2 Reflect and the Dianne Stennett-owned hunter champion — supreme here with Jayne Ross in 2015 and 2016 — finished joint-third this time.

Time 2 Reflect, Kellythorpes Master Key and Susanna Welby’s hack champion Elusive (Jo Bates) all scored 22 marks.

The sixth horse forward was the pure-bred ridden Arabian champion, Sameon Marouhk (Ben Hester), who scored 20.

Lady leads the way

The mini champion Seamoor Lady Derby (below) lifted the de la Hey Family supreme ridden pony title.

The six-year-old lead-rein winner — and mini champion here for the second year running — is owned by Mandy Burchell Small and handled by her son Oliver. Oliver’s young son James was in the saddle and attracted a huge cheer when he waved to the crowd while rising to trot during his show.

Don’t miss the full RIHS report in next week’s H&H, on sale Thursday 3 August.

Brazil continued its domination of the Royal International Horse Show this week after Yuri Mansur took a convincing victory in the King George V Gold Cup today (Sunday, 30 July).

Riding the ultra talented 11-year-old mare Babylotte, Yuri was last to go in the jump off, where a clear round was required to win.

The pair left all the towering 1.60m fences intact and Yuri’s willing ride did not look like she was going to touch a thing.

The Holland-based Brazilian, who was making his first visit to Hickstead, said: “It’s just a dream, I can’t believe it. I came here in 1999 to watch the European Championships and said I wanted to come back one day to ride here.

“I have no words to describe this horse, when I first got her she was jumping 1.45m classes and hated jumping on grass, now she just keeps improving more and more.”

Keith Shore flew the British flag against the clock aboard his 14-year-old Mystic Hurricane (pictured, below), having been the first from the huge 46-rider field to produce a clear in the first round. They finished eventual third behind Dutch rider Ruben Romp (Audi’s Teavanta II CZ) — both knocking a pole down.

Fourth place went to Germany’s Patrick Stühlmeyer, who finished on eight penalties with Lacan 2.

They were the only four combinations to make it through to the jump off.

Kelvin Bywater’s testing 16-fence track caused plenty of problems resulting in a hard-fought competition.

The bogey fence was a double of white gates at nine, with a big square oxer on a related distance before it. This is where the majority of riders faulted including Guy Williams (Rouge De Ravel), John Whitaker (Talisman De Mazure) and Shane Breen (Golden Hawk).

Drama came early on in the week’s feature class, when Robert Smith was unseated at the water jump. Things where going to plan for the Brit, when the 12-year-old mare put down in the water, pecking and throwing Robert over her head before cantering around the arena bridleless.

Likewise, fellow British rider Yazmin Pinchen and the 14-year-old stallion Van De Vivaldi were enjoying a great round — accomplishing the tricky double of white gates before the stallion took a dislike to the water jump at fence 10, where they were eliminated.

Hickstead Derby winners Nigel Coupe and Golvers Hill also fell foul of the white gates at nine to finish with eight penalties.

Don’t miss the full report from the Royal International Horse Show in Horse & Hound, on sale Thursday, 3 August.

The British Horse Society Supreme Ridden Horse at the Longines Royal International Horse Show has a long and prestigious history dating back to 1978. The champion hunter, arab, riding horse, hack, cob and coloured (if over 14.2hh) all have the chance to be crowned supreme ridden horse champion at Hickstead on the final day of the show. The winner is awarded the Winston Churchill trophy, while the breeder of the supreme ridden horse receives the Dorian Williams Trophy.

Scroll down to enjoy our picture gallery of winners from 2002 to 2017…

RIHS supreme horses hall of fame

1978: Mrs P White’s Kemplay
1979: P White’s Flashman
1980: Mobility Ltd’s The Consort
1981: T F Hunnable’s Brown Buzzard
1982: SElB Ltd’s Assurance
1983: SElB Ltd’s Elite
1984: Mr & Mrs R Johnstone’s Canik Crystif
1985: Mrs P Flemming’s Byron ll
1986: Mrs J Dewar’s Seabrooke
1987: Mr A Spiers’ Freeway
1988: Cooper Corporation’s lnspector Cluzeot
1989: Mrs N J Turner’s Skibbereen
1990: Mrs H Griffiths’ Super Ted
1991: Mrs H Griffiths’ Super Ted
1992: Cooper Corporation’s Royal Mile
1993: I E Evans & Son Ltd’s Royal Bronze
1994: Miss C Cooper’s Mystic Minstrel
1995: Monarch Assurance Plc’s Portman
1996: Colchester Commercials’ Regal Ma:x
1997: Mr J Dunlop’s Red Hand
1998: Mr J Dunlop’s Red Hand
1999: Mr J Dunlop’s Statesman lll
2000: D Parker’s Sandy Lane
2001: Mrs K McWilliam’s Trelawn Playboy
2002: Broadstone Stud’s Broadstone Dee
2003: Mrs T Briggs’ Boy George
2004: Kelanne Stud’s Mister McEvoy
2005: P Hayler & P Atkinso’s Broadstone Doulton
2006: Lucy Smith-Crallan’s Captain Hastings
2007: Monseratt Sport Horses’ Sleeve Nambon Mist
2008: Carol Bardo’s The Philanderer
2009: J L Dunlop’s Finn McCool lll
2010: Carol Bardo’s The Philanderer
2011: Jackie Beatham & Carol Bardo’s Comberton Clancy
2012: Katie Jerram’s Dunbeacon
2013: Pearly King, ridden by Simon Charlesworth
2014: Hoppy Jumping, ridden by Allister Hood
2015: Time 2 Reflect, ridden by Jayne Ross
2016: Time 2 Reflect, ridden by Jayne Ross
2017: Diamonds Are Forever, ridden by Allister Hood

First introduced at the Longines Royal International Horse Show in 2002, the de la Hey Family Supreme Ridden Pony Championship (formerly the Underwood/Dick Saunders) is one of the most prestigious titles on the pony showing circuit.

Prior to 2002 the pony champions competed against the horses for the British Horse Society Supreme Ridden title. Two ponies successfully lifted the overall supreme title: Royal Bronze in 1993 and Trelawn Playboy in 2001.

The supreme championship for ridden ponies is open to the champion show hunter pony, Heritage M&M supreme ridden champion, champion working hunter pony, champion show pony, supreme mini pony champion, supreme intermediate champion and supreme skewbald & piebald ridden champion (if 14.2hh and under) at the Longines Royal International Horse Show.

Below is a list of the winners to date, and scroll down for pictures of each of these stunning examples of their type.

RIHS supreme pony hall of fame

2002: Mrs Michael Coates’ Yealand Chapter
2003: Mrs M Cuthbertson & Mrs D L Thomas’ Posh Spice ll
2004: Mrs D L Thomas & Mrs J Newbury’s Chiddock over the Limit
2005: Mrs A Fowler’s Broadgrove Chatterbox
2006: Mrs D Modon’s Fairholme Rosettas Rhapsody
2007: Mrs S Horne’s Tidesbrook Roger Rabbit
2008: Mr & Mrs Hughes-Jones’ Chinook Morning Light
2009: Mrs K Carter’s Chagford Lewis
2010: Ms L Boulton’s Pebbly Pipe Dream
2011: Mr & Mrs Cartlidge’s Rotherwood Rainmaker
2012: Mr D Dixon & Mrs M Harforth’s Dance All Night
2013: Mr D Dixon & Mrs M Harforth’s Dance All Night
2014: Mr & Mrs Cartlidge’s Rotherwood Rainmaker
2015: Mr & Mrs J Eddis’ Beat The Boss
2016: The Farmbrough family’s Tambrook My Destiny
2017: Mrs M Burchell Small’s Seamoor Lady Derby

When the action was as fast and furious as it was at Hickstead last week (25-30 July 2017) during the Longines Royal International Horse Show, what’s all the fuss about a bit (a lot...) of rain?

Don't miss the full report from the show in 3 August 2017 issue of Horse & Hound magazine

What a wet week! Day one at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) saw the coloureds have the best of the weather and the going. Great progress was made in these classes, where record numbers were forward yet again. Hickstead reported that they have shaved a whopping two-and-a-half hours off the class times from last year, where they were renowned for over- running.

Every effort was made to still allow each competitor equal time and not to rush anyone. The conscious choice to not implicate set shows was a real welcome, not only to allow rider creativity, but also to keep the crowd interested.

It was good to see standards being upheld with a strict dress code for the grooms and prizes on offer for the best turned out. To see everybody looking smart really gives a sense of occasion to such a special show.

After speaking at length to show director David Ingle, who admitted to slightly feeling the pressure of solely taking over from the late, great Roger Stack, he was very pleased how the show ran and hinted of even more changes for next year. Describing the show as Roger’s legacy, you can see just how passionate David is about Hickstead, and competitors reported how he’s always on- hand to oversee proceedings and is approachable and open to suggestions.

One thing that I know Roger and myself were adamant about, was keeping competitors and sponsors separate from the judges, and this was still the case. Competitors and friends of Roger were invited to sign a book of memories. There were some wonderful photographs and we certainly spent some time in the pavilion reminiscing.

Tractors were working over-time in the lorry park and, on the whole, spirits were high. Hickstead was not going to be defeated by the weather and the show team really pulled together and soldiered on.

The deep going in some of the rings favoured some horses and handicapped others. I myself came unstuck in one class.

The supremes were full of quality and riders quickly had to adapt to the ground conditions.

An official decision was made to not allow galloping in the main arena and certain areas were off limits. I’m sure all understood that the ground was being preserved for the King George class, and that arena is still a great privilege to ride in, even with restrictions. Therefore, rather than the usual blistering gallops, we saw riders resorting to more technical shows, with more precise elements, showing off obedience, control and playing to the crowd. Some would argue that the hunter and cob would be handicapped, but I think it was still a great final and Allister Hood’s riding horse really wowed. I must mention, though, Jayne Ross’ incredible feat of winning all three hunter weight sections, which she also did this year at Royal Windsor.

With further improvements on the cards next year, I’m already looking forward to it — but let’s have some sunshine please.

Ref: Horse & Hound, 3 August 2017

Myriad showing champions were crowned at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) last week. Here are some of the title winners you might not have seen yet…

1. Seamoor Lady Derby

Mini champion for the second year running, Mandy Burchell-Small’s six-year-old mare went on to be crowned supreme pony champion. Seamoor Lady Derby was ridden by Mandy’s grandson James and led by her son (James’ father) Oliver.

2. Wyedean Sinatra

Wyedean Sinatra, ridden by Amelia Watson and led by her mother Paulette, was crowned Pretty Polly heritage mountain and moorland (M&M) champion.

3. Banks Timber

Sandra Burton and her Connemara Banks Timber claimed the top BSPS Heritage M&M ridden title.

4. Archwood Romeo Gigle

The Pretty Polly (home-produced) title went the way of 12-year-old Archwood Romeo Gigle, ridden by Madison Dalley and owned by her mother Leah.

5. Catriona Of Meggernie

The young rider M&M title was handed to Scott Dixon aboard Bella Malim’s Highland, Catriona Of Meggernie.

6. Elusive

Susanna Welby’s Elusive landed the hack title, a first championship victory here for his rider/producer Jo Bates.

7. Hop Garden Playboy

The junior skewbald and piebald title was claimed by Abbie Kirkbride riding Rebecca McColl’s Hop Garden Playboy.

8. Litton Enterprise

The Julie Templeton-produced Litton Enterprise successfully defended the show pony title she won here last season, ridden by Phoebe Price, and stood reserve supreme pony.

9. Chantilly Bojangles

Kim Colosso’s Chantilly Bojangles topped a large small hunter final with Robert Walker in the saddle.

10. Diamonds Are Forever

The Annabel Jenks-owned gelding stood riding horse champion for the second year running, before carrying Allister Hood to stand overall supreme horse champion — the seventh time Allister has claimed the top title.

11. Kellythorpes Master Key

The supreme coloured title went to Kellythopes Master Key, owned by Lisha Leeman and partnered by Oliver Hood, after standing reserve coloured horse champion to Rockstone Raven (Jayne Ross).

12. Lostock Up To Date

Sarah Harrison bagged a fifth coloured pony title riding Lostock Up To Date, before standing reserve supreme to Kellythorpes Master Key.

13. Our Cashel Blue

Lady Caroline Tyrrell’s lovely blue and white animal claimed the cob championship and stood reserve supreme horse for the second year running, aiding Allister Hood’s one-two in Sunday’s big finale.

14. Red Why Salute

Danny Carroll was contesting the working hunter course here for the first time and he duly piloted Red Why Salute to win the heavyweight division, before standing champion.

15. Sameon Marouhk

Ridden by Ben Hester, Sameon Marouhk netted the pure-bred Arabian title.

16. Spotlights Bo Diddly

It was third time lucky for Roger Parsons’ Spotlights Bo Diddly, who won the miniature stallion class for the third year and went on to clinch the championship title for the first time. The spotted horse was handled by Alison Parsons.

17. The Forger

Petra Frampton’s grey The Forger claimed the maxi cob title, a first win here for his rider.

18. Rehy Horizon

Rehy Horizon, contesting his first side-saddle season, headed a large ladies’ class, piloted by Jenna Tyldesley.

19. Parkgate Royal Visit William

The intermediate champion, Parkgate Royal Visit William, was campaigned by Emma Dewhurst for his owner Emily Whitfield.

20. Wolferlow Esperanto

Josephine Ready and Wolferlow Esperanto collected the show hunter pony accolade.

21. Thistledown Velvet Touch

George Levett and Thistledown Velvet Touch, led by Jo Burchell, landed the Heritage mini title.

22. Jazz It Up

The BSPS supreme ridden anglo- and part-bred Arab title was awarded to Jazz It Up, partnered by Jill Wormall.

23. Aigas Of Achnacarry

Aigas Of Achnacarry netted the native working hunter pony title with Amy Smith.

24. Historical hunters

Jayne Ross became the first rider to ever win all three hunter weight divisions, with Blooomfield Excelsior (the grey) winning the heavyweights, Time 2 Reflect (centre) successfully defending her lightweight title and Bloomfield Valhalla (on the right) topping the middleweights. In the championship, Jayne rode Time 2 Reflect, who stood champion, with Matt Richardson on Excelsior and Scott Dixon aboard Valhalla (pictured).

25. Priestwood Roc Star

The John Harvey-produced Priestwood Roc Star claimed the lead-rein of show hunter type title with Georgie Grace in the saddle.

Don’t miss the full RIHS report in this week’s issue (3 August), on sale now.

We had some terrible weather at the Royal International this year, which was so unfortunate for the show organisers. The team did the best they could to keep the ground as good as possible and I thought moving the fences onto fresh ground for the second round of the Nations Cup was wise.

The grass surface in the main arena held up really well and it was a great investment installing the drainage system that’s in place in there.

The Bunn family are so accommodating and make all the riders feel so at home. I have been coming to Hickstead for more years than I can remember but have never had much luck, so it was really nice to get a winner early on in the week in the Bunn Leisure Trophy on Adare.

This mare jumped in the Nations Cup here last year with her owner Paris Sellon — who is my student — so I was lucky enough to get the ride on her this time.

As the USA did not field a team for Friday’s Nations Cup, I knew I could take a shot with her on the first day without having to risk it all.

I was pleased with how she went on to jump in Sunday’s King George V Cup to finish sixth.

My other ride in the main arena was another owned by Paris called Quantas 15, who hadn’t jumped since Hamburg in May, and I was thrilled with his two seconds.

Home comforts

I am based in the UK for about eight months of the year and then spend the British winter in Florida — which is great because it means I don’t have to get on an aeroplane for almost five months.

I love being based in the Cotswolds when I’m in the UK, at my partner Mark Phillips’ Aston Farm. We have every facility you could imagine and the horses are always so happy and relaxed there.

Zara (Tindall, Mark’s daughter) is also based on the farm and we have a lot of fun working together. Mark is a great influence and, although he’s super busy during the eventing season designing cross-country courses, he’s always willing to help me out — particularly on my flatwork.

It was a great win for the Brazilians in the Nations Cup and particularly refreshing.

I love coming to shows where there is a Nations Cup — even if I’m not riding in it — I think it adds another vibe and that is what the sport’s all about.

Hickstead did clash with other big five-star shows across the world this week, but I still think people take this Nations Cup seriously.

I noticed some of the foreign riders did leave straight after Friday’s Nations Cup to go and jump at other shows. However, I don’t think it affected the weekend’s sport.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 3 August 2017

It would be so easy to mention rain and mud as the lasting memories from the Royal International (RIHS) 2017, but alas, no one can do anything about the weather. In true British spirit, everyone just had to get on with it. It was a testament to all the upgrades made at Hickstead recently that the rings and walkways lasted as long as they did. The security and ground staff should be applauded for being efficient and polite while managing difficult conditions on the stable field.

I mentioned in a column recently that I felt some old showing values had been lost in the ring and that children needed to be keener to impress. I was delighted to see that this year the judges pulled in most of the classes after the initial go- round. This kept children alert throughout the class, especially ones lower down the line if they felt that many before them hadn’t gone well.

It is also good to see how the children pulled in at the top of the line managed to keep their poise under pressure — a very good skill to possess if you are to have any longevity in the show ring.

Thinking is good

The other very positive move was the decision that there were no set shows in the pony classes. This meant children had to understand and play to their particular animal’s strengths.

I heard discussions outside the ring such as “mine has a great walk and I know I can pull off a good gallop”, and “I’m going to show off his big trot”.

It’s about time that children were thinking about their ponies and actually showing them, not just trundling around doing the same show as the one before.

This format really worked at Hickstead and it was brave of RIHS to do it, especially given such tight time constraints. It just shows that with efficient judges and stewards you can do away with set shows and still not run over time.

We welcomed the class changes that moved the mini show ponies to Wednesday, rather than having them clash with the show pony sections on Sunday. However, the actual timetabling of these classes does need looking at for next year because having two lead-rein classes back-to-back meant frantic outfit-changing for jockeys and leaders, leaving the collecting ring resembling a changing room at a Next sale.

The pony supreme came from this section, Seamoor Lady Derby. It must give the little ones such a confidence boost, which can only be a good thing.

But the other downside of the classes following on were that some of our smallest jockeys ended up being in the ring for almost four hours. As any leader knows, there is only so much “I spy” you can play to keep them entertained.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 3 August 2017

We have recently returned from an amazing holiday in Corfu which, after only one night at the RIHS (Royal International Horse Show), felt much needed. Just the sight of the sun and a temperature higher than about 10 degrees was a stark contrast to the conditions at Hickstead. To every person who managed to camp there for the full week, I salute you.

We were so lucky to have Dawn and Britt with us so that as soon as we were finished on the Sunday, mummy, Susie and I got in a taxi directly to the airport while the ponies were left in very caring hands. As a rule, I love the RIHS, however I have never seen it in weather as it was this year and so for the first time ever, I was very pleased that our stay was as short as possible.

Apart from the dire conditions, the show felt slightly anticlimactic this year, although this could also be attributed to the fact that the weather was like the physical manifestation of depression and gloom. Nevertheless, nothing felt quite as usual. The ground, for example, was horrendous due to a mixture of the rain and the fact that some genius decided to put the scurry ponies in the worker hunter ring on Saturday. This meant that the course was heavily compromised and, although the course builder did a very good job in the conditions, the course was much smaller, shorter, and without any particularly big questions as is usual for the RIHS.

Much sadder still, in my opinion, was that, so as not to ruin the ground any further, all the prize givings were done in a very small sectioned-off corner of the ring. I know that this couldn’t be helped since the ground needed to be saved in as many ways as possible, but it almost felt a bit less significant by having only a limited number of ponies back in, crammed into a box of white tape, just as at any other show you would go to all year round. The presentation at the Royal International should be an incredibly important moment. Everyone has waited for this moment all year, and the significance is so evident when you have the 20 best ponies in the country, spread out in front of you across the very centre of a ring that has so much presence itself, with the winner eventually in their own shining space at the very front. That was not how it felt this year.

Continued below…

Expand Lucy Eddis’ horsey teen blog: ‘he was brave not to get straight back on the train and flee’

Lucy Eddis’ horsey teen blog: ‘he was brave not to get straight back on the train and flee’

Lucy and her sister have gained a very…

As for our own results, we were thrilled with how the ponies went with Percy just having a pole to come eighth and Cash going clear, which I was absolutely over the moon about as the RI is historically not my show. Unfortunately, even with a really clean, confident clear with no risky moments, which would usually guarantee a top five placing, it was still not my show and we were dead bottom of the clears in ninth. I know that Cash could not have gone any better but I also know that this is the way that things sometimes go, and to be honest, I am still just very pleased with my fabulous pony to have gone clear round the RI. Nevertheless, it was extremely disappointing on the day, as well as positively humiliating when, with eight places, I was the only person left at the back of the ring having to awkwardly wait while everyone else got their rosettes. This lasting memory of RIHS 2017 is probably accountable for my general cynicism of the show this year — I promise I do actually love it.

I hope you all had a wonderful RI week!
Lucy

The countdown to next year’s Hickstead Derby and Royal International Horse Show has begun with the announcement of the judges for 2018.

Next year’s events will take place on 20-24 June and 24-29 July respectively.

The judges are as follows (as of November 2017).

The Hickstead Derby meeting

Thursday 21 June, 2018

Private driving and trade turnouts – Minta Winn

Friday 22 June, 2018

Cobs and maxi cob (ride) – Melissa Richardson
cobs and maxi cob (conformation) and riding horses (conformation) – Michael Maryan
Small hunter (ride and conformation) – Robert Walker
Ridden mountain and moorland (show) – Jennifer Williams
Ridden mountain and moorland (conformation) – Barbara Ashby-Jones
Mountain and moorland leading rein and first ridden (show) – David Bright
Mountain and moorland leading rein and first ridden (conformation) – Vanessa De Quincey

Saturday 23 June, 2018

Hacks (ride and conformation) – Ian Smeeth
Working hunters (ride and conformation) – Robert Walker

Sunday 24 June, 2018

Ridden hunters (ride and conformation) Lesley Whitehall
Ladies side-saddle classic – Lesley Whitehall
RoR under Flat rules (ride) – TBC
RoR under Flat rules (conformation) – Jenny Candy
RoR under National Hunt rules (ride) – TBC
RoR under National Hunt rules (conformation) – TBC
Coloured horses (ride and conformation) – James Van Praagh

The Royal International Horse Show

Tuesday 24 July, 2018

Coloured horses (ride) – Katie Jerram-Hunnable
Coloured horses (conformation) and coloured supreme – Jo Jefferson
Coloured ponies (show) – Sheila Dinsdale
Coloured ponies (conformation) and coloured supreme – Jo Hart

Wednesday 25 July, 2018

Lead rein, first ridden and lead rein of show hunter type (conformation) – Philip Hilton
Lead rein, first ridden and lead rein of show hunter type (show) – Louise Windsor
Show hunter ponies (show) – Louise Gaunt
Show hunter ponies (conformation) – David Machin
Pure bred Arabs (ride and conformation) – Kathryn Oldroyd
Hackneys – TBC
P(UK) young riders mountain and moorland ridden classes (conformation) – Joanna Griffith
P(UK) young riders mountain and moorland ridden classes (performance) – Rosemary King

Thursday 26 July, 2018

Ladies hunter (ride) and amateur ridden hunter x 2 (ride) – Anna Levy
Ladies hunter (conformation) and amateur ridden hunter (conformation) – Jeannetta La Four
Hunters – lightweights (ride) – Louise Bell
Hunters – middleweights (ride) – Stuart Campbell
Hunters – heavyweights (ride) – Marian Thomas
Hunters (conformation) – Angus McDonald
Shoeing prize – TBC
BSPS heritage mountain and moorland open classes (show) – Tracey Milward
BSPS heritage mountain and moorland open classes (conformation) – Jane Somerset
BSPS heritage mountain and moorland lead rein and first ridden (show) – TBC
BSPS heritage mountain and moorland lead rein and first ridden (conformation) – Vickey Eggleston

Friday 27 July, 2018

Amateur hunter (ride and conformation) – Jo Bates
Amateur hunter (ride and conformation) – B Sturgis
Working hunter (ride) – Matthew Ainsworth
Working hunter (conformation) – Jane Hall
Riding horses (ride) – Kevin McGuiness
Riding horses (conformation) – David Kellow
Mountain and moorland working hunter pony (jumping) – Jennie Loriston-Clarke
Mountain and moorland working hunter pony (conformation) – Barbara Evans

Saturday 28 July, 2018

Small hunter (ride) – Richard Telford
Small hunter (conformation) – Valerie Gingell
Hacks (ride) – Katie Jones
Hacks (conformation) – Alan Mickleburgh
Intermediate show riding types (show) and intermediate show hunter (conformation) – Sharron Kivlochan
Intermediate show riding types (conformation) and intermediate show hunter (show) – Nicky Turner
Lead rein and first ridden (conformation) – Lorraine Partridge
Lead rein and first ridden (show) – Clive Johnston
Miniatures – Julia Ryde-Rogers
Part-bred Arabs (ride) – Anna Levy
Part-bred Arabs (conformation) – David Puttock
Maxi cobs (ride) – Kevin McGuiness
Maxi cobs (conformation) – Moggy Hennessy

Sunday 29 July, 2018

Working hunter pony (jumping) – Sarah Lears
Working hunter pony (conformation) – Vicky Smith
Show ponies (show) – Lucinda Haines
Show ponies (conformation) – Wendy Phipps
Nursery stakes (conformation) and intermediate working hunter (jumping) – Sandra Bucknell
Nursery stakes (jumping) and intermediate working hunter (conformation) – David Bartram
Show pony, 2 x show hunter pony (conformation) and mountain and moorland (show) – Clive Johnston
Show pony, 2 x show hunter pony (show) and mountain and moorland (conformation) – Lorraine Partridge
Cobs (ride) – David Froggatt
Cobs (conformation) – Lucy Killingbeck
Working show horses (ride) – Jody Sole
Working show horses (conformation) – Sophie Spear
Amateur cobs x 2 (ride) – Jody Sole
Amateur cobs x 2 (conformation) – Alan Mickleburgh
Amateur hacks (ride) and amateur maxi cob (ride) – Michele Underwood
Amateur hacks (conformation) and amateur maxi cob (conf) – Moggy Hennessy
Trade driving classes – Sophie Adkins
Grooms’ prize – J Bunn and Helen Evans
Supreme ridden horse and pony championships – Nicky Coe plus two others TBC

Continued below…

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Competitors can also visit Hickstead’s entries and results page for updated details — scroll down to see the judges list under each show.

The full timetables will be announced in spring and details are subject to change.

It was the British Piebald and Skewbald Association (BSPA) who spectacularly kicked off winter champs season with their annual festival of showing which was held at Keysoe Equestrian Centre, Bedfordshire (24 February 2018).

Check out these 14 exciting combinations who took to the stage and bagged some of the top slots. Be sure to keep an eye on them for the rest of the season.

Photos by Peter Nixon

1. Sonidors Edith’s Pride

Harry Bennett-Hibbert’s homebred three-year-old colt Sonidors Edith’s Pride clinched the in-hand supreme title in the evening gala. Out of Harry’s former jumping mare High Offley Last Business, Edith’s Pride is by Stormhill Mink and was also awarded top marks in the youngstock evaluation championship earlier in the day.

2. Brickell Mr Pickwick

The ridden supreme went to the nine-year-old traditional 138cm coloured gelding Brickell Mr Pickwick who was partnered with Rebecca Lock.

3. Popenhoe Picture Perfect

Piped to the post in the in-hand supreme was Kevin Cousins and Caroline Ward’s sports pony colt Popenhoe Picture Perfect, who had to settle for the reserve sash.

4. Evie’s Pride

Four year old Scarlett Sharp rode the nine-year-old Shetland, Evie’s Pride, to finish reserve ridden supreme.

5. Supermoon

Lynn Russell took the RIHS lightweight qualifier and cob championship on six-year-old Supermoon.

6. High Estate

Riding horse champions were Frazer Atherden and the large class winner High Estate. The 13-year-old was bought for Frazer’s wife, Janay, and they will be sharing the ride this term.

7. Temple Ogue

Jayne Ross took the hunter spoils on the six-year-old lightweight Temple Ogue, who is owned by Kay Campbell.

8. Seabourne Silent Valley

The Team Hood-produced Seabourne Silent Valley owned and ridden by Francoise Babington takes the RIHS amateur hunters class before taking second and reserve in the lightweight hunters.

9. Slievebloom Ester

Leading the RIHS junior mountain and moorland championship was Aliya Taylor and the large breed victor, Vikki Smith’s Connemara Slievebloom Ester.

10. Donation

Owned by The Queen, the purebred Trakehner Donation landed the novice riding horse title with Chris Hunnable, who was standing in for wife Katie who is currently out of action.

Taking the heavyweight qualifier and the reserve cob title was Jayne Ross onboard Randalstown Columbo.

12. Churchtown Minstrel

Churchtown Minstrel and Simon Reynolds bagged an early RIHS qualification in the coloured ranks before leading the championship line-up.

13. Ocknell Mystery

Carly Reardon rode her 12-year-old maxi cob, Ocknell Mystery, to the open ridden horse title.

14. Bricklefield Jack

The Welsh section B gelding Bricklefield Jack exhibited by Savannah Spilman Penn was the best of the P(UK) amateur M&M ridden class.

Don’t miss the full report from the BSPA Festival of Showing and Winter Championships in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (8 March 2018)

One of the most successful ridden Connemara mares of all time has been retired to stud at the age of 10.

Lady Sue Huntingdon’s double Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) winner Slieve Bloom Jill, or Hermione as she is known at home, has made the move to Ireland to stand as a broodmare with breeder and owner of the Brocklodge stud Paddy Kearns, after an illustrious career under saddle.

“I was introduced to her when she was a four-year-old, by my good friend Mitch Doyle who had just bought and had her on her yard in Suffolk,” said Sue.

“Mitch found her on a hill in Ireland. She was in poor condition, with dreadlocks and lice, but she just had the most unbelievable movement with an exquisite head. The main thing I noticed, however, was that she never once put her ears back. She has always been such a happy, talkative mare.”

As a five-year-old, the Brocklodge Buster daughter was produced by Mitch, making her show ring debut in-hand at the East of England Connemara show. Sue added: “It was an amazing day. She won her class, was champion and then took overall supreme of show — even then she just had that ‘look at me’ factor.”

For the three and half years she was shown under saddle, Hermione was produced by the Berkshire-based Ramsey show team and was ably piloted through the ranks by Hannah Horton.

“They just have the most amazing bond. I used to love watching them together,” said Sue.

During their time together, the duo notched up an enviable tally which includes two HOYS Connemara class wins, in 2015 and 2016, 2016 HOYS reserve mountain and moorland (M&M) champion, 2016 Royal International M&M supreme champion, 2016 Royal Windsor M&M champion, multi-Olympia best of breed and two time Hickstead Derby M&M champion — to name just a few.

Continues below…

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“Her wins are even more significant because she is a mare,” continued Sue. “Native classes are full of stallions, so she has done a lot for the ‘girl power’ movement.” 

Hermione will soon be put in foal to a stallion of Paddy’s choice, and the aim is to contend some in-hand classes with her as a broodmare and then with her foal at foot.

“She has done all she can do in the ring, so it’s time for her to do something new,” said Sue.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

While many show riders try for years to bag their first Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) tickets, one first ridden jockey, who has just turned five, has already managed to book his place on the Hickstead train.

Kobi Watt, who turned five in March, rode the 18-year-old show pony Poweys Baby Doll, or Dinky as she is known at home, to win his first ridden class at the BSPS Area 13B, subsequently taking his first ticket to the RIHS.

Despite having a strong CV that boasts show ring wins from over a decade ago, Dinky now has a weekday role in a riding school, which is where Kobi became acquainted with the pint-sized superstar.

“Last year, I took Kobi to my friend’s (Francesca Way) riding school to get him going off the lead rein,” said Kobi’s mother, Bobbie, who hails from a showjumping background.

“He is just so confident that Francesca suggested we borrow Dinky to do some first ridden with. Now she works in the riding school during the week and comes to us for shows.”

Their qualifying story didn’t come without a few setbacks, as the previous day at Devon county, Kobi and Dinky suffered a mishap when a working hunter galloped past the pair during their individual show, causing the young jockey to fall from the saddle.

“We nearly didn’t go to BSPS on the Sunday as I was losing the will to live,” Bobbie said. “But Kobi just got up and got on with the job. He was ecstatic when he qualified the following day. I think he must be one of the youngest first ridden riders to qualify.

“He treasures Dinky. Even though she can be cheeky, she is just a fantastic little mare.”

Continues below…

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This season Kobi will also pilot the lead rein show hunter Cosford Madame Mouse who is to be based with Brett McKinnon’s team, and at the end of the year he will be making his debut on a novice mountain and moorland pony.

“We are also hoping to get him in some cradle stakes classes on a little worker we have. I never thought I’d have a boy who would be so keen,” added Bobbie.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

This week’s pony special, out 7 June, features Britain’s naughtiest ponies and how to find the dream smaller equine. We also look at the pros and cons of equine treadmills, talk to showing producer Aimee Devane and have reports from the H&H Festival of Eventing, Tattersalls Horse Trials, racing at Epsom and much more.

A coloured cob found dodging cars on the roadside has transformed into a showing star and qualified for the Royal International Horse Show.

Blue Cross Jack was taken in by the charity three years ago when he was abandoned in East Anglia.

Police found him wandering along lanes while traffic tried to avoid him.

The piebald stallion was signed over to the Blue Cross and he was taken to the charity’s centre in Burford, Oxfordshire.

He was gelded and given a foot trim, vaccinations, a microchip and a passport.

Jack was advertised for rehoming and Sheila Henry couldn’t believe her luck when she found him on the Blue Cross website.

Credit: Sheila Henry

“I came across this young man while pondering online about whether or not to have a second horse after losing my old mare of 25 years,” said Ms Henry.

“He popped up as reserved and I was gutted. This happened twice but a little while later he popped up again and this time it was me who did the reserving!”

Sheila took Jack on and introduced him to driving and riding. Her friend Lacey Smith now rides him at shows while Lacey’s father Andrew is groom.

Credit: Sheila Henry

Jack rarely comes home without a rosette and one of his biggest achievements of last year was winning the traditional gypsy cob of Britain class at the Royal London Show at Keysoe, Bedfordshire, in September.

He has since qualified for Hickstead’s Royal International Horse Show (24-29 July).

“In the two years that Sheila has had Jack he has represented Blue Cross in in-hand showing, driving and ridden showing, going from a green two-year-old to a winning show horse under saddle,” said Laura Pearce, horse rehoming coordinator at Blue Cross Burford.

“We are so proud of them both for qualifying for the Royal International and will be rooting for them on 24 July.”

Blue Cross recently offered Sheila the opportunity to take on the full ownership of Jack under its ownership transfer scheme. She jumped at the chance and has thanked the charity for allowing him to become officially hers.

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“But actually, it is Blue Cross who should be thanking Sheila for giving Jack such a wonderful home,” added Ms Pearce.

Blue Cross rehomes its horses and ponies on a monitored loan basis. Following a successful loan period, the ownership of some horses can be transferred to the loan home. This enables the charity to free up resources to take in more horses who need help.

The charity has plenty of young quality horses and ponies like Jack who are looking for new homes. Visit www.bluecross.org.uk to find out more or to make a donation.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

This week’s pony special, out 7 June, features Britain’s naughtiest ponies and how to find the dream smaller equine. We also look at the pros and cons of equine treadmills, talk to showing producer Aimee Devane and have reports from the H&H Festival of Eventing, Tattersalls Horse Trials, racing at Epsom and much more

Eight-year-old Noah Roney-Billard has qualified for the BHS Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead for the second consecutive year with his home-produced pony Polaris Unicorn.

Last year Noah and Unicorn came seventh in the M&M first ridden class at the show. This year they have qualified for three classes –M&M open first ridden, PUK young riders small breeds and M&M Pretty Polly first ridden.

Noah was given Unicorn for his third birthday and they soon became best friends.

“Unicorn knows what to do for Noah and Noah understands what Unicorn is feeling,” said Noah’s mum, Josie.

Noah, who is a member of the Barlow branch of the Pony Club, lives on a small farm in Homesfield in Derbyshire between Chesterfield and Sheffield.

“We don’t have a menage so we never school our ponies. In fact the only times Noah goes into the arena is at Pony Club or when he’s at a show.

“We do all our riding in the woods and the surrounding countryside. We’re lucky to live in the beautiful Peak District National Park so there is lots of hacking with very little road work. I think that’s probably why they are doing so well – schooling will sour the pony and is boring for the child,” said Josie.

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Along with riding Unicorn every day after school, Noah also does all the chores and he taught himself to ride with a double bridle.

“He’s not your typical eight-year-old boy,” said Josie. “He mucks out and feeds the ponies and takes care of his dog and geese. He taught himself to ride in a double bridle by watching YouTube videos and mastered it in a day.”

Unicorn is also a big favourite with Noah’s two-year-old sister Delilah and his brother Wilfy, who is four.

“He’s safe, honest kind and very genuine,” said Josie. “He’s not your typical Welsh section A, he’s very small but he does the job and looks after my children and that’s what makes him very special.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

You won't want to miss a moment of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain at the BHS Royal International Horse Show (24-29 July) at the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead

Watch live action from the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain at the BHS Royal International Horse Show (24-29 July) at Hickstead via the show’s official live stream.

We had some terrible weather at the Royal International this year, which was so unfortunate for the show organisers. The team did the best they could to keep the ground as good as possible and I thought moving the fences onto fresh ground for the second round of the Nations Cup was wise.

The grass surface in the main arena held up really well and it was a great investment installing the drainage system that’s in place in there.

The Bunn family are so accommodating and make all the riders feel so at home. I have been coming to Hickstead for more years than I can remember but have never had much luck, so it was really nice to get a winner early on in the week in the Bunn Leisure Trophy on Adare.

This mare jumped in the Nations Cup here last year with her owner Paris Sellon — who is my student — so I was lucky enough to get the ride on her this time.

As the USA did not field a team for Friday’s Nations Cup, I knew I could take a shot with her on the first day without having to risk it all.

I was pleased with how she went on to jump in Sunday’s King George V Cup to finish sixth.

My other ride in the main arena was another owned by Paris called Quantas 15, who hadn’t jumped since Hamburg in May, and I was thrilled with his two seconds.

Home comforts

I am based in the UK for about eight months of the year and then spend the British winter in Florida — which is great because it means I don’t have to get on an aeroplane for almost five months.

I love being based in the Cotswolds when I’m in the UK, at my partner Mark Phillips’ Aston Farm. We have every facility you could imagine and the horses are always so happy and relaxed there.

Zara (Tindall, Mark’s daughter) is also based on the farm and we have a lot of fun working together. Mark is a great influence and, although he’s super busy during the eventing season designing cross-country courses, he’s always willing to help me out — particularly on my flatwork.

It was a great win for the Brazilians in the Nations Cup and particularly refreshing.

I love coming to shows where there is a Nations Cup — even if I’m not riding in it — I think it adds another vibe and that is what the sport’s all about.

Hickstead did clash with other big five-star shows across the world this week, but I still think people take this Nations Cup seriously.

I noticed some of the foreign riders did leave straight after Friday’s Nations Cup to go and jump at other shows. However, I don’t think it affected the weekend’s sport.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 3 August 2017

It would be so easy to mention rain and mud as the lasting memories from the Royal International (RIHS) 2017, but alas, no one can do anything about the weather. In true British spirit, everyone just had to get on with it. It was a testament to all the upgrades made at Hickstead recently that the rings and walkways lasted as long as they did. The security and ground staff should be applauded for being efficient and polite while managing difficult conditions on the stable field.

I mentioned in a column recently that I felt some old showing values had been lost in the ring and that children needed to be keener to impress. I was delighted to see that this year the judges pulled in most of the classes after the initial go- round. This kept children alert throughout the class, especially ones lower down the line if they felt that many before them hadn’t gone well.

It is also good to see how the children pulled in at the top of the line managed to keep their poise under pressure — a very good skill to possess if you are to have any longevity in the show ring.

Thinking is good

The other very positive move was the decision that there were no set shows in the pony classes. This meant children had to understand and play to their particular animal’s strengths.

I heard discussions outside the ring such as “mine has a great walk and I know I can pull off a good gallop”, and “I’m going to show off his big trot”.

It’s about time that children were thinking about their ponies and actually showing them, not just trundling around doing the same show as the one before.

This format really worked at Hickstead and it was brave of RIHS to do it, especially given such tight time constraints. It just shows that with efficient judges and stewards you can do away with set shows and still not run over time.

We welcomed the class changes that moved the mini show ponies to Wednesday, rather than having them clash with the show pony sections on Sunday. However, the actual timetabling of these classes does need looking at for next year because having two lead-rein classes back-to-back meant frantic outfit-changing for jockeys and leaders, leaving the collecting ring resembling a changing room at a Next sale.

The pony supreme came from this section, Seamoor Lady Derby. It must give the little ones such a confidence boost, which can only be a good thing.

But the other downside of the classes following on were that some of our smallest jockeys ended up being in the ring for almost four hours. As any leader knows, there is only so much “I spy” you can play to keep them entertained.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 3 August 2017

We have recently returned from an amazing holiday in Corfu which, after only one night at the RIHS (Royal International Horse Show), felt much needed. Just the sight of the sun and a temperature higher than about 10 degrees was a stark contrast to the conditions at Hickstead. To every person who managed to camp there for the full week, I salute you.

We were so lucky to have Dawn and Britt with us so that as soon as we were finished on the Sunday, mummy, Susie and I got in a taxi directly to the airport while the ponies were left in very caring hands. As a rule, I love the RIHS, however I have never seen it in weather as it was this year and so for the first time ever, I was very pleased that our stay was as short as possible.

Apart from the dire conditions, the show felt slightly anticlimactic this year, although this could also be attributed to the fact that the weather was like the physical manifestation of depression and gloom. Nevertheless, nothing felt quite as usual. The ground, for example, was horrendous due to a mixture of the rain and the fact that some genius decided to put the scurry ponies in the worker hunter ring on Saturday. This meant that the course was heavily compromised and, although the course builder did a very good job in the conditions, the course was much smaller, shorter, and without any particularly big questions as is usual for the RIHS.

Much sadder still, in my opinion, was that, so as not to ruin the ground any further, all the prize givings were done in a very small sectioned-off corner of the ring. I know that this couldn’t be helped since the ground needed to be saved in as many ways as possible, but it almost felt a bit less significant by having only a limited number of ponies back in, crammed into a box of white tape, just as at any other show you would go to all year round. The presentation at the Royal International should be an incredibly important moment. Everyone has waited for this moment all year, and the significance is so evident when you have the 20 best ponies in the country, spread out in front of you across the very centre of a ring that has so much presence itself, with the winner eventually in their own shining space at the very front. That was not how it felt this year.

Continued below…

Expand Lucy Eddis’ horsey teen blog: ‘he was brave not to get straight back on the train and flee’

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As for our own results, we were thrilled with how the ponies went with Percy just having a pole to come eighth and Cash going clear, which I was absolutely over the moon about as the RI is historically not my show. Unfortunately, even with a really clean, confident clear with no risky moments, which would usually guarantee a top five placing, it was still not my show and we were dead bottom of the clears in ninth. I know that Cash could not have gone any better but I also know that this is the way that things sometimes go, and to be honest, I am still just very pleased with my fabulous pony to have gone clear round the RI. Nevertheless, it was extremely disappointing on the day, as well as positively humiliating when, with eight places, I was the only person left at the back of the ring having to awkwardly wait while everyone else got their rosettes. This lasting memory of RIHS 2017 is probably accountable for my general cynicism of the show this year — I promise I do actually love it.

I hope you all had a wonderful RI week!
Lucy