Hunter day at Royal Windsor is always special and this year’s classes didn’t disappoint. There aren’t too many chances for promising youngsters to be shown these days, so the talent-spotters had a field day.
There were good numbers — and plenty of quality — in the novice section, where H&H columnist Katie Jerram took top honours with her lightweight winner, Gortglas Rinarinca. Known as “Ringo” at home, his name apparently means “Green field king of dance”.
Even nicer was the fact that his breeder, Co Carlow-based Sian Carson, and previous jockey, event rider Ian Walsh, had flown over for the day specially to watch.
It was their first visit to Royal Windsor and “Wow, just wow!” was their joint verdict.
Shopping was next on the agenda. Fortunately, they were flying with Aer Lingus and not Ryanair, so there would be room for a few “extras” in the baggage.
Robert Walker may have been showing for “several” (tongue in cheek!) years now but he’s still just as enthusiastic about finding and producing new young horses as he ever was.
Around the ringside, the general consensus was that the four-year-old class was one of the best for several years so he was thrilled to win with Jill Day’s Pride Of Place, a full-brother to the mega-successful contenders Pride And Joy and Party Time.
The going in the grass Copper Horse arena was absolutely spot on — last night’s rain had soaked in and taken the sting out of what was threatening to be pretty hard ground.
The organisers said they’d been irrigating too, so all came good on the day. Most of the ringside distractions have gone as well, so horses this year did not have so much to spook at – it will be interesting to see if the ponies cope better, too.
In the Castle Arena, it was great to see the open hunter class winners really going for it, and Danielle Heath thoroughly deserved the top spot with the 2011 HOYS champion, Oathill Take The Biscuit. They clearly relished every moment of their lap of honour — treating the spectators to not one, but two extra gallops. Following swiftly on, they won the ladies class too.
Regular Horse & Hound showing reporter Tricia Johnson is aghast at the behaviour she has seen from some competitors at recent shows
I can’t help thinking what a pity it is that more and more people seem to be unable to accept a judge’s decision in the showring.
There is a very apt old saying: “If you can’t take a joke, don’t go showing”. While there will always be days when a competitor feels hard done by, there are others when a win isn’t perhaps totally deserved. It all comes out in the wash in the end.
But bad sportsmanship, lack of manners or insulting behaviour is inexcusable under any circumstances. I’ve seen instances of all three recently and it isn’t a pretty sight.
I watched a competitor’s connection trying to “psych” out a judge who had her animal only fourth in a ridden class; an exhibitor storm into the ring after a class to screech at the judge who had demoted her in-hand animal when she spotted a serious conformation fault; onlookers (fellow-competitors all) who clapped and cheered when an already- distraught rider was sent to the bottom of the line after her pony refused to behave.
And that’s before you mention the increasingly vitriolic comments posted on some internet sites against judges who are now routinely accused of being “crooked” when certain competitors do not get the results they think they deserve.
What signals does this send out to younger competitors? That intimidation is the way to go and there is no need to be gracious in defeat? Whatever happened to “the judge’s decision is final?”
By its very nature, flat showing results depend entirely on someone’s opinion – not whether all the fences are left standing, or if you have gone round in the fastest time. Therefore by entering a showing ring, you are accepting this as the status quo.
No matter how disappointed an exhibitor might be, in my view there is absolutely no excuse for this kind of behaviour. Anyway, what goes round has a habit of coming round so leaving the ethics aside, it certainly won’t do any good in the long run.
A Lancashire family — and their pony — had a narrow escape when fire engulfed their lorry on the M62 motorway on Saturday evening (7 September).
Chorley-based Vincent and Cathy Mulready, and their 10-year-old daughter Pippa, were en-route to the British Riding Clubs national championships at Lincoln when they smelled smoke in the cab.
“We managed to pull over into a rest area and just as we did, flames started coming up through the floor,” said Cathy. “We rushed round and managed to get the ramp down — by now, the whole front was on fire. We managed to get the pony out and no sooner had we done this than the whole thing suddenly went up in flames. We lost everything.
“Thank goodness we only had 1 pony on board because there wouldn’t have been enough time to get 2 out.”
Luckily, a fellow Longton Riding Club member was following behind and was able to pick up the stranded family. And, within 10min of an appeal being put out over the PA after their arrival at Lincoln, piles of clothing, bedding, feed, tack, equipment — and even a tent — had been donated to the family.
“I can’t begin to express how grateful we are to these people,” said an emotional Cathy. “I have no idea who most of them were.”
There was another positive outcome too… Pippa insisted on competing and jumped a classic double clear with her 11-year-old Solloway Red Rose to help Longton to 7th place in the intermediate team showjumping competition.
Full report from British Riding Clubs championship in H&H magazine on Thursday 19 September.
The death of a popular show hunter pony (SHP) cast a shadow over the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Winter Championship show at Arena UK, Grantham, at the weekend (Sunday 4 April).
The Elliott-Grooby family’s prolific-winning 153cm contender Vaguely Venture is believed to have suffered a heart attack, triggered by a ruptured aneurysm.
The nine-year-old became unwell while competing in the ring and was taken back to the lorry park. Despite prompt veterinary attention, he collapsed and died 10 minutes later.
“We are all devastated,” said Leicestershire-based Charlotte Elliott-Grooby, 15, who campaigned him mostly in 153cm SHP ranks but had recently started to contest intermediate show hunter classes.
“We were told it was probably an aneurysm in his brain which triggered the heart attack. It could have formed at any stage in his life — possibly even as a result of worm damage when he was a youngster — but we cannot be 100 per cent sure as we have not had an autopsy.
“We only had him for one season but I have never known a kinder, more stunning horse and I was so lucky to have owned him. He took every show in his stride and I am heartbroken.”
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The Grooby family acquired Vaguely Venture from Katie White after he competed at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in 2013 — where he was fifth — and he was produced by Katy Carter.
Since joining Charlotte, he was seventh at the Royal International (RIHS) and qualified for HOYS last year, winning at Lincoln County and The Great Yorkshire Show.
He was third with Charlotte in his RIHS qualifier at Arena UK the previous day, and had booked his return ticket to Hickstead.
Vaguely Venture was also fifth at HOYS in 2011 with Katie, who campaigned him for three seasons.
“We qualified and were placed at RIHS and HOYS every year, as well as standing champion at BSPS championships, Ponies (UK), Kent County, Three Counties and Suffolk,” said Katie. “He’s the horse that will always be my favourite and the bond I had with him was so special.”
Read the full report from the BSPS winter championships in Horse & Hound magazine (16 April, 2015)
Jennifer Cowan and Waitwith Windchime, winners of the 122cm Working Hunter Pony Championship Qualifier, Moreton In Marsh Show 2013
England is to host a “full” showing international working hunter pony team competition for the first time in 15 years.
A team from New Zealand has already confirmed attendance at the competition, which will be held at the British Show Pony Society summer championships at Arena UK (26-29 August), and invitations have also been requested by Ireland, Belgium, France, Italy and South Africa.
Two teams each from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are also expected to compete.
The British Show Pony Society (BSPS) is now appealing for working hunter ponies to be made available for overseas riders.
The competition will include dressage, showjumping and traditional working hunters.
“We are hoping that our young members will not just come forward for their own teams, but also provide mounts for the visiting teams in the spirit of good competition,” said BSPS chair, Pat Pattinson.
“We have already been offered some ponies, but still need one 133cm, two 143cms and one 153cm.”
A home international — featuring teams from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales — is a regular highlight of the summer championships, but the full event, which began 31 years ago, takes place only every three or four years — hosted by a different country each time.
In 2000, the last time it was held in England, teams from Jersey, Australia and Belgium joined England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Talent-spotting/training days for England hopefuls have been held around the country, and such has been the interest that an extra date has been added: 20 June at Haddon Lodge, Haddon Lane, Ness, Wirral.
“This is a brilliant opportunity for our young members to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime occasion,” said England chef d’equipe Philip Hilton.
Vanessa Clark’s prolific-winning and much-loved Connemara stallion, Castle Comet, has died at the age of 21 following complications during emergency colic surgery.
Twice junior champion at Clifden, the dun was bought by Vanessa as a three-year-old. He was by Abbeyleix Owen out of Castle Dame.
“I saw him in Ireland and knew I had to have him,” she said. “I saved up for a year to buy him and spent the whole time praying no-one else would come along and snap him up. I would ring the owner, Henry O’Toole, on a monthly basis, sick with nerves that he might have been sold.”
Then began a glittering career for the pair. Comet was twice native supreme at the now-defunct Royal Show — once standing reserve supreme of the show. He was champion at Dublin and qualified for Olympia four years running, at the time when a pony had to stand overall champion of the Olympia ridden section in order to qualify.
He was supreme pony at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) on his sole appearance there under saddle, and is still the only pony to have stood supreme at HOYS and at Olympia. Three-times supreme at the Connemara Breed show and twice NFU overall supreme at the National Pony Society (NPS) championships, he also qualified for the HOYS Cuddy in-hand final four times.
Comet leaves a legacy of successful progeny, including 2013 HOYS winner Chilham Aquarius, 2014 Royal International victor Chilham Pursuit and 2014 Cuddy finalist Castle Emperor, who was this year’s Royal Windsor breed champion and Notts County Cuddy reserve.
“He has been my life for 18 years,” said Vanessa, who had him as guest of honour at her wedding. “He loved sweets, and we often used to ride round to the village shop where he’d stand on the pavement waiting for people to come out with sweets or crisps. Many times I’d ask my mother to go round and come out with something to give him just he wouldn’t be disappointed. I am heartbroken.”
Eagle-eyed viewers of Britain’s Got Talent last night (Saturday 23 May) might have spotted a familiar face from the show scene among the successful acts.
Swansea-based Corrin Casini (pictured far right) — a former showing rider and daughter of well-known commentator Carey Knox — is a member of an all-girl singing group called the Honey Buns.
The group earned the magic “four yeses” from the judges for their rendition of the classic Weathergirls number “It’s Raining Men”.
Corrin, 33, has also done some commentating herself and co-ordinated the music for Equifest’s evening performances last year, but she is perhaps better known on the equestrian scene nowadays as a bespoke hat-maker.
Her creations are worn by numerous lady judges on the showing circuit and are also popular among driving exhibitors — Jessie Howell, last year’s Horse of the Year Show harness final winner, was sporting an original Corrin hat, as were five others in the final line-up.
So, how did performing in front of the dreaded Simon Cowell rate?
“Riding at any large county show was always scary and had the same adrenaline rush,” said Corrin, also a trained singer with degrees in Performing Arts and Musical Theatre.
“But this was marginally easier because there were six of us, all supporting each other, as opposed to being on your own with your pony in the ring — not to mention mothers watching and telling you what to do!”
Under the über-critical glare of the top-level show judge, good looks alone just won’t cut it. The difference between being quids-in or also-rans lies in the animal’s way of going. This must be visually pleasing, but also correct for the type of animal.
From the second an animal enters the ring, its performance is under close scrutiny. Sometimes, it is the only way to make a brown hunter, chestnut show pony or black native stand out from the crowd.
“Too often, the way of going is manufactured, resulting in ponies that are uncomfortable in the position they are expected to work,” warns leading pony judge Robert Parker-Jones .
“If they have good conformation, they need very little artificial production and, if left alone, they will perform well.
“Those with less-than-perfect conformation can be improved if ridden in a sympathetic and correct way.”
When it comes to way of going, each showing judge knows exactly what he or she wants to see, and what they don’t.
Here, 6 judges share their pet hates on the topic
1. Tim Wiggett
“An animal ambling into the arena looking disinterested, ears back, swishing its tail and giving the impression that it does not want to be there.”
2. Rachel Bown
“Welsh ponies — particularly cobs — being forced into unnaturally fast trots. They are invariably being put out of their natural rhythm, over bent, on their forehand and making a noise due to their windpipe being so constricted.”
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3. Robert Parker-Jones
“Ponies rushing round the ring; overbent animals struggling for their heads; hurried transitions; overcollection in the walk, a running trot with no engagement of the hindlegs; canter overcollected and too slow, and ponies not lowering and lengthening the stride in gallop.”
4. Joanna MacInnes
“Connemaras — or any M&M — being asked to do a hack show.”
5. Jayne Ross
“Shows that are choppy and disjointed.”
6. Richard Ramsay
“Overbent horses that are behind the bridle and behind the leg.”
Fly The Last Flute and Sandra Burton, winners of the Mountain & Moorland Ridden Championship at Olympia 2013
He’s been judging for years, but this is the first time Rodger James will assess the Blue Chip British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Heritage mountain and moorland championship at Olympia.
Taking place on Monday 21 December, it is the pinnacle of excellence to which most native competitors aspire.
Here Rodger reveals what he is looking for, critical mistakes he hates to see and why keeping up with a fast-moving schedule can be overwhelming for some riders.
Q. How long have you been judging and on which panels?
A. I have been a Dales Pony Society judge for over 20 years. I’m a longstanding member of the national pony society on the M&M – including working hunter pony – panels and more recently I was invited onto the New Forest, BSPS Heritage and Ponies (UK) panels.
I also steward at lots of shows – including for the Shetland Pony Performance, Connemara Pony Society, New Forest plus Dales/Fell/Highland shows – and I find this most enjoyable; I also think we can always learn and stewarding for others allows this opportunity.
Q. Why do you think native ponies are so popular now?
A. I think the main reason is that young riders don’t have a ‘fixed term’ with them, plus the range of ponies across the breeds gives scope to children and adults alike.
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Q. Have you judged at Olympia before?
A. No, although I’ve had ponies competing there and I have also stewarded back of house.
Q. What do you see as the principal challenge(s) facing competitors at Olympia?
A. There are many challenges facing them – including keeping the ponies’ coats and extending their season. The atmosphere behind the scenes is electric and quite pressurised as timing is paramount; this in itself is a huge thing for Olympia first-timers – others at least will know what to expect.
Q. What do you like to see in the ride/performance?
A. First impressions are important. I like to see a good walk with the pony tracking up, and a balanced rhythmical trot going within the individual breed standard; I don’t like to see any of them being forced. I am always mindful of what a pony was bred for – particularly when seeing it in canter. I like a pony with exuberance and quality and the ‘must’ for me is a pony going within its breed standard.
Q. What will cost marks?
A. Bad manners from ponies and people; a pony’s way of going which doesn’t meet its individual breed standard; poor transitions and exhibitors who don’t make the most of the ring in their individual show.
Q. What do you feel is the one standout ‘must-have’ in this class for you?
A. For me a pony should have the “wow factor” – and go within its breed standard.
Q. Do you have any tips for the riders?
A. Jockeys should appreciate the strengths of their pony and use these to their best advantage. Then, just show your pony and enjoy the moment – qualifying to compete at Olympia is an achievement in itself.
Q. What is your background, Rodger?
A. I was brought up on a farm where working horses played an integral part, and I earned my pocket money working part time on a point-to-point yard – it was hard work, but it was enjoyable and a good learning curve.
I got back into ponies when my two children started riding and competing and, after having had several part-breds, we bought our first pure-bred native – a Welsh Section D. Our first Dales pony was Lucy of Hoye, a true all-round pony, and she got us hooked on the breed.
Q. What you would be best known for?
A. Some of our most successful Dales ponies were Abdylane Nancy, who went to Olympia four times and was best of breed once; Dartdale Peter Boy who, like Nancy, qualified from the breed show – a major feat in itself – and several home-bred Penmire ponies who have not only excelled in the show ring but also competed in dressage, long distance riding and concours.
I also enjoyed great success with Nancy and Peter in-hand at county level and we broke both of them – plus others – to harness. We enjoyed competing, culminating at the British Driving Society championships at Smiths Lawn, Windsor. Although we’ve only had a limited involvement with plaited ponies, Chasecroft Tip Top, a 138cm pony we bred, was placed in his show pony class at HOYS this year.
Olympia: the judging format
The judging format is unique. Each competitor’s performance marks are displayed on a screen above the arena, but their conformation score is kept secret until the afternoon finale. This leads to huge suspense before the champion is announced. The conformation judges are Len Bigley and Henrietta Knight.
Tomorrow: Top tips from Len Bigley
Don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine’s Olympia report, on sale Thursday 24 December 2015
Thorough training and preparation, good behaviour and being true to its breed type. Len Bigley, who will assess conformation in the Blue Chip British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Heritage mountain and moorland championship at Olympia on Monday 21 December alongside Henrietta Knight, reveals the criteria their winner will fulfil.
Q. How long have you been judging and on what panels?
A. Over 40 years for the national pony society (NPS) — plaited and M&M — Welsh Pony and Cob Society, British Show Pony Society, Coloured Horse and Pony Society and British Show Pony Association.
Q. What particularly appeals to you about natives?
A. They are family friendly. They tend to have laid back temperaments, which means you can just get them out of the field and ride them, even after long spells of rest. This has led to a huge growth in their popularity, which is wonderful for the native breeds.
Q. Is there a downside to their rise in popularity?
A. There has been a trend towards losing traditional breed characteristics such as substance — it is essential that traditional breed standards are followed by judges or we will blur the lines between the individual breeds and end up with a universal M&M pony.
Judges should immediately be able to recognise and reward animals that would fit into their native environment. It is very tempting for a judge to emphasis the riding qualities at the expense of native type – particularly in such things as size and refinement.
Q. Have you judged at Olympia before?
A. Once before when the competition was run by the NPS.
Q. What do you see as the principal challenge facing competitors at Olympia?
A. After a long and hard season – I think that many tend to do too much nowadays – it is not easy to produce polished animals who are still enjoying the show ring in December.
Q. What will you be looking for when you are judging at Olympia?
A. Breed type coupled with breed quality – by which I do not mean refinement. I expect to see natural movement and good feet/limbs. I will be looking for excellence within conformation but you have to remember the conformation of an Exmoor, for example, is not the same as a New Forest pony.
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Q. What do you hate to see and what would you mark down?
A. Lack of limb. I also hate to see animals forced out of their natural paces.
Q. What is the one ‘must-have’ in this class for you?
A. Animals should be instantly recognisable in breed type and be within their breed standard.
Q. You will be judging conformation. Do you have any tips for the exhibitors?
A. Judges only have a very short time to assess a pony, therefore it is essential that riders have taken time to train their animals to stand up in the correct manner as quickly and as calmly as possible. It is surprising how many exhibitors neglect this vital training.
Q. What is your equestrian background?
A. Together with my wife, Ann – and now children Simon and Catryn – I have been breeding and showing for more than 50 years under our family’s Llanarth prefix. We’ve shown everything from Welsh breeds and pure- and part-bred riding ponies to in-hand and ridden hunters.
We’ve had major in-hand victories at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) – we have qualified for the Cuddy supreme in-hand championship some 45 times and been supreme overall three times with home-bred animals. Our riding pony stallion Llanarth Alleycat — who is now in his twenties and himself a HOYS in-hand champion — sired the 2014 and 2015 supreme horse Broadshard Simplicity as well as this year’s small intermediate victor Llanarth Fairplay.
Ponies of Llanarth breeding have also competed under saddle successfully at both HOYS and Olympia – Lady Vestey’s Kentchurch section Ds, who originated from Llanarth stock, have contested Olympia no fewer than 20 times.
Olympia: the judging format
The judging format is unique. Each competitor’s performance marks are displayed on a screen above the arena, but their conformation score is kept secret until the afternoon finale. This leads to huge suspense before the champion is announced. The performance judges are Rodger James and Martin Jones.
Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s Olympia report, on sale Thursday 24 December 2015.
A call for guidelines on suitable weight limits for showing riders who compete on small ponies received overwhelming support at The Showing Register’s (TSR) “Future of Showing” debate at Stoneleigh on Sunday (21 February).
Currently, a rider’s age dictates the size of plaited ponies they can partner, and there are no restrictions in native ranks, where small breeds such as Welsh section A and Dartmoor are often ridden by adults.
A statement from World Horse Welfare expressing general concern about overweight riders prompted debate organiser Gail Chapman to include the subject.
“It’s not a question of ‘if’ showing will have to regulate itself on this issue but ‘when’, so now is the time to talk about it,” she said.
“The welfare of the animals must always be at the forefront of any decision.
“There is a belief that rider weight isn’t an issue for small natives because traditionally, they carried farmers on the mountains. But as some people have pointed out, this was off the bridle in a straight line — as opposed to modern schooling methods, which place entirely different stresses on these ponies.”
The subject had already prompted considerable response on the TSR website.
“As soon as it went live, we knew we had a scorching hot topic,” added Gail. “We’ve had more than 120 comments both for and against the need for regulation.”
After lively debate from the floor, the practicality — and possible health and safety repercussions — of implementing and policing set weight limits was rejected as unworkable, and the vote advising society-issued guidelines instead was carried unanimously.
Tony Tyler, of World Horse Welfare, will take the TSR’s findings to the National Equine Forum in London (3 March).
“The issue of rider weight is currently attracting considerable interest across the entire equine community,” he said. “Riders must be aware of the limits of their animal’s weight-carrying capability.”
Debate panel member Sandy Anderson, head of Horse of the Year Show organiser Grandstand Media, has bred Welsh section A ponies for many years.
“I breed ponies for children to ride and my personal view is that I don’t like to see adults on them,” he said.
“It’s up to the societies to decide their policies but from a showing point of view, it’s all about the overall picture and the judge has the power to demote any inappropriate combinations.”
A number of would-be showing competitors at Royal Windsor have fallen foul of the Easter Monday (March 28) entry closing date — including high- profile producers.
Julie Templeton and John Harvey, who would between them have fielded 22 animals, were among “around 20” exhibitors whose entries were returned.
Team Harvey’s Beatrice Taverner-Jordan, three, was due to make her show debut in a lead rein class.
“Her mother, Greer [Taverner], went into labour at the show three years ago so we always planned for Beatrice to have her first ride here,” said John Harvey.
“Plus it’s a show we always aim for and haven’t missed in 20 years. Previously, the Windsor secretaries have been probably the most helpful on the circuit.”
Julie Templeton, another long-time supporter, had entered 10 ponies. “We posted ours on the Saturday, but they obviously didn’t arrive until the Wednesday,” said Fiona Wallace of Team Templeton.
“The children are bitterly disappointed – it is the one show they all want to ride at.”
There will be another notable absentee from show pony ranks. Alexandra (Po) Fowler’s Broadgrove Only You has been champion at Windsor for the last four years, but Po was another whose entries arrived late.
“I wanted to take three ponies, but I’ve no-one to blame but myself,” she admitted. “However previously, the online entries were always open for another two weeks.”
Entries secretary Sarah McWilliam said: “Due to Her Majesty’s 90th birthday celebrations which are taking place in the evenings, there are huge pressures on our timetable this year.
“For this reason we have had to be very strict with the closing date and have not accepted any late entries – regardless of who they are from.
“We kept the online entries open until first thing on Tuesday morning (29 March). We also accepted all entries that arrived in the post that day, but anything that came in after that was sent back.”
Water-logged and muddy areas around the stables and lorry park for the carriage drivers during Wednesday of the Royal Windsor Show, in the grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in the county of Berkshire, UK on 11th May 2016
Organisers of Royal Windsor Horse Show were forced to cancel day one of the prestigious event due to severe flooding in both the public and lorry parking areas.
The decision was taken at 5.45am and news posted on the show’s website and Facebook page.
Show director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “Obviously it is a huge disappointment for competitors and visitors, particularly as it was Windsor Wednesday — our free entry day — and we were expecting a large number of visitors.
“However, if we can keep the car and lorry parks workable, we will be ready for action for the next four days of the show.
The main arena and the Frogmore are all-weather surfaces and the grandstands are covered, so the show itself is pretty weatherproof.”
It is not the first time the show has been hit by flooding. In 2003, the last day was abandoned and in 2012, car parks were closed and classes cut back in order to preserve the ground and allow the weekend’s events to take place.
Water-logged and muddy areas around the stables and lorry park for the carriage drivers during Wednesday of the Royal Windsor Show, in the grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in the county of Berkshire, UK on 11th May 2016
Showing classes lost include the prestigious novice and open hunters, which were due to start at 7.15am.
Reigning double champion Robert Walker, who travelled from Cheshire yesterday, said: “It’s very sad, as it’s one of the main targets of the season for our hunters, but it’s fully understandable as the lorry park is under water.”
Water-logged and muddy areas around the stables and lorry park for the carriage drivers during Wednesday of the Royal Windsor Show, in the grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in the county of Berkshire, UK on 11th May 2016
Because the news was rapidly shared on social media, many competitors already en route were able to turn round and go home, but several others had wasted journeys, including Jo Bates, who travelled from Oxfordshire, and Allister Hood, who came from Norfolk.
The locally based Bardo/Ross team were also caught out. They were to have fielded 11 animals today and arrived moments after the decision had been made. Their lorry was towed on — only to be towed off again.
“It’s devastating for organisers and competitors alike, as so much work has gone into everything – some of our owners set off at 4am today from Yorkshire,” said Jayne. “Luckily we could hack there tomorrow if we have to!”
Organisers of The Queen’s birthday celebrations said on Facebook: “It is with great regret that the organisers have announced that, due to the poor weather conditions over last night which have continued into today, the preview night has been cancelled.
“We apologise for this disappointment and we assure you that this decision was not taken lightly.
“If you have passed any tickets on to your family or friends we would be grateful if you could let them know of this decision.
“Any car parking which has been purchased for this evening will be refunded automatically.”
A young show rider is preparing to lose her treasured tresses in public this month to support the Little Princess Trust and Children with Cancer UK charities.
Lewes-based Matilda Clutton, seven, contests open show hunter pony classes and is a lead rein finalist at the Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead (26-31 July), with her beloved pony Knivers Keepsake.
She has long blonde hair, but following a conversation with her mother, Laura, about cancer and what a devastating illness it can be, she offered to have it cut in order to raise funds for the cause.
“We decided to grow Matilda’s hair as long as we could and donate it to the Little Princess Trust,” said Laura.
“Children who have lost their hair due to treatment can have the opportunity to wear real hairwhile their own grows back.
“Matilda has always cherished her hair and loves to play her favourite character Elsa from Frozen – her blonde locks being the focal point for her – so this is not a decision she took lightly!
“I wasn’t actually sure she’d do it, but in the last couple of months she has asked repeatedly if her hair was long enough to cut.
“Now it is, her hairdresser is coming to Hickstead on 30 July to do ‘the chop’ after Matilda has competed on the Wednesday.
“We’ve been asking people to sponsor her, and have so far raised more than £240. There’s still time to pledge, so we’re asking for more support.”
Matilda has been making headlines in the ring too.
“She was third in her first county open 122cm recently, which was a Horse of the Year Show qualifier,” said Laura. “We are over the moon as it’s a big ‘ask’ for a first year first ridden jockey. She was second in her lead rein qualifier too – only just missing a ticket.”
For more information, email laura.clutton@btinternet.com, or to donate, click here.
One of showing’s most iconic collaborations has come to an end as Carol Bardo has announced that Moor Farm – the base of five-times Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) supreme horse championship winner Jayne Ross – is on the market and will no longer be home to any show horses.
Moor Farm owners Bill and Carol Bardo have announced that they are retiring and so the complex, near Maidenhead, Berks, is for sale with immediate effect.
“It’s a huge place to run and we have decided that enough is enough,” said Carol, who confirmed that no horses will be produced at Moor Farm next season. “Together with Jayne, loyal supportive owners and dedicated hard-working staff and friends, we have enjoyed the most wonderful years competing with some of the most beautiful show horses.
“However we fully intend to continue being part of the showing world through sponsorship and owning some horses.”
left to right: producer Jayne Ross and owner Carol Bardo
Since beginning as a commercial production base in 2005, the yard has sent out no fewer than five Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) supreme horse champions: Soldier Brave, The Philanderer, Comberton Clancy and Broadshard Simplicity (pictured top) – who won twice – as well as Royal International supremes and numerous county show winners.
Jayne is determined to carry on, however, and is looking for a new base.
“I totally understand the Bardos’ decision as it’s a massive undertaking with holiday and long-term rental cottages as well as the horse side, but I’m not ready to finish yet,” she said.
“I am looking for somewhere else – perhaps nearer Lambourn as I want to stay on the M4 corridor for various family reasons – and have thrown a few balls in the air. We’ll just have to see where they land.
“It’s been a fantastic era but everything has to come to an end. It’s been a very lucky place for me and I’ve been very happy here, but everything changes.
The countdown to next year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) has begun for showing competitors, with the announcement of the judges who will officiate in 2017.
British Show Pony Society (BSPS) national chair Pat Pattinson will judge the horse and pony supremes with BSPS executive officer Joy Hall.
Both ladies served as marking stewards in the-now TopSpec (formerly Caldene) showing arena since the show moved from Wembley to the NEC in 2002, and retired from their posts after the 2015 show.
“We are extremely honoured and very excited to have been asked to judge the supremes,” said Pat, also a panel judge for more than 20 years. “We are delighted to see the enthusiasm that people have for competing at this show – and indeed in showing across the board. To win a supreme title at HOYS has to be the pinnacle of anyone’s showing career, so it is an enormous privilege for us to be in a position to decide it.”
The names of the Cuddy (in-hand) judges were kept secret last year and revealed only at the show – a move described by Grandstand chief Sandy Anderson at the time as: “Just an idea to get people talking and speculating, all contributing to the element of suspense and excitement.”
However this has now reverted to the usual procedure and next year’s judges will be Scottish Borders-based Pat Stirling and Beverley Daffurn, from Gloucestershire.
A five-year plan has come to fruition for the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) with news that the River Lawn will only be used for “a handful” of showing classes next year (25 to 30 July) .
Although centrally located near the international arena, the River Lawn has been criticised in the past for being unsuitable for large classes – especially in wet conditions such as were experienced last year.
The 2017 show will see almost all classes – including the massively popular mountain and moorland sections – moved to other areas such as ring seven, where much work has been done and is still underway.
However, the move has meant an extensive revamp of the timetable – full details of which are not yet available – and some clashes are expected to occur as a result.
“The move has been a long time in the planning,” said showing director David Ingle. “It’s not something that could have been done quickly as we had to make sure other infrastructure was in place – such as the new walkway we introduced last year at a cost of more than £100,000.
“It does mean that the majority of the showing will take place in a centralised area and we believe this will help competitors, officials and spectators too. It is inevitable that there will be some new clashes in the timetable but we are trying extremely hard to wriggle the classes around in order to minimise any conflicts.”
The showing judges for 2017 have also been announced. They are:
Tuesday 25 July
Coloureds: Mathew Lawrence, John Harvey, David Hodge, Daniel Park
Wednesday 26 July
Lead rein, first ridden, lead rein of show hunter type: Ann Brickell, Jodie Briers
Show hunter ponies: David Machin, Liz Murfitt
Pure bred Arabs: Maria Pook
P(UK) young riders M&M ridden: Jackie Webb, Davina Whiteman
Thursday 27 July
Ladies’ hunter and amateur riding horse: Jill Wormall, Rosemary Morris
Hunters: ride lightweights – B Sturgis; middleweights – Jo Bates; heavyweights – Paul Cook. Conformation – The Hon Hopper Cavendish
BSPS Heritage M & M: Vanessa Clark; Heather Prescott
BSPS Heritage M & M lead rein & first ridden: Russ Owen, Kathryn Lloyd
Friday 28 July
Amateur hunter: Nigel Fuller, Jane Hubbard
Working hunter: Sara Leatherbarrow, Sue Rawding
Riding horses: Jane Bradbury, Tim Wiggett
M & M working hunter ponies: Jo Jack, Roger James
Saturday 29 July
Small hunter: Wendy Gibson (ride), conformation TBC
Hacks: Martin Skelton, John Maynard
Intermediates: Joanne Say, Linda Cadman
Pretty Polly, Heritage lead rein and first ridden: Marilyn Ludlow, Pat Pattinson
Miniatures: Jocelyn Price
Part bred Arabs: Nancy Graylen, Simon Somers
Maxi cobs: Sara Leatherbarrow, Jackie Beatham
It’s the ultimate showcase for our wonderful native breeds, but standing out from a strong field at Olympia’s Blue Chip British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Heritage mountain and moorland championship is a tough task.
Which judges will be making the big decisions this year and what will they be thinking?
In the first of a two-part series, performance judges Sharon Thomas and Kevin Walker share their top advice.
Judge one: Sharon Thomas
What do you like to see in the ring?
“I don’t have one particular must have. I am judging an overall performance and I never close the door, putting marks on or taking them off. I judge it as a whole.
“I love to see a well-balanced pony covering the ground and carrying itself in a free, natural pace, bearing in mind its breed type.
“It should have a purposeful walk and all paces must be generated from the hindquarters. I expect to see a correct halt, exhibiting good manners, with an overall presence and a take-me-home performance.”
What are your pet hates?
“Disobedience and overbent ponies that are evading the bit.”
Any tips for the riders?
“I don’t see there is one overriding principal challenge – the whole competition is a challenge for the best pony on the day to succeed as champion. However, I would advise the riders not push too hard – and enjoy the ride.”
A little bit about Sharon…
Sharon used to show native breeds with her children at top level, and is a starred panel judge for ridden and working natives as well as show, show hunter and working hunter ponies. She is show director for the BSPS Heritage show, and a member of the show committees for the winter and summer championships. She also sits on the BSPS judges’ assessment committee.
“I have a passion to try and help with my judging to encourage the breeding of each mountain and moorland breed, keeping them true to their historic breed type and movement,” says Sharon.
“This will be the first time I’ve judged at Olympia and I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Judge two: Kevin Walker
What do you like to see in the ring?
“I would expect to see a Welsh section B and a Connemara, for example, to have a way of going which is long and floating in action compared with that of a Dales or Welsh cob, which has a more high-stepping action.
“A Dales should show the soles of its feet from behind before touching the ground. A Highland would not be expected to go extravagantly as it is built as a pack animal; it should move purposefully and be sure-footed.
“Animals that excel in their way of going and give a fluid and mannerly show will catch my eye; I will be looking for star quality to win.”
What are your pet hates?
“Animals that dish.”
Any tips for the riders?
“Look as though you are enjoying yourself and try not to get stressed by the sense of occasion.”
Kevin, from the Brynoffa Stud in Mold, North Wales, has been a starred panel judge for the Welsh Pony and Cob Society since 1992 and has also been on the National Pony Society (and BSPS panels for many years. He has bred section As and Bs since 1977 and judged extensively in the UK and abroad.
“At Olympia, I will be keen to establish whether exhibits are going according to the expected standards of their respective breed. At this level of competition, expectations will be high and one would be expecting to see polished performances throughout,” says Kevin.
Come back next week for top tips from the conformation judges.
Don’t miss H&H’s live coverage of the BSPS Ridden Mountain and Moorland Championship at Olympia on Monday 19 December, starting at 9.30am, and the full showing report in the 22 December issue of Horse & Hound
You might have a beautifully moving native pony, but they have to stand up to conformation scrutiny in the show ring too. Last week we revealed what Olympia’s performance judges will be looking for during the Blue Chip British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Heritage mountain and moorland championship on Monday 19 December. This time, conformation judges Stephen Howard and D Price Jones explain what they want to be presented with.
Judge one: Stephen Howard
What do you like to see?
“We must retain the breed differences and not just allow a modern day hybrid to creep into the mountain and moorland classes. For me, breed type has to be right up there. The most disappointing result would be to see a nice pony win because it’s gone well and is okay conformationally, but isn’t really a good example of the breed. You want the winner to be a great example — not just a nice pony.”
What are your pet hates?
“Ponies must be able to move straight. It’s very basic, but so many are badly shod or trimmed, and their feet and legs go every which way. As this is Olympia I’m hoping for perfection, but I understand that some of the older campaigners might have the odd lump or bump. Personally, I’d far rather live with a manmade bump – such as a splint – than a true conformational defect like an offset cannon.”
Do you have any tips for the competitors?
“I dislike bad manners – and that includes the riders – and if the ponies won’t stand up, walk away and trot back without too much trouble at this level it’s a bad job, give or take a little for Olympia nerves and excitement.
“Some handlers do not help as they run their ponies out of their natural rhythm and make things worse. So I would say make sure you know what’s going on and present your pony accordingly.”
A little bit about Stephen…
Stephen is from Boston Stud, North Yorkshire, and has bred section Bs for over 40 years. He has also point-to-pointed, hunted and evented.
Stephen has been a Welsh Pony and Cob society judge for 25 years and is also on the BSPS Heritage and National Pony society flat and working panels. He has judged widely in the UK and around the world.
“This will be my first time judging at Olympia and it is an honour to be part of it,” says Stephen. “I am only too aware of the cost and dedication it takes to keep an animal up to bring it forward in good shape in December.
“To me, one of the main challenges facing the exhibitors is getting the right amount of work into the animals, when you only have limited working-in available in central London. For those riders who work, the sudden onslaught of dark nights doesn’t help in the run-up preparation so those who get it right need to be congratulated.”
Judge two: D Price Jones
What do you like to see?
“Quality ponies which move freely under saddle, are true to their breed type and have plenty of good bone. They should look as though they could take a child on to do anything. I also want to see acceptably-sized jockeys who are in proportion to their ponies.”
Do you have any pet hates?
“Ponies that go over-bent, have spindly legs inappropriate to their type and poor conformation in general.”
He is from the Towy Valley Stud, Carmarthenshire, and breeds Welsh Bs and riding ponies. He has been judging for more than 20 years and is on the BSPS and WPCS panels.
Don’t miss H&H’s live coverage of the BSPS Heritage mountain and moorland championship on Monday, 19 December, starting at 9.30am.
