New Careers for Working Hunter Pony Winners on Day Three of HOYS

Day three of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) opened in the TopSpec Arena with the National Pony Society/Mole Valley Farmers Working Hunter Pony of the Year classes judged by William Fox-Pitt MBE and Chris Lawrie from Australia.

Watching the ponies and riders tackle David Cole’s course, William said: “I’m very impressed with how well the horses are going… It’s a good hunting course with lots of questions.”

All of those questions and more were answered by the judges’ overall Champion and winner of the Intermediate Section, Plato VD Donkhoeve, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood owned and ridden by Philippa King. This was their first HOYS win and a particularly special moment for Philippa’s last year in Intermediates.

Philippa bought the bay gelding as an unbroken three-year-old after seeing that he could really jump. The pair show jump in Foxhunter classes, but there were a few hurdles to overcome on their way to where they are now, including a dislike to water trays.

“He’s been quite naughty,” said Philippa, “but it’s all come together over the last couple of years with lots of hard work and perseverance. It [the talent] was always in there; it was just getting him on side, but he likes to show off so we got there in the end!

“I think William [Fox-Pitt] liked him – he called him ‘fancy pants’! It was so nice to have someone like William judging the class.”

From the largest to the smallest, the Reserve Champion was the winner of the 133cm Section Rachel Bailey-Hawkins’ Piebald mare Precious Gem II. The 17-year-old pony is currently on lease to Sharon Chadwick-Watts for her daughter Felicity and this is their first year competing at this level.

Speaking earlier today Felicity said: “She’s really fun to ride and loves to gallop. She lit up when she went in there and found it all really easy.”

Rachel’s daughter Beatrice has enjoyed numerous wins with the mare since they bought her in 2020. They missed competing at HOYS together last year as Beatrice broke her arm, but Sharon says she is “the most consistent, reliable pony ever and much loved.”

The 153cm Section saw a pony rounding off its first year of Workers in true style. Paul Isaac’s 10-year-old mare Lady Jamie was bought just under a year ago and she and Abigail “instantly clicked”. The combination impressed on all accounts today to take the title. The mare had never set foot in a working hunter ring before Abigail had her.

Another of today’s winners new to the world of Working Hunter was the 143cm winner Maeve Kennedy’s Connemara gelding, Little Dromin Phoenix, ridden by  14-year-old Evie Kennedy. Together for two years, Evie has introduced the former show jumping pony into Workers and claimed that “just to qualify was a dream come true.” They travelled from Northern Ireland to be here today.

The SEIB Search for a Star Championship series gives amateur riders, and their horses and ponies, the chance to try and qualify for HOYS and benefit from a thoroughly supportive network in the process. This year’s judges were JJ Kemp from South Africa for the ride and Chris Hunnable and Katie Jerram Hunnable.

Overall Champion was the Show Hunter of the Year winner Redshaw Valentino, ridden and owned by Samantha Lea. Samantha has owned the seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse since he was four. He did a few shows as a four-year-old and then Samantha had a baby last year so it’s been “a light couple of years just starting him off.”

She added: “It was magical – you don’t expect this from such a young horse, but he’s got such a good head on him. He’s so special to me.

“I’m hoping he’s going to be a nice Worker one day and maybe a Ladies horse because he’s got such a lovely temperament; he’s like a giant Labrador!”

The Traditional Cob winner took the Reserve spot; Beacon St James ridden and owned by Lauren Woodward. At just five years old, Lauren was not expecting to qualify the gelding for HOYS this year.

“He was broken last year and we took things slowly. He went to his first show in March and then entered the qualifier at Stoneleigh for experience for next year, but he ended up winning it, so it was very unexpected!”

They enjoy hacking, schooling and pole work together at home. “We try not to do too much as I still want him to enjoy his job, which I think he does,” said Lauren.

The full list of class winners is as follows:

Traditional Cob: Beacon St James ridden and owned by Lauren Woodward

Working Show Horse: Thurlow (Harley) ridden by Karen Tennent and owned by Robin Vestey

Working Show Pony: Little Miss Flintstone ridden by Lexi Eccles and owned by Shelley Harvey

Riding Horse: Carrhouse Deal Me In ridden and owned by Kristie Short

Hack: Polydamos ridden and owned by Katy Llewelyn

Show Cob: Darrowby Ajax ridden and owned by Carla Hainsworth

Show Hunter: Redshaw Valentino ridden and owned by Samantha Lea

Over in the world of Scurry racing, today is the penultimate day of the Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry of the Year rounds before the Championship on Saturday evening. With just one more round for the large ponies to come this evening, one lady is dominating the leader board.

Alison Osborne has won both small rounds with Osborne Refrigerators Woody & Buzz and the first large round with Osborne Refrigerators Chip & Dale, also beating her own times by almost a second each round. Hot on her heels is Jemma Millman who has finished second in all three rounds with her small ponies Tigger & Owl and large pair Piglet & Roo.

In 2019, Alison was untouchable in every round and went on to take the Championship. Time will tell if history is set to repeat itself. 

ENDS  

For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2024, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk