A morning of strong competition culminated in the Jacksons of Yorkshire Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony of the Year Championship on the second afternoon of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
It was an emotional Championship win for Amy Canavan-Smith riding her own Clonfert Melody’s Boy (Dave) having won the 143cm section earlier in the day. The seven-year-old stallion by I Love you Melody has been with Amy since a foal, making the win particularly poignant.
“John [my husband] bought him for me as a Valentine’s present six years ago… and I knew he always had this win in him. I’m so proud of how far he’s come,” said Amy.
Amy has enjoyed numerous HOYS successes, but perhaps most consistently in the M&M working hunter classes, notably winning on her other Connemara, Laburnam Richard, in 2017 and 2019. He had 12 consecutive years at HOYS up until this year, as Amy has now stepped him down a little.
“To come back on another pony I’ve made myself from a foal clarifies for me that I’m not a one trick pony and I can make Champions, and that means everything to me”, said Amy. “I’ve done everything with [Dave] myself from the beginning. I’m absolutely elated with him.”
Exmoor ponies stole the show early on in the TopSpec Arena with two centre line moments for this rare but extremely versatile breed.
The first was crowned Reserve Champion after winning the Junior 122cm section; Katherine Bowling-Hartenfeld’s nine-year-old Exmoor mare Anchor Lullaby (Lulu) with daughter Alice, aged eight, in the saddle. Lulu and Alice competed here last year in their first year as a new partnership.
Katherine also rides Lulu and finished fifth in the Open class yesterday, showing the true versatility of the breed.
“I’m feeling blown away,” said an excited Alice. “I’ve never ridden in there [the main arena] before.”
In the 122cm section, Exmoor gelding Moonpenny Delphinus took the honours owned by Debbie Barker- Runiewicz and ridden by HOYS first-timer daughter Molly Barker, who was “ecstatic” to take the win. Debbie previously rode the 14-year-old pony to HOYS victory in 2022, but handed the ride to Molly this year following an injury. Debbie also owns his sire Moonperry Aquarius.
Chloe Tyler’s Welsh Section C, Dycott Special Delivery, delivered the goods for jockey Georgia Love with a win in the 133cm section.
Finally, 11-year-old Connemara gelding Highland Des secured first-time HOYS wins all round in the Exc. 143cm section: for himself in his first worker season and first time at HOYS; for his owners Georgina and Issy Williams; and also for producer Rachel Turner who rode him in the ring.
“I’ve produced about 15 HOYS winners but never actually ridden one myself,” said a delighted Rachel. I’m so pleased for his owners, their input is amazing.”
Alan Marnie’s stunning grey gelding Highview Overado showed maturity beyond his years to take the Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year Championship with Jayne Ross in the Andrews Bowen International Arena.
The six-year-old, known as Reggie, was purchased by Alan in July this year. Having competed at HOYS with his own horses for many years, today marked Alan’s first individual win as an owner working with his own team of producers.
A delighted Alan said: “It’s a big win for me and a big win for our team.”
“[Reggie] is a beautiful, well-shaped horse. He’s got everything going for him… stands well, very forward, clean limbs… he’s my type of horse.”
Reggie qualified on his third time out with Jayne at Bucks County Show, after narrowly missing out with two seconds.
Jayne said: “I’m thrilled to pieces! He hasn’t done many shows and has just got better and better every time. He went in there today like an old pro.
“Sometimes with these younger horses you go in there and they’ve got that lovely innocence about them, which just allows them to open up and go… he caught the judges’ eye and quite a few people’s eye today.”
Undoubtedly Reggie has a bright future ahead of him, but he also has little trait akin to the celebrated Twinshock Warrior (Bernard) who Jayne piloted to Show Hunter Champion and Supreme Horse of the Year in 2019, as she explains:
“[Reggie] was a little bit surprised when they all left him on his own [for the lap of honour] and he had a whinny. That was a Bernard trait – he used to winnie when they all left him as well, so it’s rather sweet!”
Reserve Champion was Morean Hamilton’s nine-year-old bay mare Annaghmore Huntress ridden by Kirstine Douglas.
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2025, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
Image: Amy Canavan-Smith riding her own Clonfert Melody’s Boy CREDIT 1st Class Images
