Samuel Walker follows in his father’s footsteps in the Rotherwood Stud Intermediate Show Hunter of the Year Championship

Samuel Walker, son of showing producer and multiple HOYS winner, Robert Walker, rode Jill Day’s Carnsdale Wise Guy (Guy) to success in the Rotherwood Stud Intermediate Show Hunter of the Year Championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

The duo has a combined age of just 20 years; Samuel is 15 and Guy just five. Dad Robert rode the Irish Sport Horse in the Small Hunter Championship at HOYS last year, and Samuel also rode him in this class earlier in the week; his first adult championship here at HOYS.

Sarah Walker said the win was “unbelievably emotional”. “We bought him as a raw three-year-old from Shelly Argyle and he just has the most amazing rhythm and movement,” she explained.

Sam has won at HOYS once before in the Show Hunter Pony Championship. They compete again on Sunday in The Binks Family 153cm Show Hunter Pony of the Year class and already have their ticket for the Ruckleigh School Supreme Pony of the Year.

Alice Homer rode Kay Campbell’s six-year-old Church Rock Cashel into second.