{"piano":{"sandbox":"false","aid":"u28R38WdMo","rid":"R7EKS5F","offerId":"OF3HQTHR122A","offerTemplateId":"OTQ347EHGCHM"}}

Milton crowned horse H&H readers would love most to ride


  • If you could ride any horse, past or present, who would it be?

    That was the question H&H posed to readers last week, and the response was vast.

    The resounding winner, however, was John Whitaker’s legendary partner Milton.

    In a survey on Twitter 30% of H&H’s responding followers chose the mighty grey as their dream ride.

    John Whitaker secured the ride on Milton in 1985 and the pair became a stellar combination. They were mainstays of British Nations Cup teams, and when the grey retired in 1994 he’d amassed more than £1.25m in prize money, the first in the sport to cross the million-pound mark.

    Dual Olympic gold medal-winning dressage star Valegro was the runner up with 24%.

    Diminutive showjumper Stroller scored 12%, while Charisma, Mark Todd’s gold medal-winning Olympic eventer, took 7% of votes.

    Arkle, Desert Orchid, Istabraq, King William, Classic II, Big Ben, Frankel, Imperial Cavalier and Murphy Himself all received 3% of votes.

    Meanwhile on Facebook fans were also championing Milton, Valegro and Stroller.

    “Definitely Milton — my bedroom walls were plastered in posters of him as a child. Saw him at Olympia in his retirement parade and cried my eyes out,” said Facebook fan Emma Featherstone.

    While Sophie Ray added: “Milton, didn’t even have to think.”

    Ryan’s Son, Red Rum, Aldaniti and Secretariat also got several favourable mentions, alongside H&H’s very own equine blogger Hovis.

    In this week’s issue top riders including Lucinda Green, William Whitaker, Jennie Lorriston-Clarke and Richard Dunwoody, reveal which horse they wish they’d had the chance to ride.

    Find out who the stars would pick in the new issue of H&H magazine, on sale tomorrow (Thursday 11 June)

    You may like...