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Royal Windsor hack judge Adele Hanson reveals what she’s looking for – and hoping not to see – in the ring

Bethan Simons Bethan Simons

    • Adele will be judging the 2026 hack championship and she shares her advice in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers

    The trophy for the hack championship at Royal Windsor, the Count Robert Orssich Challenge Cup, is one of the most coveted among show horse producers and riders. This year, the task of deciding who wins this prestigious trophy falls to Adele Hanson who will assess their ride, and her co-judge, John Cutts, who will be assessing the conformation of each exhibit.

    So who is the 2026 Royal Windsor hack judge Adele Hanson? And what will she be looking for in the ring?

    Adele Hanson’s background in showing

    “I was brought up on a farm so my parents always had horses and bred them,” says Adele. “My first pony – Joansey — bucked me off daily and she was the one that really taught me to ride. My dad said I wasn’t allowed to have another pony until I learn’t to ride that one, and that’s where I learnt determination and perseverance”.

    Adele had a natural introduction to showing.

    “My parents did a lot of in-hand showing with the youngstock they bred so we were regularly at shows growing up,” she explains.

    As a girl, Adele enjoyed considerable success in the show ring, predominantly in the working hunter pony ranks.

    “I’m led to believe I’m the only rider to have been national BSPS working hunter pony champion two years on the trot on two different ponies when the final was held at Peterborough and before the workers went to Horse of the Year Show,” Adele reveals.

    After graduating into the horse workers, Adele and her multi-garlanded Omegas Boy were supreme champion two years on the bounce at the Royal Agricultural Show netting a cool £2,300 from both wins. She’s also enjoyed championships at several other leading fixtures, such as Royal Cheshire County and Great Yorkshire, and posted solid results at HOYS.

    However, her 2024 working hunter championship at Royal Windsor with The Top Drawer stands out, not least because the pair’s photo graced the cover of the 2025 Royal Windsor catalogue.

    “It was just the best,” she asserts.

    Adele Hanson and her horse The Top Drawer were working hunter champions at Windsor in 2024

    Adele and The Top Drawer stand working hunter champions at Windsor in 2024. Credit: Fiona Crawford

    Adele’s judging experience

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    Bethan Simons
    Bethan Simons

    H&H showing editor
    Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.
    Bethan Simons

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