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‘I knew he would look after me’: decorated flat pony proves his mettle, and lands Windsor working hunter title

Millie Bowles Millie Bowles

    • A super-successful Welsh section B jumped to victory in the mountain and moorland (M&M) working hunter pony (WHP) championship at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

    Maisie Kerry-Oates rode her mother’s Cadlanvalley VIP seven-year-old Cadlanvalley Royal Bronze (Ozzy) to top the 133cm class en route to the overall 2026 Windsor M&M WHP title.

    “Honestly I couldn’t ask for a better pony,” said Maisie. “He’s just so versatile in everything he does. His flats he loves, but he also loves his jumping.”

    M&M buffs will be more accustomed to seeing Ozzy in the flat ring, where he has had some notable victories, including standing junior M&M champion at both the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).

    The pair were also champion performance pony at the London International Horse Show (LIHS) in 2024, before landing the highest junior award and best of breed in fourth at the 2025 final.

    But over the last few seasons Ozzy, who is produced by Katy Marriot-Payne, has also turned his hoof to fences and quietly gained ground, qualifying for HOYS and London over fences last term.

    Maisie, 13, said: “We started jumping as just a bit of fun along with the flats and never thought it would reach qualifying for HOYS and RIHS.”

    This was Maisie’s first time in the workers at Royal Windsor.

    “They are ponies and at the end of the day – they can do anything – but I knew he would be a good boy and look after me in there,” she said. “Honestly, I did not expect to be champion.”

    Producer Katy added: “She’s brought him through from the novice ranks on her own as well. All their jumping classes have just been Maisie and him together. They’ve come through from the novices all the way to winning here so it’s a really big deal.”

    At home, she added, Ozzy has a cheeky side, but his young rider knows him “inside and out”.

    Reserve in the 2026 Windsor M&M WHP championship went to Vee Taheri-Sinfield and her own New Forest pony Nutschullyng Little Monty, who were second to Maisie and Ozzy.

    Also competing for the sash were Vikki Smith riding Penny Sutton’s 143cm winner Lovelyhill Folklore, the 122cm class winner Delami Bravado, ridden by Poppy Rowlands, and the winners of the exceeding 143cm class, Jemima Jewson and Culmore Cooper.

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