‘He’s been through a lot in his short life’: pony defies the odds to stand champion
Six-year-old Burghwallis Rainbow Warrior overcomes serious health issues to stand coloured champion at the Great Yorkshire Show
Native type coloured pony Burghwallis Rainbow Warrior defied his odds and won a cracking coloured championship at the Great Yorkshire Show.
He was ridden by his owner Lucie Gordon Burgess, who had already steered him to win their class at The Lincolnshire to pick up a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket, only to go one better and stand champion coloured at Harrogate.
Lucie has had the six-year-old since he was three, and had lightly shown him until this season.
“He was backed and ridden away, then left to mature over winter and did a handful of novice shows in 2024, then again last year.
“He has come out this year completely on form after a tough start to the year with me moving bases and setting up completely on my own.”
The pair have also qualified for the Royal International Horse Show and London International Horse Show.
His rise through the ranks is all the more special to his team as he incurred a catalogue of issues as a youngster.
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“He was a red bag delivery and never stood up for the first 24hrs of his life; vets thought he had neurological problems or some sort of toxin in his body as he really wasn’t well,” Lucie said.
“He came through it only to have major stress laminitis from the stress of weaning from his mother. As a yearling he was castrated and got the most horrific infection , which led to lots and lots of antibiotics which in turn gave him grade four gastric ulcers at 14 months old.
“He’s been through a lot in his short life and he really doesn’t know how special he is; he’s the happiest little pony.”
Reserve for the coloured championship at Great Yorkshire was Gail Conroy and Gillian Richardson’s Hykos Valentino (Finn), piloted by a beaming Anna Teague, 14, who had earlier netted Anna’s first HOYS pass in the non-native pony division.
“We have been lucky to have Finn on our yard since he was an unbroken four-year-old, and he first qualified the following year,” said Anna’s aunt, Jennifer Cowen.
This will be Finn’s third NEC trip.
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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.