New mum Isabella Mears Wood’s charming coloured lightweight cob Mr Vincent successfully defended his 2025 crown and lifted the Surrey Envelopes British Show Horse Association (BSHA) supreme cob champion at the Agria Royal International Horse Show (RIHS), piloted by producer Danielle Heath.
“For a cob to be able to be steady and safe for me, then also be able to step up to be a show cob and champion here two years in a row is really special,” said Isabella, who welcomed baby Arthur into the world six weeks ago, and who hopes to take back up Vincent’s reins next term.
Isabella initially found the 11-year-old – who also posted a second win at Windsor earlier this term – after posting an appeal on Facebook for a horse to hack and enjoy at home.
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Former owner Nigel Fuller found him in Ireland and responded to Isabella’s post. After a lesson with Danielle, his producer proclaimed him a future star.
“I told her, ‘you’re not keeping this’,” she laughed.
He’s since more than proved her right, always going about his job with an undeniably sunny outlook and loving a buzzy atmosphere.
“He’s a pleasure to ride in the ring because he’s a little showman, so you don’t really have to do a lot, you just sit there and he does it for you. To have the full package – conformation and brain is really rare, and he’s got it all. Each time he goes in the ring he loves it even more.”
In reserve for the cob championship was the second-placed lightweight reigning Hickstead Derby Meeting champion, Redy, Steady Eddie, produced by Katie Jerram-Hunnable and ridden by his owner Caroline Mackness, who was understandably delighted.
“I was hoping to be in the top five but to be second to Danielle – I’m over the moon with that,” said Caroline.
Also in the championship were Will Morton and former Windsor champion Bannview So Smart, and Oliver Hood aboard the reigning Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) champion Carters Top Gun, first and second in the heavyweight division respectively.
Will Morton piloted Rosamund Lane’s Monarch In The Mist (Jack) to a second victory on the bounce in the Rogers Truck Services BSHA maxi cob final.
The 10-year-old by Fintan Himself, out of Maries Dancer, enjoyed a second championship at Royal Windsor, too, earlier this term.
He’s another undeniably jolly cob to watch, and again, wasn’t initially aimed at the show-ring. Instead, the Lane’s purchased him from a photograph where he was jumping a 4ft hedge, and they fell in love, sending him straight to Will for production.
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