Isla Smith and Sutton Grange Fancy That claim the New Horizon Plastics Ltd Supreme Show Hunter Pony Championship at the 2026 Agria Royal International Horse Show
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves Photography)
Fourteen-year-old Isla Smith crowned a memorable return to Hickstead by claiming the New Horizon Plastics Ltd Supreme Show Hunter Pony Championship aboard Sutton Grange Fancy That (FT) at the 2026 Agria Royal International Horse Show.
The 15-year-old, owned by mum Laura Smith and produced by Craig Eleanor and Sarah Parrott, qualified for the supreme after winning the New Horizon Plastics Ltd 143cm Show Hunter Pony Championship for the second consecutive year. Having finished reserve supreme in 2025, the south west Scotland combination returned to go one better and secure the overall title at Hickstead.
”It was incredible pressure coming back after winning the section last year,” said mum Laura, ”Last year Isla and ‘FT’ were still a relatively new combination, but after another year together they’ve really grown as a partnership, and this year they managed to go one better.
“As a mum seeing your child ride in the main ring is something very special and I’ve been fortunate to see it twice.”
Judge Jayne Brace’s view
“The gallops were excellent”
Ride judge Jayne Brace
Ride judge Jayne Brace praised the quality of the hunter pony classes and the depth of competition in the championship.
“We were looking for proper hunter ponies, with a leg in each corner, and we found quality throughout the classes,” she said. “The gallops were excellent and the standard was exceptionally high.
“When the eight champions came together, they were all true to type and made for a lovely championship. We wanted something that really moved forward, and the champion, the 143cm winner, if you blew him up could easily have been a lightweight hunter.”
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
RIHS New Horizon Plastics Ltd Supreme Show Hunter Pony reserve champion
Reserve supreme honours went to Scarlett Davis aboard the seven-year-old Brynteg Llwynau Red Rose, owned by Charlotte Davis, after the Rochdale home-produced combination won the New Horizon Plastics Ltd 153cm Show Hunter Pony Championship.
“We’ve only had her since October and this is her first season,” said Scarlett. “We qualified for Royal International at the BSPS Winter Championships and then qualified for HOYS at the Scottish Horse Show a few weeks ago.
“She was bred by Jessica Pritchard and was actually supposed to be a coloured, but when she was born solid Jessica gave her to us on trial. We’ve completely bonded and now we do everything together.”
Kim is a Scotland-based freelance equestrian journalist who writes for Horse & Hound and The Scottish Farmer, reporting from many of the UK’s leading showing championships, including the Royal International Horse Show, Horse of the Year Show, Royal Highland Show and Royal Windsor Horse Show. Alongside her journalism, Kim produces and campaigns show ponies for her daughter, Charlotte, giving her first-hand insight into the sport from both a competitor’s and reporter’s perspective.
