Not only do they have to be exceptionally bold and brave, but a working hunter also has to be brimming with quality and presence to excel in this competitive section of the showing world.
The tracks we witnessed during 2019 were more challenging than ever. But which one of these 10 winning workers would you trust to take your around a sizable rustic course?
1. Atlantic Slim
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The Collins family’s 2018 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) working hunter champion took the overall working hunter supreme at the Royal International (RIHS) in July with Rory Gilsenan at the helm.
2. ABC Little Rock
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After winning the novice class the previous year, Ginny Rose piloted her own gelding to jump one of two clears and win the Cuddy working hunter qualifier at Lincolnshire county.
3. In Contention
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The long journey from Scotland paid off for Clare Pearson who bagged her first HOYS working hunter ticket with her own 11-year-old home-bred who is by Converter. The duo also won at the Royal Highland show this year.
4. Bloomfield Incognito
WORKING HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPION
364 BLOOMFIELD INCOGNITO
R: Kelly Ward
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Kelly Ward topped a competitive working hunter championship at Hambleton with Cheryl and Susan Farrow’s Aldato eight-year-old.
5. Heads Up
in the Cuddy Working Hunter of the Year Championship during the Horse of The Year Show at the NEC in Birmingham in the UK between the 2nd - 6th October 2019
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Event rider and producer Hayden Hankey rode the five-year-old Irish Sport Horse — who he jointly owns with Catherine Witt — to secure the Cuddy working hunter of the year accolade at the NEC in October.
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6. Port Philip CE
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The scopey grey made light of the HOYS track at North Of England summer show to give Michaela Bowling her golden ticket.
7. Hardingville Sunrise
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The seven-year-old mare by WRS Sun Rich captured the novice working hunter class before landing the overall section title under Libby Cooke at the National Hunter championships
8. Carlingfords King
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Justine Armstrong-Small clinched top honours in the working hunter championship at Windsor with her prolific flat contender.
9. Ballymurphy Alice
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Jill Wormall collected her first Cuddy senior working hunter ticket at the Great Yorkshire with her seven-year-old mare.
10. Parkmore Rowan
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Barbara Beercock’s nine-year-old gelding — who is by Russell II — gave Allan Birch a winning ride at Derbyshire Festival in July.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
