11 victorious native ponies you need to see in the show ring
A Welsh section C who survived breaking two splint bones, an Exmoor pony found on a conservation site and a Fell whose conformation couldn’t be faulted — here are a selection of natives who recently got the nod from the judges in the show ring.
Bricklefield Jack
This Welsh section B beat 22 other mountain & moorland (M&M) ponies to take his Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket and stand overall champion at the National Welsh Championships (7 August). The seven-year-old is owned by Lynette Bates and was ridden by Kimberley Bates.
Winwood Midnight Star Ruby
Alison Wooderson’s section C winner at the National Welsh was piloted by Stephanie Peto. The pony’s comeback to the show ring has been emotional for all connections, as Ruby broke both splint bones as a four-year-old and was out of action for 18 months.
Kyregate Peter Pan
This lovely Welsh section A headed the 122cm line up at Stoneleigh (12-14 August) with nine-year-old Ruby Ward in the saddle. Ruby was following in her family’s footsteps as her mother, Kelly, and sister, Emily, both scored wins at this venue when it hosted The Royal show.
Bracklinn Jackpot
This nine-year-old scored 50 out of a possible 50 marks for conformation en route to topping a strong HOYS Fell class at the NPS summer championships (2-4 August). Ridden by Hayley Reynolds, Bracklinn Jackpot also lifted the Linnel Cup for the best Fell, Dales or Highland exhibit and headed the open ridden final.
Kilimazing Realtor
Another winner at the NPS summer championships was this beautiful grey, who stood native working hunter champion with Sarah Field.
Cargarsar Silver Phantom
More than 200 native ponies descended on Great Yorkshire Show (12-14 July) for the ridden M&M classes, and Katy Marriott-Payne piloted Sarah Dowdeswell’s six-year-old section C stallion into the top spot.
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Inverin Paddy
This typey five-year-old Connemara stood Pretty Polly (home-produced) supreme champion at North Of England Summer Pony (9 July), ridden by 13-year-old Isabella Worthington.
Northlight Coppelia
This 10-year-old Welsh section B is owned and ridden by Kate Williams and stood open ridden native champion at the NPS Summer Championships.
Menai Cardi Llwyd
Peter Jones’ 11-year-old stallion is HOYS bound after heading a 24-strong class and standing overall HOYS M&M ridden champion at the NPS area 25 summer show (12 July).
The Welsh section D, from a Menai Stud line that dates back to 1914, was ridden in the ring by Peter’s son, Thomas.
Cymythan Easter Express
After being initially pulled in seventh in his first class, this Welsh section C gelding went on to stand supreme ridden champion at Royal Norfolk (29-30 June), earning £500. Ridden by Vicki Myronidis, Easter Express is owned by Kim Gough and produced by Justine Armstrong-Small.
Warrenmere Woodcock
This Exmoor pony stallion has been in the ribbons several times this season, including taking the silver medal at the NPS championships and standing ridden M&M champion at Herts County (28-29 May).
Ridden by Elizabeth Etchells and owned by Mary Bryant, the eight-year-old was originally bought as an unhandled two-year-old from a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds conservation site in Suffolk.
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Aimi was responsible for Horse & Hound’s showing, pointing and veterinary pages, as well as assisting with eventing content. Aimi also edited Horse & Hound’s popular occasional magazines, Ask The Vet and Ask The Trainer. She is the former deputy editor of Eventing magazine. She left Horse & Hound at the end of 2017 to take on new challenges in the publishing industry and is now editor at Your Horse.