12 native ponies we wanted to take home this show season
Here are 12 hairy superstars we wanted to steal and take back to our own yards this show season…
1. Pillheath Prince Charming
Brook Kehoe and her own Welsh section B stallion secured their first ticket to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at the Royal Highland Show in July.
2. Ballagh En Vogue
The Hall family’s Welsh section D yearling was crowned M&M in-hand supreme and overall NPS silver medal champion at Lincolnshire County show.
3. Thistledown Snowstorm
As well as standing junior Heritage champions, Talia Aristodou and the nine-year-old Welsh section A stallion trotted to the overall reserve supreme M&M title at the 2019 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).
4. Greenholme Warbler
Claire Wigley’s 15-year-old stallion came out of retirement this season to win his HOYS classes at both Lincolnshire county and The Great Yorkshire with Katy Marriott-Payne in the saddle.
5. Crusheen Shadow
The six-year-old Connemara and Abby Macey stood top of the RIHS junior ridden championship at Ponies UK spring classic.
6. Wells Reliance
The 11-year-old Shetland, owned by Harry Sleigh, clinched several titles during the season, including taking the Sanderson Trophy at the Royal Highland Show.
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7. Southerton Jasper
Helen Jeans’ Dales took home a HOYS qualification and the section reserve at Derbyshire Festival with producer Jess Talbot.
8. Betws Onid
The three-year-old Welsh section A colt landed his first Cuddy ticket this season as well his section title at the National Welsh championships.
9. Stuffynwood Daffodil
The overall supreme at NPS Area 4 was clinched by Everett Hayes and Sarah Nobles big-moving Dales mare
10. Dunmere Glayvar
The Dartmoor stallion took his RIHS open ridden qualification at South Suffolk show.
11. Gloves Blakehill William
Ella Kivlochan rode her own Connemara gelding to clinch his Olympia place at the BSPS summer championships
12. Wagtail Echo
Karen Shield led the stunning youngster to land the foal championship at the NPS Area 4 summer show.
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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.