Vicky Smith and Royal Illusion in the Riding Horse Championship during Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10 - 14th May 2023
Don’t worry if you couldn’t attend the 2023 Royal Windsor Horse Show this year as we’ve got you covered with our gallery of exceptional winners who lifted the highest titles in the show rings across the four days of action:
1. Randalstown Aristocrat
Jayne Ross riding Randalstown Aristocrat in the Martin Collins Enterprises Cob Championship during the Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10 - 14th May 2023
(Image credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show / Peter)
Lisette Roberts’ novice winner trots to the reserve champion spot in the overall cob championship under Jayne Ross.
2. Veuve Clicquot
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Olivia Minihane jumps to the intermediate working hunter class en route to lifting the overall working hunter pony championship, after standing reserve in 2021.
3. Stoneleigh Showtime
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Helen Davies’ six-year-old 128cm contender is foot perfect in the Castle Arena to take the show pony accolade for Izzy Walker.
4. Stage Diva
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The first-season six-year-old, who is owned by Annabel Pope, takes the part-bred Arab honours with Hannah Horton at the helm.
5. Royal Illusion
Vicky Smith and Royal Illusion in the Riding Horse Championship during Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10 - 14th May 2023
(Image credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show / Peter)
The small riding horse contender gives Vicky Smith a first Royal Windsor riding horse tri-colour for owner Paul Mortimer.
6. Red Rock III
Janay Atherden riding Red Rock III in the Martin Collins Enterprises Cob Championship during the Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10 - 14th May 2023
(Image credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show / Peter)
Janay Leeman goes for the gallop on her lap of honour after securing the cob championship title, just 24 hours after she’d ridden the prolific gelding to the top spot in the coloured championship.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
7. Peerless
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Lucy Bywater’s six-year-old intermediate lands the Pretty Polly title on the final day of the 2023 Royal Windsor Horse Show.
8. Noble Gladiator
Eleanor Hirst riding Noble Gladiator winners of the The NAF Five Star Heavyweight Working Hunter during the Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10 - 14th May 2023
(Image credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show / Peter)
After being the bridesmaid in 2022, Eleanor Hirst’s heavyweight working hunter wins his class and the overall working hunter championship.
9. Newoak Midnight Blue
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Adam Forster leads the reigning HOYS lead rein hunter pony of the year and Scarlett Smith, six, to the mini pony crown, for owner, Scarlett’s grandmother Naomi Bradwell.
10. MHS Morning Master
Mhs Morning Master in the Hunter Championship during the Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10 - 14th May 2023
(Image credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show / Peter)
Aimee Stunt takes the reins from her boss Robert Walker to triumph in the hunter championship riding Jill Day’s winning lightweight.
11. Buddist Punk
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Ellie Taylor’s home-produced traditional gelding is crowned senior ridden pony champion.
12. Imperial Ruby
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
After winning his class for the third consecutive time, Sar Cassidy-Hill’s ex-racehorse, ridden by Sarah Gwilliam, secures the Tattersalls Retraining of Racehorses ridden accolade.
13. Greylands Maid At Sundown
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Emma Andrew’s 133cm contender and Georgina Storey triumph in the show hunter pony championship.
14. Full Cry
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Robert Walker gets a fine tune out of Jill Day’s four-year-old on their lap of honour after clinching the novice hunter championship.
15. Forgeland Hyde Park
Danielle Heath riding Forgeland Hyde Park in the Count Robert Orssich Hack Championship during the Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10 - 14th May 2023
(Image credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show / Peter)
Just the day before he won the intermediate championship with Issy Mears, the gelding took the large hacks and section championship with Danielle Heath for the second time in a row.
16. Field Aston Royal Ark
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The Anders family’s elegant four-year-old steals the novice show pony championship with Sofia Anders.
17. Bellissima IV
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Reserve for the intermediate championship is Ellis Taverner-Burns aboard Keeley Handelaar’s small show riding type.
18. Litton Perfection
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Frank Newbould takes reserve in the mini supreme with Jane Lindsay’s winning first ridden.
19. Barkway Sweet William
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The show pony lead rein campaigner is a winner for owner Patrick Ahern and rider Arabella Pickles.
20. Noble Peppermint
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The current HOYS supreme pony of the year is crowned reserve working hunter pony champion for Elsie Lynch.
21. Bronheulog Gold Dust
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Anna Clarke’s 122cm show hunter pony is put through his paces by Anya Dewey Clarke, en route to finishing reserve in the hunter pony championship.
22. Cipriana
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Jade Hateley reclaims the pure-bred Arab honours, this time riding her family’s 2022 HOYS runner up.
23. Whiteleaze Pollyanna
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Lilly Richardson’s second win of the show is achieved when she is in the saddle of this 128cm novice show pony.
24. Thistledown Velvet Touch
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The Pretty Polly M&M championship is awarded to Rosie Lear’s home-produced lead rein mare and Naomi Lear.
25. Towergate First Impression
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Tabitha Hughes scores the Pretty Polly M&M first ridden class with her mother Miranda Hughes’ gelding.
26. Thorneyside Guardsman
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Katherine Marks and her home-produced Welsh section D enjoy a bumper show, winning their Pretty Polly section as well as their London semi-final class.
27. Shanbally Legacy
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Claire Oliver and Susan Granger’s small hunter return to the 2023 Royal Windsor Horse Show and reclaim the class title they won last term.
28. Happy Valentines
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Phoebe Price, 21, and Heather Rothwell’s riding horse are the winners of the ladies’ show horse class.
29. Seabourne Silent Valley
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The ladies’ hunter class is captured by Francoise Babington and her horse of a lifetime, who was winning the title for the second time in his career.
Issy Mears is top of the maxi cob field with her own gelding, who was taking to the Windsor centre line for the fourth time in his career.
32. Bloomfield Greystones & Glenkeeran Dance In The Deep
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Reserve in the amateur hunter championship, Bloomfield Greystones and Rose Bailey (left), stood by the champion, Gleenkeeran Dance In The Deep and Camilla Stowell Davies. Both horses beat off stiff competition on the first day of the 2023 Royal Windsor Horse Show.
33. Solaris Dwenqua
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Charlotte Merrigan Martin and her coloured mare score reserve spot in the senior ridden horse championship.
34. Coppinshill Celebrity
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Anna Cayzer’s daughter Alicia Cayzer wins her first Windsor championship with the family’s Dartmoor pony, handled by John Harvey.
35. Clockhouse Painted Lady
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The eight-year-old coloured mare takes the coloured in-hand title for home-producer Michelle Ayling.
36. Seaborne After Dark
Seaborne After Dark in the Riding Horse Championship during Royal Windsor Horse Show, held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor in Berkshire in the UK between 10 - 14th May 2023
(Image credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show / Peter)
Gary and Paula Merton’s novice victor is crowned reserve riding horse champion on his Royal Windsor debut.
37. Blazara
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Kimberley Roberts’ 20-year-old makes light of the senior ridden horse field to scoop the championship.
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
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.
