A renowned Welsh section A pony, who has won the Royal International (RIHS) on five separate occasions with five different jockeys, has cemented his reputation as a true mini pony.
Blisland Echo — who is simply known as Echo at home — enjoyed a day out at the Thurlow Hunt’s opening meet with his nine-year-old jockey Ness Kerr.
Echo, who is now 11, has won at the RIHS as both a junior ridden pony and as a first ridden. He was placed second in the mountain and moorland (M&M) first ridden final at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) last year and was also crowned mini supreme at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Heritage championships in 2018 (below).
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The Kerr family have owned Echo for two years and during the show season he is produced by Craig Elenor and Sara Parrott at their yard in Yorkshire.
“Echo is the perfect pony to have at home,” says Ness’ mother Lisa Kerr who is based in Newmarket and is local to the Thurlow. “He’s having a break with lots of hacking and hunting when we can get out.
“Even though he’s so quiet you never know how they’ll be out hunting, but he was absolutely brilliant. Ness and Echo just slotted in behind me and didn’t move all day. He even jumped all the jumps; you forget he’s so small but I’d look behind me and his little legs would pick up and take off.”
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Lisa’s older daughter Kate — who rode Echo during 2018 and 2019 — was also out following hounds.
“I can’t keep up with Kate these days and she’s always way ahead of me,” laughs Lisa. “Echo loves his job and he perked up the same as he does in the show ring. He thought it was a special day out just for him and he was striding out all day with his ears pricked.”
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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.
