The 2018 show season didn’t start out as it will end for one rider, who will be making her debut at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) next week.
In January, Rebecca Orr lost her pony of a lifetime, the Welsh section B gelding Anri Romance (Thomas). After taking Rebecca into county level showing and giving her the first taste of show ring success — including taking the coveted novice mountain and moorland title at Cheshire County Show in 2013 — Thomas was sadly struck down with laminitis.
Rebecca’s good friend Ashleigh Jones said that this meant Thomas was unable to continue his season and was consequently retired temporarily from showing.
“After a long battle, Rebecca made the heartbreaking decision to part with him at the start of this year which left her wanting to no longer compete,” said Ashleigh. “She was ready to give up as he left a huge gap in her life.
“However, she is so determined and works so hard that she persevered with her other section B ride, Julia Owen’s Anri Mr Percy, who Rebecca has had for the past three seasons, taking him from a novice right through the open ranks.”
(Image credit: NO CREDIT)
Rebecca has shown ‘Percy’ since she broke him in 2015 and some of their career highlights including landing the novice championship at the National Welsh Championships in 2015.
This term the pair qualified for the Royal International on their first attempt and in August at Denbigh and Flint Show dreams were made when the pair were called top of huge Welsh section B Horse of the Year Show qualifier, giving both pony and rider their first Birmingham pass.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“I will never forget his little face, beaming from ear to ear...”
Ashleigh continued: “The bond Rebecca has developed with Percy throughout the season is amazing and to see her hard work pay off has brought so much enjoyment back to her. Rebecca puts in so much hard work into her ponies. This achievement is so well deserved and we are very proud of them both.”
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday
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.
