As 2022 comes to a close, join us in celebrating the wonderful achievements of these showing horses who left us this year. They provided so much joy to their connections and secured a number of championships between them.
It wasn’t possible to include every horse in this piece, but our thoughts are with connections of all horses that died during 2022.
WORKING HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPION
364 BLOOMFIELD INCOGNITO
R: Kelly Ward
(Image credit: Steve Dawe)
The Aloa Cruise-sired working hunter won at Royal Windsor and the Royal International in 2021. “Cruz” was owned by Cheryl Farrow and ridden by Kelly Ward, and also had success as a lightweight hunter with Leon King. “He had that look-at-me quality you need,” said Kelly. “He was a show horse with a jump, not a jumping horse tidied up. He was one of the most careful horses I’ve ever sat on.”
Trelawn Playboy (30 years old)
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The McWilliams’ 138cm show pony “Piper” was one of two ponies to lift the RIHS overall supreme title, when ponies competed against horses – in 2001. He also took the 1996 HOYS pony of the year title.
Jerome Harforth’s influential stallion, “Skippy”, was the first British riding pony imported from Australia.
He sired numerous winners as well as being a successful in-hand pony himself. He was a HOYS finalist under saddle with Lucinda Elliott, who also campaigned him in novice dressage. The part-Welsh Skippy became known for stamping his progeny – which include riding horse champion Times Square III and RIHS show pony winner Rotherwood Royal Flight – with ground-covering movement.
“His flamboyant, light, elastic movement was a wonderful feature,” said Jerome. “He enjoyed nothing more than showing off his amazing extravagant trot – he knew he had it!”
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62 Georgina Wilkes and MEXICAN SUMMER - Ladies Hunter S1 - The British Show Horse Association National Championship Show, Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Buckinghamshire, Thursday 7th September 2017.
(Image credit: Nico Morgan Media)
Georgina and Nicola Wilkes’ adored show mare Mexican Summer died aged 14.
“Mexi” competed at top level as an intermediate, a small hunter and as a ladies’ ride, winning at HOYS and the RIHS in ladies’ ranks, and she also stood second as a small hunter at both major championships. In 2018, she took the intermediate show hunter of the year title at HOYS with Miranda Wallace, and in 2021 she was second in the same class with Gary Parr. Mexi won accolades at all major shows, including Royal Windsor, the national side-saddle championships, the BSPS championships, Midland Counties, Lincolnshire and the BSHA national championships, among others.
Terri Gregson and Walstead Page Boy win the young rider championship at the RIHS in 2015
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Robyn McGee’s Connemara gelding won the open Connemara and New Forest final at the RIHS in 2013, won at HOYS in 2014 and was M&M young rider champion at the RIHS in 2015, partnered by Terri Gregson.
Penny Hollings’ prolific home-bred 153cm show hunter pony contender won HOYS and the RIHS in 2009 as a five-year-old and reigned on the circuit for many more seasons.
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Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor
Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
