A Connemara pony who has competed at top level in the show ring for numerous years is shining in his new role as a Pony Club pony.
Heather Carey’s Walstead Guinness and 11-year-old Harry Clark were recently spotted turning their attention to the world of Pony Club mounted games.
Harry’s mother, Vanessa Clark, bought Guinness in 2016 and she enjoyed many victories with him, including qualifying him for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and London Olympia, before selling him to Heather in 2020. Guinness, also champion at the BSPS championships during his career, has returned to the Clark family on loan.
“We are so lucky to have him back,” says Heather, who also noted that the versatile gelding has been to HOYS as a junior ride. “He arrived back in February and while it’s a very new partnership, Harry and Guinness are getting on so well. I always thought they’d make a lovely combination, but at the time [of selling] I thought he was too good to just be our fun at home pony.”
Guinness lifting the restricted championship at the BSPS Heritage championships in 2018.
(Image credit: trevor-meeks-photography.co.uk)
Walstead Guinness’s show ring experience ensures he fares well on the Pony Club circuit.
“Harry has done some dressage with him, too, but he does absolutely everything so well, and with a smile on his face,” said Vanessa. “Harry has come off a Dartmoor pony and a Connie is a big step up, but Guinness always has his ears pricked and he gives 100%. He’s such a happy and safe pony.”
“Guinness’s forte is halt to canter, which means he’s ideal for games as he can just set off from a stand still.”
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Harry is a Blankney branch of the Pony Club member.
“Guinness does the bending, flag race, ride and lead and the sack race, and he seems to enjoy them all,” Harry explains. “He’s such an easy pony, and he goes into games like he does anything else. At home we do a lot of hacking and I’m looking forward to getting him out to a show soon, too. He’s a brilliant pony.”
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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.
