What's their secret? 10 super-shiny showing stars who escaped the mud

Showing tips

Whether you own a grey, a piebald or a Welsh with white socks, mud will always be your number one enemy. But it seems some meticulous competitors have managed to defy the conditions and keep their steeds looking tip-top, as they headed out to the early season shows.

Get some serious motivation from these 10 super-clean show winners…

Alex Robinson

H&H showing 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 since when she has cemented its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK.

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Allied Answer

This big-moving ex-racehorse Allied Answer showed off his stunning dapples at Aintree, under usual jockey Dannii Thexton, who took the nine-year-old to HOYS in the riding horse section last term.

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Fuinesog Boy

James Whiteford and team get an A* for effort here. Their Connemara stallion Fuinseoig Boy topped his first RIHS qualifier of the season at BSPS Scotland's winter fixture, where he also headed the championship.

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Shanohah Finnley

Leading the P(UK) young riders section at Keysoe’s Valentine’s show was Angela Carter’s home-bred Highland gelding, who was ridden by Charlotte Tuck.

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Gartconnel Skytrain

Grey Welsh A gelding Gartconnel Sky Train and his mini jockey Ryley Shields looked picture-perfect as they won the mini title at BSPS Area 5's spring show, with producer Grace Mumford on the lead rein.

A champion Shire Horse stallion named Landcliffe

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Landcliffe Charlie

CHAMPION STALLION 119 Landcliffe Charlie Mr Wm Bedford

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Earlsmeadow Karas Adam

This 12-year-old Welsh A lifted the mini plaited championship with seven-year-old Olivia Banwell in the saddle at Stretcholt.

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Buddhist Punk

This dazzling piebald gelding topped the coloureds at NEDZ spring show, Aintree, under his owner Ellie Taylor. Serious mane envy!

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Ballagh Rebel

Another gleaming grey native was Melanie Morley's six-year-old Connemara, who, ridden by Tayla Lewis, won the heritage open crown at BSPS Area 5.

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Panda II

Elle Waters-Jones and her own seven-year-old stallion Panda II won the traditional gypsy cob class at NEDZ spring show.

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Ringston Rueben

At the season's first HOYS qualifier, Emma Green rode the four-year-old stallion Ringston Rueben to top the strong line-up of Shires, exhibiting his perfectly primped feathers in the process.

What’s their secret? 10 super-shiny showing stars who escaped the mud