Latest from Horse & Hound in Judges

‘It’s the attention to detail that makes the difference’: Royal International judge shares his advice for competitors

Bethan Simons — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:00:13 +0000

Martin Jones has been tasked with officiating two sections at this year’s Royal International Horse Show: the jump phase of the mountain and moorland (M&M) working hunter pony finals, and the conformation phase of the mini M&Ms.

Martin’s co-judges are Sara Hird and Emma Hector respectively. With just days to go, Martin shares an insight into what he will be looking for in the ring.

Martin Jones’ background in horses

Martin has been involved with ponies all of his life.

“As children, my sister and I had our own ponies, which we enjoyed taking to Pony Club, riding club, gymkhanas and hunting. We were very much grassroots competitors, attending local agricultural shows, and so I didn’t really get into showing properly until I was in my twenties and began keeping my own broodmares and so on,” says Martin.

After leaving school, Martin went to Millfields in Newmarket, and under the tutorship of Anne Rolinson, he gained both his British Horse Society intermediate instructor’s certificate (BHSII) and National Pony Society diploma in stud management (NPS Dip).

“While working in Newmarket, I had the fortune to visit and work at some of the major thoroughbred studs and benefited from the teaching of both the renowned vet, Peter Rossdale, as well as the late Colonel Gray, director of the National Stud,” says Martin

His first love has always been the British Riding Pony though, and he “was fortunate enough” to work for Liz Mansfield-Parnell at her Rotherwood Stud.

“I learnt so much about the successful production, breeding and showing of world class ponies, where standards were always the highest and only perfection would do,” he recalls.

Latterly, Martin worked in the banking industry, breeding British Riding Ponies under the Landemann prefix, with a small, select number of mares, chosen for their bloodlines as well as their pony characteristics, movement and good temperaments.

Several of his mares enjoyed successful ridden careers previous to motherhood, and their progeny have continued to shine under saddle.

Landemann Peony, for example, is a former supreme champion at the BSPS championships, and Landemann Bird Of Paradise claimed the show pony championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in 2024.

“I’m delighted to have bred show ponies to win at HOYS and the RIHS,” says Martin. “But being presented with the Bwlch Valentino trophy – a beautiful bronze first presented by the Eckley family in 1968 – for breeding the champion show pony at HOYS was a bit of a dream come true. If you breed show ponies, it’s the trophy you want to win, so to have it on my dining room table for a year was a real thrill.”

Since his semi-retirement, Martin has been more heavily involved with the NPS, having served many terms as a council member over the past 30 years or so. He is currently the vice-chair of the society, having held the chairman’s role for three years previously. He’s also an active member of his own area – NPS Area 29.

Martin Jones’ judging experience

Martin sits on a whole host of panels covering a vast array of types, including the British Show Pony Society (BSPS), National Pony Society (NPS), British Show Horse Association (BSHA), British Connemara Pony Society, Coloured Horse and Pony Society (CHAPS UK), Sport Horse Breeding GB (SHB GB), The Showing Register and the British Miniature Horse Society.

As well as judging at many of the UK’s leading county shows, he’s had the pleasure of judging in Europe, New Zealand and Australia, and considers officiating at the latter two some of his judging highlights.

“The judging systems are different over there and it was a real learning experience to see their ways. Ponies and horses are produced and ridden to the highest standards, and I particularly enjoyed judging the young rider classes, which are really popular in Australia and New Zealand.

“Over here, we don’t really have similar classes at the same level, where the children are judged primarily on their riding abilities. The standard of riding in these classes is so high and they’re fantastic to judge because of it.”

Of course, he also considers previous appointments at HOYS and RIHS to be some other highlights.

What will Martin be looking for in the M&M workers?

“I’m looking for what I would describe as a balanced and fluid round with ponies moving through the track in a good forward rhythm, in a way that is appropriate for their breed,” he says.

“In the plaited workers, I would look for a more bold and enthusiastic round, but some mountain and moorland breeds are not necessarily built to gallop around a worker track, so I’ll want to see these ponies working in balance and covering the ground in a forward rhythm.”

Martin has words to the wise for competitors.

“I’ve watched these working hunter pony classes for many years and so know it to be a long track in a big ring, with up-to-height fences and on an incline. I’ve noticed that a lot of ponies demonstrate a lack of fitness and start to tire and sound ‘breathy’ in the latter half, losing their rhythm and forwardness as a result.

“So I would say, make sure that you and your pony are of the appropriate condition and fitness to jump around a long, testing track. The course at the Royal International finals is very different to the courses that many will have qualified on, which in many cases is likely to have been on a flat surface in a small arena.

“I’ve also noticed that the bogey fence is often the open ditch or water tray, so practice that in advance if you can. It catches some of the most seasoned campaigners out.

“In short, be prepared. Be prepared for a long, varied and testing track, and for undulating ground.

“I would also advise competitors that it’s always a good idea to take some coaching, on a regular basis if you can. Even Olympic riders have coaches on the ground. It’s a good thing to have someone helping you and your pony improve your technique and the investment will help you be fully prepared.”

Martin Jones’ pet hates

“Having been so involved in the NPS and its welfare remit over the past few years, I’m very aware of welfare as I’m judging, too. No matter how frustrated you may feel if things aren’t going to plan during your round, inappropriate use of the whip is not acceptable.

“I also get a little bit frustrated by the number of people walking the course. It’s not a family day out, so I prefer to see competitors accompanied by one other person. Walking round chatting to your friends is not an effective way to walk the course!

“And I may sound a bit of a ‘fuddy-duddy’, but those walking the course should also be dressed appropriately for the occasion, and in a way that is respectful to the show, its officials, sponsors and fellow competitors. The weather may be hot, but that’s not an excuse to walk the course in beach wear.”

What will Martin be looking for in the M&M mini classes?

As well as the M&M working hunter ponies, Martin will also be assessing the mini classes, which naturally have very different requirements.

“These classes are always a joy to officiate,” he says, “though it’s easy for the grandness of the occasion to unsettle some young riders, whose mental and physical ability can be so different, even though of similar ages.

“I do love to see a pony with a good walk, and an animal that marches into the ring, tracking up, ears pricked and looking through its bridle – rather than down at the ground – will catch my attention. A pony that carries its jockey forward, in a safe and steady manner, without having to be encouraged forward every stride, is always more enjoyable to watch, and more comfortable to ride.

“During conversations I hear, my experiences of judging and comments on social media, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the ridden classes are judged solely on way of going. Please remember that 50 marks are for conformation and freedom of action, so it’s important as much time and effort is put into this phase, too. It makes the judge’s job much easier, and shows the pony off to its best advantage if it is correctly presented to the conformation judge – which means an adjustment by the rider/ handler as the judge walks round the pony.

“You can’t change the pony’s conformation, but presenting your pony correctly will give you the best chance. Again, practice at home so that this phase comes naturally and is easy on the day. A pony reluctant to trot up, with its ears back and tail swishing, is not going to show itself off in the best way, and can easily lose marks as a result. Don’t let the conformation phase be an afterthought.”

Martin’s tips for major final first-timers

“Planning is everything. If you’ve not competed at the Royal International Horse Show before, you are in for a treat, as it’s a wonderful venue. But it can be a long walk to the ring, and a long way back to the stable area if you realise you’ve forgotten something just minutes before you’re due to enter the ring.

“It takes a lot of time, effort, energy and money to qualify, so you want to give you and your pony the best chance. Ask someone experienced before the show for their advice.

“Most judges would be happy to help if asked in the right way and at a suitable time. Often, it’s the attention to detail that makes the difference, and shortening a pony’s tail an inch or two, or suggesting a rider try their stirrups a hole longer, can make all the difference to the overall look and impression.

“Practise at home, but not so much that your pony becomes disinterested. And remember, though everyone wants to do well and get a rosette, there’s only one winner on the day. Win or lose, there’s always another show, but your pony’s trust and happiness are the real prize worth taking home.”

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‘Type is so important’: Royal International judge Leon King offers his advice for competitors

Bethan Simons — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 07:30:03 +0000

A quality and jolly cob is always a pleasure to watch going about its work in the ring; this year, Jackie Beatham and Leon King have the tough task of sorting through the lightweight and heavyweight combinations at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).

Jackie will assess each horse’s conformation, and Leon will put each one through its paces in the saddle. So who is Leon King, and what are his preferences when judging?

Leon’s background in horses

Leon isn’t from a horsey background, but started riding aged six.

“I was very lucky to have opportunities when I was younger,” says Leon. “I showjumped in junior classes up to JA level with ponies that we had bought from Reading Market.

“Then at 12 years old, I was lucky to have the opportunity to help and ride for a lady called Vicki McRae. She had vast experience and she taught me an ‘old-school’ way of doing horses.”

Vicki introduced Leon to showing, too.

“She had bred some lovely young horses that I was fortunate enough to ride, two of which got me a ride at Wembley when I was 16; one in the working hunter pony section and one in the riding horses.”

From there, Leon spent 14 years producing show horses for the Underwood family, with a host of wins and championships at the country’s most prestigious shows.

Leon knows how a good cob should ride as he has ridden champions over the years. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

These days, you can find Leon working for Yorkshire-based Susan Tennant and the Tennant family, where he produces show horses from their home.

“Susan breeds full and part-bred Irish Draughts,” he explains. “We have four home-breds out this season.”

With a career that’s reached enviable heights in showing, Leon thinks hard on his showing highlights.

“I’m lucky there are so many to mention, but I would have to say winning hunter champion and riding horse champion in the same year at Horse of the Year Show on Loch Royal and Tattigare Watch This Space owned by the lovely Underwood family.”

Leon’s judging experience

Leon sits on the British Show Horse Association (BSHA), Sports Horse Breeding (GB), the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) and the Retraining of Racehorses judging panels and has a broad range of experience judging.

“I have been lucky enough to have judged some lovely shows,” he says, “and I have judged in Australia three times; I judged their Horse of the Year Show, which was an experience I will never forget. But judging the Royal International Horse Show is a highlight; it’s one of the best shows in the UK for horses.”

How to impress Leon King in the ring

“When I judge, I love a horse that walks with a free step, relaxed outlook and stays in a balanced and rhythmic outline,” says Leon. “A show horse should have the ‘look at me’ attitude, and type is so important – the horse must match its category.

“As a ride judge, I think a good, fitting saddle that doesn’t move with leathers that aren’t new and stretch as you rise up in trot. You also need big enough stirrup irons and worn in reins with some thickness.

“If I’m judging a show, I like to see a well thought out show with flow. Part of the show must show some walk and of course, a good show of lengthening.

“Pet hates of mine are when competitors push their horses or ponies out of their natural rhythm. Going faster doesn’t make the animal move better; it looks untidy. I also dislike short jackets and massive scrunchie! These aren’t going to lose you the class, but it’s just my preference.”

Leon’s advice for Hickstead first-timers

“The work is done at home; prepare properly. Know your horse – how much work they need and so on, so you have plenty of time to plait, turn out and get everything perfect for your class. Write a check list so nothing is forgotten. Stud holes are a must in my experience.

“Do this and you will enjoy yourself.”

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‘I like to see the horse is actually enjoying itself’: Royal International judge Margaret Hopkins shares her advice for competitors

Bethan Simons — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 07:46:09 +0000

We expect to hear that many riders, producers, horses and even stewards have busy schedules at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS), but perhaps we don’t expect that some of the judges do, too. One such judge is Margaret Hopkins, who will officiate in four sections. She will assess the ride element in the amateur maxi cobs, the hacks and the working show horses, and will be judging the conformation phase in the intermediate working hunter pony.

Margaret Hopkins’ background in horses

“I’m not from a particularly horsey family,” says Margaret. “But I was brought up in Gloucestershire in a very horsey area.

“I’m the eldest of three sisters, and we bullied our parents into getting us a pony. We were very lucky that we had people around us who encouraged us to have a go at everything.”

As a result of this encouragement, the sisters attended Pony Club and from there, showjumped, evented, and rode in point-to-points among other things.

“And I was lucky enough to have hunted with many packs all over the country from an early age.

“I was competitive, but now I prefer the training and producing of young horses to make them become the best horses they can be in whatever field they are in.”

Margaret’s job – stable manager on the Badminton Estate – has her engage in a host of equestrian activities.

“Anything horsey that happens on the estate is in my remit,” explains Margaret.

Consequently, there’s never a dull moment in this varied role, from preparing the family’s hunters in winter, to the Badminton Horse Trials, a host of Pony Club and other events and rallies.

She also keeps her own band of broodmares, aiming to breed quality all rounders.

Margaret’s judging experience

“I was persuaded to go on the old HIS panel by some eminent judges of the day and from there I went onto the British Show Horse Association panel, and more recently, the British Show Pony Society panel.

“I enjoy being able to ride others’ horses – it’s a privilege – and it’s a pleasure going to shows and looking at some lovely horses and seeing what’s out there.”

When it comes to judging highlights, Margaret says that she’s always enjoyed officiating at the Great Yorkshire Show.

“It attracts some of the best producers and horses, and the rings are amazing,” explains Margaret, “and you’re taken care of with some good Yorkshire hospitality.”

What will Margaret be looking for as a judge?

“The last thing I look at is whether a horse is on the bit as so many are over bridled and behind the bit,” she says.

When it comes to the hacks, Margaret says that a hack must have abundant presence.

“They need to draw the eye; they are the Kate Moss of the showing world. They need to have a good and supple walk, be light in the hand and have a soft, supple way of going and appear to give a comfortable ride.”

Margaret will expect to find a maxi cob that has a “purposeful and workmanlike” way of going.

“You granny, grandad or anybody should be able to ride them and them remain the same – going forwards, looking through the bridle with active paces.

“I don’t like roly cobs. They tend not to move as well the heavier they are, but they should nevertheless sit up and go through the bridle and travel forward without being on the forehand.”

Despite a cob’s heavier build, Margaret expects that they are “not on the forehand – they should be uphill and not heavy through the shoulder; the power should still come from behind.”

Once on board, Margaret expects that whatever she is riding, the horse should take her forwards and be well balanced, and quick off her aids, both upwards and downwards through the gears.

She also explains that ordinarily, she would “forgive a wrong leg once on a young or novice horse, providing it comes back to trot and strikes off again correctly.”

However, in a hack, this is unacceptable.

“I would penalise that in a hack class,” she says. “I feel a hack, you should just sit and think canter, and it should take you. You shouldn’t need to position a hack too much.”

In the working show horse class, Margaret and her co-judge Sarah Coward will assess each combination’s jumping round together, before she assesses the ride and Sarah casts an eye over each exhibit’s conformation.

“In these classes, we tend to see a mixed bunch in terms of the types of horses, and you have to be careful that you award style marks fairly and accordingly. For example, a riding horse type might be able to jump the fences naturally and show a lot of scope. On the other hand, it’s not often that you see a cob that jumps with a lot of scope, but a cob that jumps with a correct jump and a good technique deserves to be scored highly.

“The style marks here are where there is the greatest room for difference.”

As combinations tackle the course Margaret expects: “A forward rhythm and a good canter, and that the horse should be able to keep coming to the fence in that rhythm and canter.

“And I like to see the horse is actually enjoying itself, too – especially with the cobs as when they come in and give it their best shot, they put a smile on your face.”

Finally, Margaret will be taking a close look at the conformation of the intermediate working hunter ponies.

“In this class, I’ll be looking for something that is not too light in its frame with good quality limbs, not too closed behind, and a straight mover. I also don’t want to see too many lumps and bumps. That said, I’ll forgive a small splint in a working hunter pony and wouldn’t expect that limbs are as clean as a hacks due to their job.

“For me, curbs are a ‘no-no’ as you assume if a horse has a curb, then it’s weak in its hindleg. I also don’t want to see a horse that is too straight in its hindleg as the hindleg is vital to get them off the ground. I want rounded hindquarters with power in them.”

For more expert training advice and to keep up to date with major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘It’s all about confidence and harmony’: tips for success from Royal International judge Polly Eddis

Bethan Simons — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:20:46 +0000

Polly Eddis and Judy Bradwell will be sorting through the plaited working hunter pony contenders at this year’s Royal International Horse Show (RIHS). The tracks these contenders face at Hickstead are arguably the toughest of the season. Polly will assess each combination as they negotiate the jump phase, and Judy will cast a careful eye over their shows and conformation phases.

For many working hunter buffs, Hickstead is the ultimate place to win! That’s because the meaty courses are built in a ring that has an incline, with the kinds of natural obstacles that most ponies won’t encounter in their qualifying rounds. To help you prepare, Polly has given us some insight into what she’ll be looking for on the day.

What is Polly Eddis’s background in horses?

“I’ve been obsessed with horses since I was about three,” says Polly. “I can still remember the first time I sat on a pony as if it was today. He was a little pony called Ali Baba. And growing up, I just adored working hunter ponies. I used to read magazines and look at the ponies, then Mary Rimell said she would take me to a competition.

“I had an ordinary pony, but he went very nicely, and Mrs Rimell took us to the NPS championships at Malvern, which was near where we lived.

“I did the working hunter pony and I won it. And I just couldn’t believe it,” she recalls.

Polly later evented, but her affiliation with the working hunter ponies remained strong.

“My eldest daughter Lucy wanted to have a go, and I just loved watching my girls coming through the workers. We had some gorgeous ponies and some lovely times.”

Polly’s showing highlight

As well as lots of fun on the circuit, the Eddis family enjoyed some extremely successful days showing, with high-profile wins and championships including in the tough Desert Orchid ranks, and seven wins at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Yard stars include Kyregate Peter Pan, Nobel Sir Prize and the inimitable Cashel Bay JJ, who was champion worker RIHS. Polly’s younger daughter Susie was supreme at the Royal International having claimed the working hunter pony championship aboard Beat The Boss, so Polly will understand just how combinations are feeling as they negotiate a day’s competition at Hickstead in these classes.

Susie Eddis and Beat The Boss were crowned supreme pony at the Royal International. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“We also had some fantastic days at Burghley for the sports pony competition – a fabulous competition; everyone loves the atmosphere there,” adds Polly.

“And we had some brilliant days when the girls were on the working hunter pony teams, too. That was great fun.”

Polly is a member of the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) council, and sits on their working hunter pony panel.

“My business – Parasol UK – is extremely busy and time consuming, but I wanted to give something back, so I only sit on the workers panel,” she explains.

What will Polly be looking for at Hickstead?

“A lot of my thoughts as a judge are based on what I used to teach my girls, Susie and Lucy, who did quite a lot of workers. I think we used to do more of our training in the kitchen than we did in the arena – we would think about previous rounds, and imagine future rounds,” says Polly.

“It was just a family chat, but we really used to sort of put our heads together and make a plan of how to improve their performances.

“We were always searching for that one extra mark. As a judge I’m so aware that that one mark really matters, so I am very careful when assigning marks.

“Overall, I want to see a combination who exude quiet confidence, harmony and a pony who looks as if he’s loving his job and leaves me with a smile on my face.”

How can riders achieve this?

“I would hope that my lineup will all show measured confidence as they go round. I’ll be looking out for combinations that are purposeful and positive, but that are never careless – it should never feel out of control. It’s all about confidence. I want to see a very confident pony and a cool, calm rider. The combination should make it look effortless. I used to say to my children, ‘make it look as if anyone could ride this pony round; make it look effortless.’

“I also want to see that the riders have a plan to negotiate the course. I’d like to see them set up a good round. One thing that I always used to say to my girls is ‘ride in between the fences and the fences will look after themselves’. Rhythm and balance are hugely important to me.

“I don’t want to see a rider who just thinks that it’s all about the fence; it’s everything that happens between the fences. If you approach the fence in a balanced and forward rhythm, you’ll almost certainly get a very nice jump.

“It’s not the end of the world to me if a smaller pony goes around a corner on the wrong leg providing they are in absolute balance. I’d rather that than see them repeatedly break the rhythm and concentration. However, I would hope that the older riders in the 143cm and 153cm combinations will have sufficient experience and skill to anticipate corners and ensure the right leads as they land from the fences.”

In a similar vein, Polly says: “I don’t mind if, for example, a rider is on a smaller pony with a short stride, they go through a one-stride double in two strides. I’m happy with that as long as it’s planned that way with two even strides. To me, that’s intelligent riding and it’s working as a partnership.”

That said, Polly is careful to remind riders that the “best round isn’t necessarily one that everything goes perfectly”. Instead, she explains that “it will often be a round where something needs a quiet adjustment from a rider. But the pony stays in rhythm and it’s enjoyable to watch.”

Polly’s pet hates

“I don’t want to see a pony being kicked along or gagged,” says Polly. “I want them in their rider’s hand and off their leg. I also don’t want to see ‘willy-nilly’ slapping on takeoff. One tap in an emergency, I can live with, but sometimes I think it has become an absolute habit.

“And I don’t want to hear any parents giving any outside assistance – I will mark it down. At this level, riders should be confident.

“I also can’t stand too much use of the voice. I don’t want to hear a running commentary as a combination goes around. It’s thankfully very rare at this level.”

As a parent who has prepared ponies for these classes, what are Polly’s tips?

“We would always go cross-country schooling before RIHS,” says Polly. “We went regularly anyway, but made sure we’d always go before Hickstead to prepare for the ground and the type of obstacles there.

“We also always built a flimsy, wispy bullfinch, rather than a big, thick, bushy one so that it’s encouraging for them to go through.

“Beat The Boss was deeply suspicious of anything where he couldn’t see his landing and 10 strides behind it, so we only ever did a thin bullfinch to practice so that he just got the impression it’s a lovely feeling going through and to have Susie being pleased with him the other side at home. On the day at Hickstead, the bullfinch was stiffer than he was expecting so we’d then go back to the wispy one at home to re-establish his confidence.

“The other thing that riders and parents should be aware of, it’s a long way around the course compared with one on a surface. Make sure the ponies are fit. If I hear a pony huffing and puffing and breathing heavily, that’s something I would mark down.”

Polly’s advice for someone making their Royal International debut

“Enjoy it. You’ve earned your place there; you deserve to be there,” she says. “Don’t be over-awed by the occasion.

“Lots of people lose their class in the warm-up because they’re worried about it. Don’t over warm up. You have a warm-up plan that you use at every competition so follow exactly the same routine. Don’t change it just because it’s the Royal International – your pony doesn’t know that. Then ride with a plan, not panic.”

For more expert training advice and to keep up to date with major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘Go find a space where you stand out’: meet Royal International coloured ponies’ judge Nathan Arnold

Bethan Simons — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:29:07 +0000

The qualifiers for the coloured classes at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) are among the most popular and the finals are always well supported on the show’s opening day (21 July). Four judges have been appointed to sort through competitors. Lauren Brill and Jo Jefferson will preside over the horse classes, and Lesley Bradfield and Nathan Arnold will sort through the ponies.

Later in the day, Jo and Nathan will be the ones putting the lucky few through their paces to decide the championships. Here, Nathan gives us insight into his background, his judging experience, and – crucially for competitors and onlookers – what he is looking for in the ring.

Meet the judge: Nathan Arnold

Nathan started riding at the age of 12.

“My dad was a lighthouse keeper stationed at the time on the Isles of Scilly so I started riding at a local riding school nearby,” says Nathan.

The family moved back to Kent then to Cornwall where friends kept horses and his passion for them grew.

Once he left school, Nathan worked in hunt yards and for friends then began riding competitively at around the age of 21.

“It just happened. Some friends asked me to ride and compete their horses and that’s where it began,” he says.

He then produced show horses in his own right on a yard in Cornwall, based on the outskirts of Truro.

From there he and Brett McKinnon proved a competitive force, as with horses produced by Brett and ridden by Nathan were placed at premier shows including Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and RIHS, and thrice lightweight hunter champion at Devon County and Royal Cornwall.

Nathan began working exclusively for Polly Coles eight years ago, so he is now based on outskirts of Doncaster in Yorkshire.

“We’ve got a range of horses here – hunters, cobs, heavy horses and a hack this year,” he says.

Since working for Polly, team highlights include the champion hunter at the Hickstead Derby Meeting, the 2022 Maxi Cob of the Year and the 2023 Heavyweight Cob of the Year.

Nathan Arnold’s judging experience

Nathan sits on the British Show Horse Association (BSHA), the Sport Horse Breeding (GB) (SHB (GB)), the British Skewbald and Piebald Association (BSPA) and the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) panels.

Nathan has judged at a whole host of the UK’s leading fixtures, including at the Royal Welsh twice, something he describes as “great fun”.

“I rode the Welsh section Ds there the first time in 2016. I have no involvement in mountain and moorland ponies so it was a totally different experience,” he admits.

More recently, Nathan thoroughly enjoyed his second appointment at Royal Windsor where The King watched on as he presided over the riding horses.

“That was absolutely amazing,” said Nathan. “What an experience to ride judge there – and with The King watching.”

Nathan also judged in Australia in 2018 and the South African HOYS in 2023.

“South Africa was another highlight for me,” he says. “I just did not anticipate how high the standard would be out there.”

This will be Nathan’s second appointment at the RIHS. He has previously judged the the maxi cobs and amateur hacks.

What Nathan Arnold will be looking for at Hickstead?

During the go-round, he will be looking for a pony that draws the eye, covers the ground and that moves appropriately for its type.

He is assessing the conformation of the pony classes, and again, type is important.

“I want a pony that is true to type, with the correct amount of limb for its type.”

This applies in the championship, too, where he will expect to find an animal that is true to type as a native, traditional or non-native from either the pony classes or the horse classes.

During the championship, combinations will need to also prove they are worthy contenders for the supreme coloured crown by giving mannerly yet sparkly performances.

Competitors beware, Nathan’s pet hate in the ring is “competitors who constantly circle around the judges, and carve other competitors up.

“Go find a space where you stand out, keep your pony in a nice balanced rhythm, and don’t push it out of its step.”

A last minute bit of advice to someone competing at Hickstead for the first time?

“Enjoy every moment and don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” says Nathan, adding, “You’ve qualified to go there so enjoy every minute of it.”

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website,subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘I strongly dislike seeing fat horses’: Top judge shares his ‘pet hates’ and tips for first-timers

Bethan Simons — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:38:39 +0000

John Cutts joins Adele Hanson this year to judge the hack championship at Royal Windsor, in which the champion will receive the coveted Count Robert Orssich Challenge Cup.

John will be assessing the conformation section, while Adele is assessing the ride each exhibits give, before finally, both will cast their eyes over an individual show performed by each combination. We’ve already caught up with Adele Hanson to find out what she’s looking for in this championship, but what about John?

John Cutts’ background in horses and showing

John came from a non-equestrian family, but his passion for horses started from a very early age.

“I spent as much time as possible helping out at local stables, learning the day-to-day care and management of horses alongside learning to ride,” says John. “I saved all of my birthday and Christmas money to buy my first pony — although I told my parents I was only looking after it for a friend.”

That first pony was a Welsh section D, and that is really where his passion for showing began.

“I started competing at local agricultural and riding club shows, and at my very first show I came home with two first rosettes from two large classes. From that moment, I was determined to keep improving and become better.”

John also spent time helping friends at shows who were competing “on a much bigger scale” than he was at the time, and learned “a great deal about turnout, presentation, and what judges were looking for in the ring”.

From there, John’s involvement with horses continued to grow and eventually led him into producing horses for the show ring and breeding horses that have gone on to enjoy success at major level, including competing at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) under saddle and in the prestigious in-hand championship, something he considers a highlight.

“One of my biggest privileges has been taking championships at some of the major shows over the years, but, my personal highlights would have to be standing third in the Price Family supreme in-hand final at Horse of the Year Show 2024 and being crowned CHAPS UK [Coloured Horse and Pony Society UK] supreme in-hand champion for five consecutive years.”

John Cutts’ judging experience

“Along the way I’ve made many lifelong friendships within the sport,” he says, adding that as he got older he “wanted to give something back to the sport that I love and helped shape the person I am today”, which inspired him to become a judge.

John currently sits on three judging panels: the British Show Horse Association (BSHA), the Coloured Horse and Pony Society UK (CHAPS UK) and the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) panels.

“I have had the privilege to judge at some of the country’s finest shows. My biggest judging highlight is seeing the reactions from competitors when they achieve a goal or lifelong dream. Being part of those special moments – whether it’s a first major placing or a championship win – is incredibly rewarding and something I never take for granted.”

This won’t be John’s first time in the centre of the ring at Windsor. He judged the ridden coloureds in 2016 and the cobs more recently in 2023.

Nevertheless, he is looking forward to the appointment.

“Windsor is my favourite show,” he says. “The setting really does have that classic British atmosphere – the castle nearby, the parks, the traditions, and the mix of countryside and ceremony all make it feel very distinctive. The carriage driving and military displays especially give it that unmistakably British character. And because it’s held in the grounds of Windsor Castle, it feels more personal and historic than many larger commercial shows.”

What will John be looking for as he judges?

Just like his co-judge Adele, type and manners are important to John.

“I will be looking for horses of trueness to type and way of going, exceptional manners, good horsemanship, composure, and how well the rider works with their horse.”

If you’re exhibiting a hack, take note.

“My main pet hates would be over-bitted horses and seeing horses being over-ridden, as good horsemanship should always come first. I also dislike seeing horses stood up incorrectly, or having to repeatedly ask competitors to move their horse so it can be judged properly.

“Presentation is important, but I’m not a fan of excessive make-up or an overly artificial look in the ring.

“Most importantly, I strongly dislike seeing fat or obese horses; fitness and condition should never be confused with excessive weight, and the horse’s welfare must always come first.”

John’s tips for Windsor first-timers

“The atmosphere can feel overwhelming at first – the crowds, the setting, the pressure – but once you enter the ring, it’s still just you and your horse doing the job you already know how to do.

“Horses pick up tension very quickly, so try to remain calm and enjoy your moment to allow the best of your horse. Take a moment to enjoy it. Competing at Windsor is very magical and a lot of competitors that you may be competing against have been showing and competing for many years at such shows, so even if things aren’t perfect, have an enjoyable time.”

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‘I hate to see horses that are too fat’: judge reveals what she wants to see in the show ring

Bethan Simons — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:44:51 +0000

The judge shares her advice for competitors in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers

Victoria Mullen is the 2026 Royal Windsor novice hunter judge. The hunter classes are a big deal at Royal Windsor. If you watch the open weight classes, you’re guaranteed to catch a glimpse of some of the biggest names – human and equine – in the hunter ranks.

The real aficionados will know that watching the novice classes here is likely to get you a look at some of the future stars of these classes, with producers turning out some of their most exciting young horses in a bid to secure the novice spoils. This year, the job of sorting these young hopefuls falls to Jenny Thomas and Victoria Mullen, who will assess their ride.

Victoria Mullen’s background in showing

Victoria got her first pony when she was two years old.

“I was that pony-mad child all through my school years; I rarely went to other kids’ houses because I was riding or going to shows at weekends,” she says.

It was showjumping, not showing, that first captivated her.

“I started off as a through-and-through showjumper, but when I reached my late teens I was lucky enough that my mum and dad bought me a beautiful coloured pony who had looks to die for. Somehow, a friend convinced me that it would be a great idea to do the workers class at Balmoral, despite the fact I didn’t own anything that resembled proper hunter attire.

“After competing in the 148AB as it was at the time, I trotted off across the show ground in my full showjumping gear and jumped a clear round in the workers and was pulled second. After that, I got the bug. Mum bought me a nice jacket and we picked some workers shows to go to on weekends when we weren’t showjumping.”

There was more showing success to follow.

“We bought a four-year-old mare and later we went on to win the young riders at the Dublin Horse Show two years consecutively.”

Once she had finished studying for her A Levels and left school, Victoria went straight into working with horses, and was led into eventing.

“Eventing is predominantly what I do now,” she explains. “It was at the Eventing Ireland ball about 10 years ago that Richard Iggulden and I got chatting and he asked if I’d have any interest in coming to ride his show horses. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity and started working at his yard not long after. I’ve enjoyed great success riding for Richard, including winning at Dublin, Balmoral and at the Royal Highland.”

Winning at Dublin is something that Victoria maintains is a career highlight, alongside eventing at three-star, and qualifying for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and Royal International (RIHS).

What will Victoria be looking for in the ring?

“I love to see a good looking horse who walks into the ring like they own it,” she says. “They must be mannerly, carry themselves naturally, and ride in a nice, relaxed manner.

“A good mover is essential – I want to see something that is athletic and something I would enjoy taking out for a days hunting.”

Once on board, Victoria wants a horse who is “soft in the hand and reactive to the aids”.

“I don’t like to see a horse that is stressy or a horse that looks like it’s been pulled into shape and isn’t going from behind.

“I hate to see horses that are too fat.”

A turnout tip, too: “I don’t like to see excessive make up on horses or hoof paint. I much prefer old fashioned hoof oil.”

Victoria’s advice for first-timers

“If I could give any advice to somebody coming to a big show like Windsor for the first time it would be not to stress; what’s in the brain goes down the rein. Enjoy the experience. Also, prepare and do your homework and hopefully it will pay off.”

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Top judge with extensive CV reveals what she’s looking for – and hoping not to see – in the ring

Bethan Simons — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:30:30 +0000

Adele will be judging the 2026 hack championship and she shares her advice in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers

The trophy for the hack championship at Royal Windsor, the Count Robert Orssich Challenge Cup, is one of the most coveted among show horse producers and riders. This year, the task of deciding who wins this prestigious trophy falls to Adele Hanson who will assess their ride, and her co-judge, John Cutts, who will be assessing the conformation of each exhibit.

So who is the 2026 Royal Windsor hack judge Adele Hanson? And what will she be looking for in the ring?

Adele Hanson’s background in showing

“I was brought up on a farm so my parents always had horses and bred them,” says Adele. “My first pony – Joansey — bucked me off daily and she was the one that really taught me to ride. My dad said I wasn’t allowed to have another pony until I learn’t to ride that one, and that’s where I learnt determination and perseverance”.

Adele had a natural introduction to showing.

“My parents did a lot of in-hand showing with the youngstock they bred so we were regularly at shows growing up,” she explains.

As a girl, Adele enjoyed considerable success in the show ring, predominantly in the working hunter pony ranks.

“I’m led to believe I’m the only rider to have been national BSPS working hunter pony champion two years on the trot on two different ponies when the final was held at Peterborough and before the workers went to Horse of the Year Show,” Adele reveals.

After graduating into the horse workers, Adele and her multi-garlanded Omegas Boy were supreme champion two years on the bounce at the Royal Agricultural Show netting a cool £2,300 from both wins. She’s also enjoyed championships at several other leading fixtures, such as Royal Cheshire County and Great Yorkshire, and posted solid results at HOYS.

However, her 2024 working hunter championship at Royal Windsor with The Top Drawer stands out, not least because the pair’s photo graced the cover of the 2025 Royal Windsor catalogue.

“It was just the best,” she asserts.

Adele and The Top Drawer stand working hunter champions at Windsor in 2024. (Image credit: Fiona Crawford)

Adele’s judging experience

Adele sits on four panels: British Show Horse Association (BSHA), Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), Arab Horse Society, and the Shire Horse Society – so it’s no surprise that she has an extensive judging CV.

“I’ve judged at several leading county shows, including Royal Cheshire, Royal Three Counties, and at the BSHA champs. I’ve always loved every minute,” says Adele.

“I’ve also judged the Royal International twice, HOYS twice and I’m soon to have judged Royal Windsor twice, which is an absolute privilege.

“Last time I judged Windsor, I did the ride section of the riding horses and my mother and I had the absolute privilege of meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II and had a short conversation with her, which I’ll never forget.”

This year Adele considers herself to be very lucky to be invited back. “I’m looking forward to it as Windsor is one of my favourite shows,” she says.

What will Adele be looking for in the ring?

To begin with, Adele will be looking for a “good overall picture and turnout, a horse with presence and of a good hack type.”

For Adele, the horse that catches her eye will be one with “a ride to match its type and that carries confidence.”

Competitors and spectators alike take note: Adele’s pet hates include seeing an “over-bridled horse in a heavy hand that restricts to the horse’s movement and causes them tension and stress.”

Adele’s advice for first-timers

“Get help and training from someone experienced who can help you, guide you and give you the confidence you need to reach your goals on the day, but most of all, enjoy it,” she says.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website,subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Gill Cowell reveals what she’ll be looking for as judge an in-hand championship

Bethan Simons — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:30:26 +0000

Gill will be judging the 2026 championship and she shares what she’ll be looking for in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers

Gill Cowell has been given the task of judging this year’s in-hand mountain and moorland championship at Royal Windsor. This championship takes place on the Friday in the Castle Arena and is a real must-see for anyone with an interest in native breeds – it’s a rare treat to see so many excellent examples of our splendid natives all in the ring together.

To progress to the in-hand mountain and moorland championship, each pony will have had to have won and/or stood champion of their own breed – this depends on the breed and the numbers forward – having been judged by a breed expert. The job of choosing a champion, however, falls to just one person – Gill Cowell gives us an insight into what she’ll be looking for to help you prepare for in-hand showing classes.

Who is Gill Cowell?

Gill is this year’s in-hand M&M judge at Royal Windsor and she has been “horse and pony mad” for as long as she can remember. As a child she taught herself to ride and would read to learn as much as possible.

As she grew older, her passion continued and when she left school, Gill enrolled as a working student at an equestrian centre and riding school where training was given for BHS exams. She worked with a variety of different types of horse and pony, including riding school ponies, hunters, dressage and event horses, and naturally gleaned a wealth of knowledge.

Native ponies became Gill’s main interest after purchasing a black Standard Shetland pony stallion named Salterswall Spartan. He was initially purchased as a companion, but Gill soon found herself showing him, and “caught the showing bug”.

It’s a bug she has never shaken off, and she’s since bred, owned and shown a variety of the native breeds. Gill continues to enjoy looking after and showing her Shetland ponies, and continues to breed under the Checkleybank prefix.

As well as tending to her own ponies, Gill has worked part-time for the past eleven years for a family who own a “variety of large breeds and they have had great success with many of their ponies”.

Gill Cowell’s judging experience

Gill has been judging for thirty years and is on a number of panels. She sits on the Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society’s panel and the Highland and Fell breed societies’ panels, as well as the mixed M&M panels for the the National Pony Society (NPS) and British Show Pony Society (BSPS).

Her judging has taken her far and wide, including judging Shetland ponies in Finland. Previous judging highlights include officiating at the Shetland Stud-Book Society Breed Show, the Great Yorkshire Show, and Royal Bath and West, as well as several Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers.

In 2025, Gill had the pleasure of judging the Highland pony HOYS qualifier and the NPS finals at the inaugural running of Scotland’s famous event and show held at the stunning Scone Palace.

This won’t be Gill’s first trip to Windsor to judge. She previously judged the Shetlands and the M&M working hunter ponies there in 2024.

Nevertheless, Gill says that she is “honoured to be asked to judge the M&M in-hand championship” there.

Last year’s champion was Clover Hill Magic, owned by Cathy Wood and shown by Jamie Frost. (Image credit: Elli Birch/Boots And Hooves)

What will Gill be looking for in the M&M in-hand championship?

“The ponies trot into the arena for this championship. It’s important to remember that each of the native breeds have their own correct movement, so right away I’ll be looking for a pony that shows outstanding movement for its type and breed, and that is covering the ground appropriately.

“When I get a closer look at the ponies, I’ll be looking again for a pony that is both correct in conformation, and that stands out as an outstanding example of its breed.

“I’m a stickler for feet and limb, too, as they are so important to the soundness of a pony and their ability to do the job they were intended to do.

“Finally, it’s a show championship and a prestigious one at that, so I’ll want a pony to really sparkle in the arena and have that crucial presence to attract my eye.”

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Transparency or a ‘state of limbo’? HOYS returns to 2024 judging format

Bethan Simons — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:42:37 +0000

Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) organisers have confirmed some of the 2026 judges – but will not reveal who is judging which class until the evening before.

In a return to the 2024 system, competitors will not know in advance of qualifying who they will come under until the show, a move that HOYS organisers Grandstand Media said maintains transparency and fairness, and has had mixed reactions from riders.

Pony specialist Gill Thompson told H&H: “I think the format is really refreshing. When we had the Australian judges, it was exciting as no-one knew what they would like or be going for so there were no preconceived ideas about who was going to do well. It was exciting to watch as spectators too.

“I also think that the atmosphere in the collecting ring was nicer as again, with no preconceived ideas on placings and preferences, it felt as if we were all on a level playing field. This year, where there are British judges, there may be some idea of preferences once the judges are released, but it’s still refreshing to have a different format.”

The judges already confirmed include those from Australia, Canada and Ireland as well as the UK. Some exhibitors, such as H&H columnist Rebecca Penny, are concerned that not knowing who is judging what means they may not be able to compete.

“Establishing that you or your horse or pony has a connection on the list leaves you in a very strange position, almost a state of limbo,” she told H&H.

Significant costs

“There are significant costs associated with running a pony on the HOYS circuit for a season, whether you produce it yourself or keep it at a professional yard, and those expenses continue regardless. In many cases, it is possible to make an educated assessment and narrow down who is likely to be appointed for your section.

“At that point a difficult decision arises: do you continue to spend thousands of pounds attending qualifiers, knowing there is a real possibility of the disappointment of not being able to compete on the day? Or do you conclude that such a financial commitment cannot be justified and instead choose to direct your time, energy, and resources elsewhere?”

For producers reliant on campaigning exhibits for multiple owners, it is particularly concerning. One such producer is Harrison Taylor, who last year rode a horse belonging to one of this year’s judges, so may not show under her this year.

“It’s tricky for us all not knowing who is judging and fearing someone’s going to be disappointed on the day,” he told H&H. “For me, it’s a really tricky situation – as it will be for many other people. I’m just hoping they don’t end up judging any of my classes as it would be so sad for my owners.

“I obviously have so many different types and I can’t hold them back for the fear of ‘what if?’ The only option I have is to crack on and keep my fingers crossed.”

HOYS encourages any competitors who believe they may have a conflict of interest with a judge to submit details and any evidence to entries@grandstand.co.uk ahead of the event so any potential conflicts can be managed.

One home-produced exhibitor, who does not want to be named, told H&H she has already contacted Grandstand Media as she attempts to plan her daughters’ season.

“I never take it for granted we will qualify, but with ponies who have previously qualified, I would hope that if we have them looking and going well enough, they will qualify again,” she said.

“HOYS said they will try their best to accommodate everyone, so I am waiting to hear whether I can compete or not. I accept conflicts can appear in any year, but with entries for qualifiers now opening, it would just be good to know whether I can enter as it makes a big difference to our summer as a family.”

Positive feedback

Event director Emma Williams said Grandstand had “an abundance of positive feedback” when this system was introduced, and “it was clear competitors valued this fresh approach”.

“By confirming a world-class panel while withholding individual allocations until the finals, we are able to maintain transparency and ensure every competitor enters the arena with confidence in the process,” she said.

A spokesperson for HOYS told H&H that in 2024, the team identified a small number of competitors who had possible connections to judges.

“Three qualified combinations were unable to compete: one due to declaring the connection only after qualification, and two who had been advised before the season that they would be ineligible under the appointed judge. An additional three competitors were informed prior to the season that they would not be eligible to compete under their allocated class judge.

“It is important to note that even if all judging allocations were published in advance, unavoidable connections would still occasionally occur. While we take every reasonable step to reduce conflicts of interest, some situations are unavoidable, and eligibility rules must be upheld to ensure fairness for all competitors.”

2026 HOYS judges confirmed so far:

Mrs Deborah Alderson
Ms Stephanie Barrington
Mr Jonathan Carnduff
Mrs Glenis Cockbain
Mr Graham Dunkley
Miss Lucinda Elliott
Mr Hayden Hankey
Mr John James
Miss Rachel Moore Rooney
Ms Meg Nicholls
Mrs Tina O’Brien
Mr Jim O’Brien
Ms Ann Rushton Green
Mr Randy Robertson
Miss Sacha Shaw
Mrs Helen Starkie
Mrs Susan Stockley-Bridges
Ms Julie Templeton
Mr Chris Yates
To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website,subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

From ‘needs more suppleness’ to ‘could be more uphill’: what dressage judges’ comments really mean (and how to use them when training at home)

Oscar Williams — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:42:02 +0000

Most riders have stood at the side of the arena, test sheet in hand, trying to work out what the dressage judge’s comments actually mean. Sometimes it’s the handwriting that’s the challenge. More often, it’s the comment itself.

Turning a five-word remark into something useful to work on at home isn’t always straightforward, especially if you’re new to the sport. A note such as “needs more engagement” or “lacks balance” can feel frustratingly vague when what you really want is clear direction.

It’s worth remembering that judges aren’t there to coach you. Their job is to assess what they see in that moment and mark it against the directives for each movement. With limited space and time, their comments have to be brief and to the point.

I’ve had the questionable honour of reading hundreds of test sheets over the years. While I can’t help you decipher a hurried scrawl from a fading biro, I can translate some of the most common phrases and explain what they usually mean for your dressage training at home.

Before diving in, keep this in mind: most comments relate to one of three things – the horse’s way of going (rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collectively known as scales of training), test accuracy (hitting your markers and riding the correct shapes), or cooperation (what would’ve previously been described as submission). If you can identify which category the remark falls into, it becomes much easier to know what to work on.

Judges assess what they see in that moment and mark it against the directives for each movement. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Way of going

Needs more suppleness

Suppleness comes from being even on both reins and bending through the body without resistance. If the horse feels stiffer one way, falls out through a shoulder or resists a change of bend, that unevenness will show in the mark.

Losing balance

Often, this means the horse is falling onto the inside shoulder, particularly on circles or in lateral work. You may notice the tempo change or the line drift. Often the horse isn’t carrying enough weight behind to stay organised.

Lacking or losing rhythm

Rhythm is the regularity of the footfall. Walk should stay clearly four-beat, trot two-beat, canter three-beat. If the steps become hurried, uneven or tense, the score will drop.

Irregular

A comment no one wants to see. Judges use “irregular” rather than “lame” if a horse appears momentarily unlevel. Even a brief loss of regularity affects the mark.

Needs more energy or impulsion

Impulsion is controlled pushing power from the hindquarters. It does not mean faster. It means more active, engaged steps that create lift and presence within the correct tempo.

Behind the leg

The horse isn’t reacting promptly to the leg aid. They may feel sluggish, or run onto the forehand instead of stepping through correctly.

Inconsistent to the contact

Contact should be soft, elastic and steady. If the connection changes from stride to stride – behind the bit, above it, fussy in the mouth – the judge will see a lack of acceptance.

Against the hand

The horse is resisting the contact. They may lift their head, snatch at the reins or lean heavily. Often this is linked to tension or imbalance.

Behind the vertical

The nose is carried behind the vertical line from the poll. This can stem from tension, loss of balance or too much hand.

Above the bit or hollow

The horse lifts their head and drops their back away from the contact. The outline looks disconnected rather than through and supple.

Straightness

A horse is straight when the hind feet follow the forefeet on all lines, and the body matches the curve on circles. Comments such as “quarters in”, “crooked” or “on three tracks” all point to a loss of alignment.

Could be more uphill

A classic – too much weight is being carried on the shoulders. The horse may rush or struggle to maintain fluency because he isn’t sitting enough behind.

Needs more ground cover

The strides are too short. In medium paces or free walk, the horse isn’t clearly lengthening and stepping through enough to cover more ground.

Needs to show more difference

The judge wants a clearer contrast between working and medium paces. If the horse simply quickens rather than truly lengthens, this comment appears.

Running

Instead of lengthening the stride, the horse has increased the tempo. More speed, not more reach.

Needs to flow more freely forwards

The movement looks restricted. The horse may be tight through the back, behind the leg or lacking confidence to travel forward.

Understanding common phrases makes it possible to adapt your training at home. (Image credit: Emma Herrod Photography)

Accuracy

Circle not round/loops not even/not centred

The shape or placement of the movement wasn’t correct. Even with a good way of going, inaccurate geometry will cost marks.

Halt not square or immobility not maintained

In halt, the horse should stand balanced and square, then remain still. A resting hindleg or fidgeting lowers the score.

Cooperation

Submission or acceptance of the aids

Often used interchangeably, the submission comment isn’t about dominance. Spooking, resistance, tension or ignoring the leg can all be reflected in this mark.

Still unsure what the comment means?

If you’re still unsure what a comment means, look back at the directive for that movement in the test. Ask yourself: was the judge marking the way of going, accuracy, or cooperation? Do that, and a cryptic five-word remark becomes a clear schooling goal.

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‘Use your ringcraft’: find out what LIHS Rising Star judge Danielle Heath is looking for

Bethan Simons — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:10:25 +0000

If you’re competing in the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) Rising Star hack, riding horse or cob finals at the London International Horse Show (LIHS), then it’s time to grab a notebook. Rising Star hack, riding horse and cob judge Danielle Heath gives us insight into her background in horses, and tells us what she will be looking for when she is judging.

Who is LIHS Rising Star judge Danielle Heath?

Showing buffs and followers of horse classes will without doubt have heard of Danielle, who is currently one of our leading producers, particularly of hacks, riding horses, hunters, cobs, and ladies’ show horses. Just this year, we’ve seen Danielle lift notable championships including at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) where she was champion cob astride Mr Vincent, and lifted the riding horse title there with Times Square II for the third time. Other highlights you may have witnessed include partnering uber-successful hack Forgeland Hyde Park to stand reserve supreme at Hickstead in 2022, and 2023 supreme champion at Horse of the Year Show.

Mr Vincent and Danielle Heath head home with the 2025 Royal International cob championship. (Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

Danielle Heath’s equestrian background

“When my mother and father were in their thirties, they decided to learn to ride,” says Danielle. “They both went and had riding lessons, got the bug, and quite quickly, they got into hunting, and joined the Cheshire Forest hunt, and that was it. I was about four years old at the time, and so I grew up with horses around me.

“We moved to the property where I am now, which had stables, and so I had ponies around me from a young age. Mum would enjoy buying youngsters and all sorts that couldn’t have much done with them, especially from the Beeston sales. She would bring them home and we’d play around with them, and then Mum would sell them again. She really enjoyed a project.”

Danielle explains that she and her older sister Aysha started competing in showing at local level in the cradle stakes classes, before moving onto nursery stakes and moving up through the working hunter pony divisions.

“Aysha lost interest in showing and went eventing, but I stayed with it and grew to love it. Show hunter ponies were introduced when I was about 13 years old, and Mum found a pony called Morning Melody, a 143cm, at a local riding club show. She bought it, and we went on to win the Royal International with her. And that was it; then I really had the showing bug.”

Despite Danielle enjoying an early win at Hickstead, she had to wait 20 years longer for a win at HOYS.

“I was a latecomer,” she jokes. “I had to wait until I was 37 years old and then I won the middleweight hunters with Oathill Take The Biscuit, and went on to stand hunter champion.”

Danielle’s original career ambition was to become a graphic designer, but her life changed when her mother became unwell when she was just 17 years old, and she left school.

“That was my passion, and horses were my hobby. But then after I sadly lost my mum at 21, I was torn as to what to do. Horses became a kind of saviour through the grieving process, and I gained comfort from showing. When I went to shows, the showing community was like family to me, because they were people I’d grown up with. Showing was a comfort blanket.

“Still, there are certain shows such as Royal Windsor where we went as a family from when I was about nine years old, and the memories remind me of my mum every time I go to those showgrounds.

“In a way I fell into producing, as people asked me to carry on riding horses that they had bought from me. That’s how it all progressed.”

Forgeland Hyde Park and Danielle winning the hack championship at Royal Windsor in 2022. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Prior judging experience

Danielle started judging early in her career, having graduated to the Sport Horse Breeding (SHB GB) panel when she was just 22 years old.

“Royal Windsor was one of my early appointments; I was 23, and it was a huge thing for me, because again it’s such an important show to me, and to be judging was a massive honour,” she explains.

“The likes of David Tatlow, Robert Oliver, Bill Bryant, Jilly Tatlow, Ali Oliver and Guy Landau in the ring – people I really looked up to. And it was an honour to be riding horses that I’d admired and watched. There was a lightweight hunter called Finn McCool, who was a massive superstar in my eyes – I admired him a lot. I got to judge him there, and I think we had him champion, which was a really special moment for me.”

The other appointment that stands out in Danielle’s memory is her first appointment at HOYS.

“It was 2010 and I judged the ladies horses with John Newborough and that was a special time. He’s a very knowledgeable, kind man and that made the experience even better.”

This will be Danielle’s first appointment at London International.

“It’ll be fantastic to go to the London show for one thing – that’ll be lovely – and to have an opportunity to get in there with the up-and-coming and the newcomers, and to give a bit back to showing which I think we all should do,” she adds.

“I feel passionate about not letting standards drop in what we do. Everybody strives to be better, and I think if we can help people do that and understand why horses win when they win, and to understand about conformation and type and way of going, we can give people a better understanding.”

What will LIHS judge Danielle Heath be looking for in the ring?

At the final, judges of the Rising Star finals are encouraged to decide between them who assesses performance and who assesses ride, and they often swap in between classes. Whichever she’s assessing, Danielle will “want to see a horse that says ‘look at me’, that goes forward, looking through the bridle like it’s enjoying itself,” on the go-round.

Rising Star hacks

“A hack should be elegant and light on its feet,” she says. “And a hack should be quality with manners. A hack’s schooling has got to be ‘bang on’ in terms of transitions and so on.

“I’ll be looking at at the rider, too. It’s important that the rider looks elegant as well in the whole picture.”

Should she be on conformation for the hacks, Danielle says, “A hack should be quality, with good quality, flat bone and no conformation faults. A hack should also be a lovely mover, and a straight mover.”

Rising Star cobs

“In a good cob, I’m looking for something that’s not too heavy on the ground. Although it’s a cob, it should still have lovely, straight, paces and cover the ground. Of course a cob should be workman-like, but they should also have a bit of quality about them,” says Danielle.

“Close up, I’ll want a cob with clean conformation. I’ll want a cob with short cannon bones, nice big knees and a strong second thigh. It should be low to the ground and square, but with a good length of rein.

Rising Star riding horses

“A riding horse has got to have good limbs. They should be between a hack and a hunter, so should have some substance to them with a good depth of girth and a good length of rein.

“Again, a good riding horse should be light on its feet, but cover the ground more than a hack, and it should give a good gallop. It should always be mannerly, too, and looking through the bridle.

A riding horse must gallop well – as demonstrated by Danielle and thrice RIHS riding horse champion, Times Square II. (Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

LIHS Rising Star judge Danielle Heath’s pet hates

“Yes,” she says. “I hate to see competitors bunched-up on a go-round, and don’t like to see people not give themselves a space. Try to keep plenty of space around you to show your horse off. If you find yourselves in a bunch, use your ring craft and get out of the group into a space of your own.

“I also like to see a good walk. The walk is the first and last thing a judge sees, so make sure your downwards transitions are good and you finish with a good walk that shows your horse off.”

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‘Do we have too many judges without valid experience?’ asks Stuart Hollings

Stuart Hollings — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:28:23 +0000

Successful pony producer turned well-known and respected judge, Stuart Hollings, has his say on ill-qualified judges and the hot topics of the showing season

This season has been a time for reflection and how showing can move forward.

I have never known a year in which there has seemingly been such a widespread undercurrent of disrespect directed towards judges’ decisions. Sadly this has sometimes been justified.

When I was competing, many of the judges were proper horsemen and women and you would gladly have given them your cheque book to source a good show prospect. That is why I do not have any objections to producers and breeders being on judging panels.

My bugbear is when judges have no valid experience of the section they are judging. My brother Nigel’s favourite quote says it all: “You wouldn’t appoint an England football manager who has never kicked a football.” Apologies to Pippa Funnell – who jokingly covered her ears at his many football analogies during his appearance on her podcast – for another one.

It seems everyone wants to become a judge nowadays rather than take the traditional stewarding route to give something back. Once on one panel – and this is where the main grievance lies – it is easier to upgrade to other categories.

Consequently, do we have too many judges? The British Show Pony Society (BSPS) alone has around 450 people on its books, arguably to cater for its three championship shows and three major finals.

In my opinion, if this is indeed the problem, the solution would be to temporarily shut the door on any future judges’ auditions, except for horse ride judges, to reassess the situation.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for young blood, but not at the expense of losing experienced judges who are being overlooked by inexperienced show secretaries and consequently resigning from panels rather than paying expensive membership fees every year for no reason.

“The final nail”

One reader of H&H magazine requested an explanation for the supreme hunter championship at Dublin Horse Show (letters, 28 August).

It is not my place to dispute the judges’ decision, but what alarmed me was that the second ride judge was allowed on board the eventual champion, totally unaware that it had misbehaved badly with her co-judge beforehand.

Having judged at Dublin many times, I know there is a strong duty-of-care ethic and safety is paramount. In the past, this horse would have automatically been “gated” and I heard that others were dismissed from the ring for lesser displays of bad manners during the week.

The consequences, had judge number two been seriously injured, are too scary to contemplate. Following on so soon from last year’s “Balmoralgate”, in which a ride judge sustained a broken neck, this could have been the final nail in the coffin for ride judging.

Hats a hot topic

Another hot topic of the season was the upsetting disqualifications of three horses at Horse of the Year (HOYS) qualifiers because the riders’ hats fell off. The HOYS rule is as succinct as a “No smoking” sign: “A rider whose hat comes off will be disqualified.”

The answer to the common query, “How is this different to when gentleman riders doff their hats on the lap of honour?” is simple: the class is over when the line-up is dismissed.

However, there does need to be more clarification to cover all the scenarios.

On a different page entirely, the current trend of hats not being removed by male riders and judges during rosette presentations is yet another example of showing etiquette disappearing, to the detriment of our sport.

While some riders may not wish to risk doing so after this year, there’s no excuse for the judges.

Finally, the best of luck to those competing at the London International Horse Show in December.

● How can we ensure our judges are better qualified? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

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‘Being trusted to assess the country’s best horses is a privilege I never take lightly’: meet HOYS supreme judge Lisha Leeman

Bethan Simons — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:31:34 +0000

For many of us, competing at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) is the pinnacle of our equestrian careers. But a few of us will be fortunate enough not only to win, but stand champion and compete for one of the ultimate showing accolades: the horse or pony supreme championships at HOYS. Here, HOYS supreme judge Lisha Leeman gives an insight into her background in horses and what she will be looking for when judging these prestigious championships alongside British Showjumping chief executive Iain Graham.

Meet HOYS supreme judge Lisha Leeman

“My love of horses started at a very young age,” says Lisha of her early interest in equestrian sport. “I grew up around them and spent most of my childhood in the saddle. Horses have always been a huge part of my life and the bond you build with them is what makes the sport so special to me.”

Lisha took a break from horses when she met her husband Richard, who is also from a “horsey background”.

“We got married and raised our three children, but then once we moved and built our stables, I got back into the horses. It started with buying some show cobs, which introduced my daughter to the showing world, and that was it – we were hooked. I then began to breed my own show horses, and the rest is history. Breeding horses that have gone on to be champions has been incredibly rewarding.”

Lisha and her family breed under the Kellythorpes prefix, and show a range of their own homebred horses as well as horses they have purchased.

“I’ve been very lucky to enjoy many memorable moments over the years,” she says. “Highlights would include winning at some of the major county shows and competing successfully at HOYS and at Royal International.”

Lisha is modest. Over the years, her family and their breeding have not only competed successfully at HOYS, but have also won, from the show pony ranks through to the coloureds, the riding horses and the cobs. They’ve also stood champion, meaning she’ll know exactly how connections stood outside the ring are feeling when watching their horses and their family members compete from the sidelines.

Due to the family’s showing commitments, Lisha has not pursued assessment for judging panels.

“It’s always been very hard whilst competing horses,” she explains, adding, “although it’s definitely something I am considering in the near future”.

Nevertheless, she has enjoyed some impressive appointments.

“Judging the pony supreme at the 2011 Royal International Horse Show stands out as a judging highlight. Being trusted to assess some of the country’s best horses and riders is a privilege I never take lightly,” she says.

What will Lisha Leeman be looking for?

“I always look for a horse that has that ‘wow’ factor as soon as it enters the ring,” she says. “Conformation, movement, and type are all crucial, but so is presence — that show-ring sparkle. I like to see a horse that moves freely and correctly, is well produced, and clearly enjoying its job.”

And is she a stickler for anything?

‘I do pay close attention to movement and correctness,” she says, “particularly in limbs and feet, as these are fundamental to a horse’s soundness and way of going.

“I also dislike seeing horses behind the bridle or over-bitted, and I’m not a fan of heavy-handed riding. A harmonious partnership should always be the goal; the horse should look soft, willing, and happy in its work.”

Supreme championships are a challenge, as there are so many different types of animals of a high calibre. But she isn’t daunted at this prospect.

“It’s part of the fun,” she says. “I’ll always judge each horse against the standard of its type and look for the one that best represents what that class is about.”

What advice does she have for first-time exhibitors there?

“Firstly, enjoy every moment; qualifying is a huge achievement in itself. Try to stay calm and focused, and remember that the atmosphere is as exciting for your horse as it is for you.

“Preparation is key: make sure your turnout is immaculate and your horse is fit, well, and confident. And most importantly, smile and savour the experience — HOYS is a memory you’ll treasure forever.”

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‘No fat ponies will be getting top marks from me’: meet HOYS mountain and moorland mini and working hunter judge Erik Mackechnie-Guire

Bethan Simons — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 07:32:57 +0000

With the 2025 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) just around the corner, we catch up with mountain and moorland (M&M) mini and working hunter judge Erik Mackechnie-Guire to find out what he’ll be looking for.

Who is mountain and moorland mini and working hunter judge Erik Mackechnie-Guire?

“During my early years, my involvement in ponies was through a local trekking centre, which kept a mixture of native and native crosses. That’s where I first became interested in the native breeds and at around 16 years old, I had a native of my own for the first time – a Shetland pony,” says Erik.

After finishing school, Erik decided to pursue working in the equestrian world, and trained via the British Horse Society (BHS) system before embarking on his career. A period of working on various good training yards and facilities ensued, including over 20 years as head trainer at Gleneagles.

He has competed to advanced level in dressage, and is an experienced coach who has worked with the British para-equestrian dressage team and as para-equestrian high performance manager with Team Australia.

In May 2019 he was appointed as the BEF’s new pathway manager for para-equestrian dressage, and has since become a Fellow of the BHS.

Erik joined the Highland Pony Society in his teens, and progressed onto the judging panel in his early twenties. His involvement in the breed has continued to this day and he now keeps a small herd of ponies, and breeds under the Dunstaffanage prefix.

As well as the Highland Pony Society’s breed panel, Erik sits on the UK Ponies & Horses (UK P&H), the National Pony Society (NPS) and the British Show Pony Society (BSPS).

He has officiated at many of our major UK fixtures, including at HOYS and at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).

What will Erik be looking for at HOYS?

“Overall presentation will be vital to catch the eye” in the mini M&M classes, says Erik, adding: “I tend to see lead rein competitors as three components: first, the pony, then the child on board, and lastly the leader.

“With that in mind, I consider the pony’s type and conformation as well as their way of going. Then the proportions of the pony and the rider – they should compliment each other. The balance of the combination matters.”

What about the handler?

“As long as the pony is handled well and goes well, I am not worried about details such as which hand the handler uses to hold the reins. I’m simply looking for the best pony of breed type and the one that goes the best.

“Manners are everything for a mini pony. This can be a challenge at the likes of HOYS, where you cannot truly train for as there’s no other show like it. But the best ponies will have presence, too. I like to think of showing animals as pans on a stove. They should be simmering, but not boiling over and giddy in the environment.”

What about the conformation phase of the M&M working hunter pony classes?

“Let me be very clear,” he says, “no fat ponies will be getting top marks from me. Ponies should look fit and like they could do a day’s hunting.

“I’ll also be taking into account breed type. Whilst they need to look fit and able to do the job, I’ll still be wanting them to epitomise their breed descriptions.”

Anything else?

“In showing there is a lot of emphasis on what the head and neck and front end are doing, but that’s not where I look first. I look first of all to the engine. If the hind leg is not at least tracking up so the back foot steps in to the print left by the front foot, that will be a negative for me.

“If a pony doesn’t have an engine, it can’t work in any sphere, whether that’s driving, riding, taking a deer off a hill or jumping.”

Any show ring pet hates to be mindful of?

“A pony not going correctly and over-bitting,” says Erik. “For me, horses and ponies are generally amazing, extremely generous animals, so everything in their training should be as simple as possible.”

What makes HOYS so special?

“As a competitor and as a young equestrian, you look up to HOYS as the pinnacle – it’s one of the biggest events in the calendar. So to be asked to judge is a huge honour. When I judged the mountain and moorlands in 2014, I almost considered turning it down. I was in my early forties and felt I still had so much to learn – I still do feel that way – and HOYS is a huge responsibility.

“Competitors will have made a huge investment – both financially and emotionally – to be there. To qualify is fantastic, but to be in the top 10 is amazing, and as a judge, I feel the responsibility to get those ponies right.”

Any sign off advice for those riding there for the first time?

“Get yourself into a positive mindset ahead of your class. Do the work and hope your pony will go well. If you head in with a positive attitude you’re more likely to leave with a positive outcome,” says Erik.

“With so much emphasis on HOYS as the pinnacle of the year, it’s easy to forget to enjoy it, so make a conscious effort to; you can’t presume you’ll ever be back again. And remember, the people there with you – your family, friends and entourage – will be pleased for you whether you are first or 10th or don’t make the lineup. The memories you’ll share with those people will be lifelong ones – ensure you leave with good ones which you can look back on fondly.”

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‘Passion, dedication and expertise’ as 2025 HOYS supreme judges confirmed

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:37:08 +0000

The Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2025 supreme judges for the Supreme Products horse and pony of the year titles “embody the passion, dedication, and expertise that make HOYS a true celebration of equestrian sport”.

Show organiser Grandstand said today (16 September) it was “delighted to confirm” that British Showjumping CEO Iain Graham and Lisha Leeman will decide the two overall winners at this year’s event (8-12 October).

“The Supreme Products supreme horse of the year and supreme pony of the year titles represent the very best of equestrian excellence, and in 2025 they will be decided by two highly respected figures in the industry,” a Grandstand spokesperson said.

Ms Leeman owns Kellythorpes Stud and is a HOYS sponsor.

“With a long-standing reputation for breeding champions across the showing world, Lisha brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this celebrated role,” the spokesperson said.

“A widely respected leader in the equestrian community, Iain has dedicated his career to supporting riders, horses, and the continued growth of the sport at every level. With a personal background in eventing, he went on to serve as technical advisor to British Eventing (BE) before becoming BE regional director for Scotland and the north of England, a role he held until joining British Showjumping – he brings a depth of knowledge from the equestrian industry.

“Both judges embody the passion, dedication, and expertise that make HOYS a true celebration of equestrian sport.

“The championships, on the last evening of Horse of the Year Show, are a highlight of the week-long event, and the appointment of such distinguished members of the equestrian world, reflects the prestige and tradition associated with these coveted titles.”

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‘I judge how I like my daughters to be judged’: meet the 2025 Royal International mini ride judge Sharron Kivlochlan

Bethan Simons — Sat, 19 Jul 2025 15:32:12 +0000

The mini classes lay the foundations for many a generation of show-ring and equestrian personalities, and make for super-cute viewing to boot. The 2025 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) mini ride judge, Sharron Kivlochlan, will be putting each combination through their paces alongside conformation judge Mathew Lawrence.

Meet Sharron Kivlochlan, the 2025 Royal International mini ride judge

It may surprise some to learn that Sharron’s own competitive efforts were actually in the showjumping arena. It was only when she purchased a pony for her eldest daughter Elle — now a mother herself — that Sharron became involved in showing.

Both Elle and her younger sister Maisie progressed through the mini ranks, and both girls had a variety of ponies, from show ponies to mountain and moorlands and working hunter ponies. Most recently, we’ve seen Maisie enjoy success with the multi-garlanded Cashelbay JJ in the mountain and moorland working hunter pony classes.

As the sisters grew up, Sharron decided to pursue judging as a way to give back to a sport and discipline that they’d enjoyed as a family. She sits on the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) panel.

This will be Sharron’s third time judging at the RIHS and she says she feels “very honoured” to be appointed.

What will Sharron be looking for?

“I judge how I like my girls to be judged,” she says, adding, “I always judge as I see on the day and like to reward good performances.”

For Sharron, the performance aspect is foremost.

She says: “Obviously a lovely pony is a lovely pony, but for me it’s really important that good performances reap rewards for children. I know they will have worked very hard for that performance, and should be given reward for their work.”

Balance is important, too.

“When judging these classes, it’s the overall picture and performance and you have to weigh it all up. You might forgive a pony for being above the bridle if they have a very little child on board, for example.”

And any dislikes?

“I like to see corners used correctly when I am judging. That’s very difficult for little riders but I would expect that at the final, they don’t perform their show on a ‘postage stamp’ and they try to use the ring. It doesn’t need to be a long show, just one that uses the ring.

“In the lead rein, I would expect that leaders can use their ring correctly to show the pony off to the best of their abilities.”

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‘I want a horse to make me feel a million dollars on board’: meet the 2025 Royal International amateur hunter judge

Bethan Simons — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 15:32:27 +0000

The Royal International (RIHS) amateur hunter judges have a tough job as seasoned competitors go head to head for coveted titles, and competition is hot! 2025 Royal International amateur hunter judge Lesley Whitehall will be assessing each horse’s ride. She’ll be officiating alongside conformation judge Michael Maryan.

Meet the 2025 Royal International amateur hunter ride judge

“My father was a builder,” says Lesley, “so we didn’t go on holiday as children – we went to shows. As a family, we’d all go off showing in an old Bedford TK wagon. There was no living and we had a gas stove outside. It was such fun!”

Lesley and her brother shared their first pony – a roan that cost £90 – and they “did a bit of everything with it, from gymkhana to Pony Club.”

“I’ve still got my first ever rosette,” she says. “It’s pink with a chip stain!”

In 1976, her parents bought the siblings a “proper pony”. The proper pony was a 12.2hh Welsh section B called Crawel Souflette who campaigned the local and county circuit. The pair qualified for Olympia in 1978 and though they were placed, they were also disgraced when she took off in the lap of honour. This earned the pair a mention in the National Pony Society (NPS) Annual Journal!

Her trainer at the time was the great Donald Owen. Lesley went on to have many super ponies, such as Keston Oliver, who was sixth at both RIHS and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

After leaving school, she worked for the Weatherby family with their hunters and point-to-pointers, and then spent a decade producing horses alongside Nigel Oliver, including RIHS winning small hunter Cornish Sovereign.

A spell working for Jo Jenkins – or “Mrs J” – followed. Lesley enthusiastically recalls competing at 131 shows during one season, collecting 80 championships and 20 reserves.

“It was exhausting, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. We had beautiful horses – like Dicki Boggledyke – and it really was such fun.”

Lesley also enjoyed competing at HOYS, riding home-bred Groveside Casanova into second place in the hack ranks.

“I rode Ali Tate’s ladies horse Shambo River King to lots of success,” she adds.

It was one of Ali’s horses that persuaded Lesley to come out of retirement last year. She rode Commodus to win at Royal Cornwall and Great Yorkshire in the ladies ranks.

Lesley’s judging experiences

Lesley began judging in the late 90s and sits on the Sport Horse Breeding (SHB (GB)), British Show Horse Association (BSHA) and British Skewbald and Piebald Association (BSPA) panels.

“I did the riding horses at HOYS shortly after probationing and have been back to do the hacks and cobs since. I’ve also judged the Grand Nationals in Sydney twice and in South Africa five or six times.”

This will be Lesley’s second time on the bounce at RIHS, as she judged the heavyweight hunters last year.

“I love it. I like to see it as giving back to a sport I’ve loved and been loyal to. I try to be fair and have a nice time with competitors,” she says, adding jokingly, “I’m an aged old bird who likes to enjoy a day out and other people’s horses!”

So what will she be looking for on the day?

Competitors will need to command Lesley’s attention.

“They’ll need to sell it to me,” she says. “I’ll want the person on board to be smiling and see an overall picture of enjoyment.

“When they enter the ring, I like to see a nice walk with a bit of presence. As they go through the gears, they’ll need to go across the ground. I don’t mean going fast, I mean they will need to be naturally ground covering.”

Horses will need to be in self-carriage, too: “I don’t want to see the rider having to kick, kick, kick away and I don’t like them to be leaning or strong either.”

Once on board, Lesley wants to sit behind “pricked ears” on a horse that takes her “forwards with purpose”.

She explains: “I have to go through the gears – up through trot and canter – so I need to start off in a good walk. I don’t care about a horse going a bit ‘pokey nosed’ as long as it’s taking me forwards, enjoying itself, and giving me a nice feel.

“I want a horse to make me feel a million dollars on board!”

Be warned, one Lesley’s pet hates is thin, or pony reins on horses.

“I hate them!” she says. “I want proper reins and pedals that go short enough! I like to ride short!”

You heard it here first…

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‘A native pony must scream type, including in its movement’: meet the 2025 Royal International M&M judge for conformation

Bethan Simons — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 15:28:36 +0000

The Royal International mountain and moorland (M&M) classes will be among the biggest at the show. This means there will be no shortage of quality at the final. 2025 Royal International M&M judge Cheryl Scott will have the tough task of assessing each one’s conformation.

So who is Cheryl and what will she be looking for?

Cheryl’s background

At the age of 11, Cheryl began working at a riding school to earn free lessons, which had her hooked on ponies. She later swapped to working at a saddlery in order to keep a Welsh part-bred she had on loan, introducing her to the breed.

“Then I got asked to ride a Welsh cob that I showjumped,” she says, “and we drove him during the winter. My passion ever since has been showing my own and other people’s native ponies. I have owned, produced or ridden all the native breeds.”

Though Cheryl is most passionate about the natives, her career has seen her work with a whole host of different types.

“I went into working on a racing yard. Then wound up yard manager at a different racing yard, as well as a livery yard dedicated to dressage horses,” she explains. “I have also worked for a master of the Meynell hunt, hunted, and team chased over the years.”

Cheryl’s judging experience

Cheryl’s judging experience began more than 15 years ago on the Northern Counties Pony Association (NCPA) panel. Later, she progressed to the British Show Pony Society (BSPS), UK Ponies and Horses (UKP&H), and The Showing Register (TSR) panels, and eventually, the National Pony Society (NPS).

“I have been on show committees for almost 20 years, too, and am currently show secretary for NCPA Staffordshire and Ashbourne Show,” she adds.

So what will the 2025 Royal International M&M judge be looking for?

“You can make the top but never the bottom” is Cheryl’s ethos, so she starts at the foot when assessing a pony. “I progress to the correct angles of the foot and fetlock, then short strong cannons, flat bone, well-shaped shields and clean, well-set hocks. A pony’s bone must also be in proportion with the rest of it.

“Then I like a well-set shoulder, clean neck and throat, room to carry a saddle and strong quarters with a good second thigh.”

Beyond its basic conformation, for Cheryl, a pony must “scream type” including when it comes to movement. “A pony must move correctly for its type,” she says.

When assessing their movement, Cheryl also keenly critiques the walk. “The walk, for me, is the most important gait. If a pony can’t walk freely and cover the ground, it will never negotiate the terrain it was bred to live and thrive on.”

And as for pet hates? “Over-topped, under-pinned and over-produced ponies,” she says without hesitation.

“I like a native pony to be just that: a pony. Fat should not be mistaken for substance. I don’t like ponies fattened to the point they end with weakened joints and the health issues that go with being overweight. Let a young pony look and be a young pony.”

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‘These are Irish Draughts, not Valegro – don’t try to make them look like something they’re not’: 2025 Royal International Irish Draught judge on what he’ll be looking for

Bethan Simons — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 15:32:56 +0000

Last season, the inaugural British Horse Feeds and Irish Draught Horse Society (IDHS) of Great Britain supreme ridden Irish Draught championship at the Agria Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) welcomed top-class competition. 2025 Royal International Irish Draught judge Matthew McGivern will be assessing the ride phase of the class, and gives insight into his background and what he will be looking for on the day…

Who is Matthew McGivern?

Matthew’s passion for horses began with his grandfather, who was heavily involved in the South Pembrokeshire Hunt, and “took no encouragement” to keep Matthew home from school so that they could follow hounds. As well as hunting, Matthew spent his childhood competing in an array of Pony Club competitions.

“It was a ‘learn to stay on until you can’ sort of childhood experience,” recalls Matthew.

His first love was eventing, and Matthew travelled and worked on eventing yards until his career was interrupted by a back injury, which prompted a shift towards showing.

“I had a couple of young horses coming through, and wondered what else they could do,” he explains. “So I fell into showing in a way but hit the ground running and enjoyed it.”

Matthew believes that you can learn a great deal from observing professionals, and cites the late greats, Robert Oliver and Allister Hood as two inspirations.

Matthew now works for the NHS, but continues to enjoy showing and producing alongside Pembrokeshire based breeder, Sarah Baker.

He led Heronsmill Tiger Lilly – whose dam, Copybush Eye Of The Tiger is a full sister to Sarah’s 1994 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in-hand supreme champion Copybush Catchphrase – to win the Price Family In-Hand Supreme at HOYS in 2019. He also led Copybush So Fashion to qualify for the same prestigious final last term.

Judging experience

Matthew – typically laid back – fell into judging, too.

“It was purely by accident. I had a horse for Sarah Whitfield, who was a quirky, beautiful, pure Irish Draught that I fell in love with – he was my first introduction to the breed,” says Matthew. “When it came to selling him, I found him a lovely home, and his new owners, who were fans of the breed, suggested I try for the Irish Draught panel.”

Matthew has since thoroughly enjoyed judging at the Irish Draught championships among other appointments, and he has also been appointed to the Retraining of Racehorses panel.

What will Matthew be looking for on the day?

Matthew is “absolutely” looking forward to his appointment to assess the 2025 Royal International Irish Draught class alongside conformation judge, Sue Deakin.

On the go-round, Matthew will be looking for a horse that “is mannerly, covers the ground and has free-flowing movement appropriate for its breed.”

He explains: “Traditionally, the Irish Draught is a jack-of-all trades; they worked the farm, went hunting on a Saturday and pulled a cart to church on a Sunday, but this doesn’t excuse their way of going in a showing class. They should go correctly and give a pleasant ride.”

Once on board, manners are again going to be important to Matthew, and his winning mark will be awarded to a horse that “knows its job” and is “light in the hand.”

Nevertheless, “I don’t want anything that’s ponderous,” says Matthew. “I don’t want anything that you’ve got to be booting along or driving like a tractor. I’d like to get on, and be able to appreciate the work someone has put into its ride.”

As for pet hates…

“There’s nothing worse than when you see a big horse that is getting rushed out of its rhythm to try and make it look like something is not. I would much rather see something go correctly, than a rider trying to force something that is unnatural to an animal. These are Irish Draughts, not Valegro!

“Also, I don’t like anything that either snatches the bridle or won’t accept a contact. I would like to think that I’ve got quite light but guiding hands, but believe anything you ride, regardless of what type it is, should be able to accept a contact and be able to work correctly from leg to hand.

“Neither do I like a manufactured contact. It needs to be something that works correctly from behind and goes up into your hand, rather than something that’s pinned down at the front.”

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Rebecca Penny: ‘Is the antiquated card-carrying clause really necessary in 2025?’

Rebecca Penny — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:30:40 +0000

Rebecca Penny has her say on last-minute judge changes and whether now is the time to give certain antiquated systems the boot

Following on from Simon Reynolds’ column, I fully endorse his “choose, don’t chase” approach and wholeheartedly echo his sentiment that planning a showing calendar has become something of a logistical minefield.

With a packed schedule, overlapping dates and ever-increasing costs, the modern competitor must juggle multiple roles: rider, groom, accountant and even logistics coordinator.

Generally, given the expenses involved with attending any show – fuel, stabling, entries, not to mention the hours of preparation – I tend to make my entries strategically.

Like many others, I aim to give my ponies the best chance of being seen and appreciated by the right set of eyes. Therefore, I base my decisions on prior observations and careful research into the appointed judges’ preferences.

That’s not playing the system, it’s just common sense in a sport where subjectivity plays a large role.

However, one particularly tricky obstacle to negotiate during planning is a last-minute judge change.

Already this season, I have twice discovered a change only upon arrival at the showground. By that point, the ponies had been bathed, prepped and worked accordingly; the alarm clock had gone off at an ungodly hour, and in one instance, I had driven a few-hundred miles to walk into the ring and find a completely different judge standing there.

It is not only disheartening but, in some cases, the decision would’ve been to go elsewhere or not to compete.

What’s the answer?

We all accept that there are unforeseen circumstances and last-minute illnesses happen – that’s life, and compassion must come first.

But when judge changes occur due to administrative oversights, scheduling conflicts or simply a lack of communication, it becomes more than an inconvenience. It undermines the confidence and trust that exhibitors place in organisers.

At the very least, there should be a clear and consistent protocol in place: a 24-hour window across all shows, particularly where entries have closed in advance, to allow competitors the chance to make informed decisions – whether that’s to enter, withdraw or make a substitution.

Yet, all too often, those requests are met with a firm no, especially at county level.

The card-carrying conundrum

I have one more thing to discuss while we’re on the topic of outdated systems.

Surely in this tech-infused age, the idea that riders must rummage through a jacket pocket to produce an owner’s slightly soggy, dog-eared membership card in order to secure qualification for a prestigious final feels… a bit 1997? Especially now that entry systems are perfectly capable of cross-checking membership details digitally.

Some exhibitors have earned their qualification fair and square, only to forfeit it due to this antiquated card-carrying clause.

Meanwhile, if the results of a qualifier have had to be corrected afterwards due to marking errors, the qualification could then be awarded to a competitor who might have been unable to produce a card on the day.

It is almost enough to make you wonder if the real challenge lies not in the ring, but in locating where you last left that card. Was it in the lorry? The pocket of a sodden tweed? Wedged behind the bread bin at home?

Who knows, but perhaps it’s time for those enforcing this process to rethink: is it really necessary?

● What do you think about the card conundrum? What would be a better way to ensure correct memberships are in place? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘First and foremost and above all else, these ponies must safely carry a small child’: meet the RIHS plaited mini judge

Bethan Simons — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 15:32:34 +0000

The plaited mini championship at the Agria Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) plays host to some of the cutest and most charming combinations on show all week. Royal International mini judge Mathew Lawrence will be assessing the conformation phase in the lead-rein, first ridden and lead-rein pony of hunter type classes.

So who is he and what will he be looking for? Here’s your guide…

Mathew’s background in showing…

Bristol-based Mathew is a former producer of ridden ponies and horses, now focused on teaching and training.

Mathew was not born to horsey parents, but his aunt had a horse and a good friend at school’s mum ran a riding school, so Mathew worked on a Saturday for a free ride on a Sunday.

His father delivered flowers, and one client was Ro Rennocks of the Rendene Stud who agreed to give Mathew a part-time role at the stud and he started showing there, progressing to winning the Lloyds Bank Supreme final – now the Price Family Supreme In-Hand final – with Welsh part-bred Rosevean Honey Suckle.

At 21 years of age, Mathew started working for Mark Northam producing ridden horses and ponies. He’s since enjoyed a prolific producing career, with winners and champions at the highest level including Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), the Royal International (RIHS) and Olympia – now London International (LIHS) – across a range of types, from mountain and moorlands to coloureds and hacks.

One claim-to-fame is that he rode The late Queen’s Highland pony Balmoral Mandarin.

Mathew sits on several judging panels, and has judged at the UK’s most prestigious shows including at the RIHS, HOYS, LIHS, Royal Welsh and Royal Highland.

He is a passionate supporter of getting new blood into showing and so is a longstanding supporter of talent spotting clinics and of the SEIB Search for a Star series.

What will Royal International mini judge Mathew Lawrence be looking for?

“Way of going is paramount in these classes,” says Mathew, as “first and foremost and above all else, these ponies must safely carry around a small child.”

But when it comes to assessing their conformation, correctness is a key focus for Mathew: “The mechanics of a horse or pony are so important. If a pony isn’t built correctly, then it can’t go correctly.”

Mathew says: “They must have good limbs and I like to see a pony with a good topline, not just in front of the saddle, but through the back and over the loins, too. Sometimes, if they have a hollow way of going, a pony’s back becomes weak and that’s not something I like to see.”

Mathew looks for quality and correctness in type, which means in the lead-rein of hunter type, a scaled down light to middleweight with flat bone.

When it comes to movement, Royal International mini judge Mathew Lawrence says that “straightness should be a given”.

Whilst he’s always looking for a good mover when judging, he says that he won’t want a pony with movement “too big for the child – everything has to be suited for a child to ride”.

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‘Relaxed, in self carriage and covering the ground’: what the 2025 Royal Windsor hack judge will be looking for

Bethan Simons — Sun, 04 May 2025 07:30:25 +0000

With a show to perform as well as a ride judge to impress, the ridden hacks might just be one of the toughest classes to win. There are four hack classes at Royal Windsor Horse Show; the open large, the open small, the novice and the amateur, before first and second of each division goes head to head in a bid to secure the coveted Count Robert Orrsich Hack Championship in the Castle Arena.

So who is 2025 Windsor hack judge, and what will she be looking for?

Meet the 2025 Royal Windsot hack judge

Presiding over the ride aspect this year is Georgina Maywood. Neither Georgina’s grandparents or parents were horsey, but she became the proud owner of two donkeys aged seven, and her first pony followed about two years later.

“I decided that riding a horse would be much easier,” jokes Georgina, who is now a freelance riding coach and enjoys offering showing and pole clinics as well as private lessons.

She proceeded to take part in Pony Club activities, and later moved onto showing. Having shown a variety of types, Georgina now concentrates predominantly on cobs. She currently has a maxi, and a lightweight to bring out next year.

Georgina’s judging career began with Ponies UK – now UK Ponies & Horses – progressing onto the British Show Horse Association panel about 25 years ago, and she has since had some exciting judging appointments including judging at Horse of the Year Show, Royal International Horse Show, the Hickstead Derby Meeting and The Grand Nationals in Australia.

“I enjoy the privilege of riding beautiful horses and like to be able to give something back to the sport,” says Georgina.

Georgina has officiated at Windsor before, and on that occasion, she judged the conformation aspect of the riding horses.

She says: “It’s a special show and I’m very much looking forward to judging again”.

What will the Windsor hack judge be looking for?

With the prospect of riding some of the country’s most elegant hacks just around the corner, what will Georgina be looking for?

“I will be looking for my winner to draw my eye from the moment they walk into the Copper Arena,” says Georgina, adding: “My winner will need to have a good walk, meaning they are relaxed, in self carriage and covering the ground. For me, I’d like to see this way of going continue through all three paces of the go round.”

Unlike riding horses, hunters and cobs, hacks must perform an individual show with their riders, as well as being assessed from the saddle by the ride judge.

Of the show component, Georgina says: “I’d like to see the horses happy, forwards, balanced and in true partnership with their riders.”

Finally, once on board, Georgina says: “I will be looking for a light, mannerly ride with the horse carrying me forwards. I don’t want to be nagging them – I want the horse to enjoy their job.”

Mark Fuller will be joining Georgina assessing the conformation of the animals.

“With Mark’s wealth of knowledge, I’m looking forward to finding the next Windsor hack champion,” says Georgina.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘They’ve got to cover the ground and travel’: meet the Royal Windsor show hunter pony performance judge

Bethan Simons — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 15:30:20 +0000

Producer Matthew Ainsworth will be putting show hunter pony competitors through their paces next month as he assesses the performance aspect as show hunter pony judge at Royal Windsor Horse Show. But who is he, and what will he be looking for? If you’re heading to the King’s back garden with a hunter pony in tow, be sure to take notes…!

“I’m Lancashire born and bred,” says Matthew, though he is now based in Gloucestershire. He explains that he moved south to work for renowned showman Robert Oliver aged just 16 years old, and stayed in the area when he set up his own yard six years later.

Hunters and cobs are Matthew’s speciality, with several crackers of both types passing through his hands, including twice Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) winner, heavyweight hunter Dublin Streetfighter.

Although, Matthew admits that while he enjoys showing, he loves the young horses.

“That’s where I get my kicks,” he explains. “Finding young ones and seeing them come on.”

Matthew sits on several panels, and has had the pleasure of judging at the highest level, including Horse of the Year Show.

Show hunter pony judge at Royal Windsor: “They’ve got to gallop”

So what will Matthew be looking for at Windsor?

“The first thing I ask myself when I look at a hunter pony is, ‘if I blew it up, would it make a middle-weight hunter’?” explains Matthew. “Although I’m not on conformation, type and way of going for that type is important.

“The pony should be pleasing on the eye, have short cannons, be low to the ground and workmanlike with plenty of bone.”

Once on the go, Matthew again stresses that they should be true to the hunter pony type.

“The main thing for me, is riders must remember that they are riding a show hunter pony, not a show pony. I’ll want to see the pony cover the ground and travel; I don’t like to see them on the spot and going nowhere.”

He specifically mentions the walk and gallop.

“I was always taught that the walk is the first thing a judge sees, and it’s the last thing they remember, as you begin and end both the go round and show at walk.

“And they have got to gallop,” he adds. “They should lower their heads and travel over the ground, not look as if they’re climbing a ladder.”

Anything else?

“Manners,” he says. “At the end of the day, a hunter pony is still a child’s pony, and I always take into account the go round, too. They have to be well behaved on the go round, and if they’re not, I’ll take that into account when awarding a show mark.”

You heard it here first, so have fun practicing that gallop!

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘I’m looking for a pony that is going to give a child confidence’: find out what the 2025 Royal Windsor mini M&M judge wants to see

Bethan Simons — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 07:30:51 +0000

The mini mountain and moorland section is one of the most hotly contested of all the showing divisions at Royal Windsor Horse Show. This year, Russell Marks will be putting all combinations through their paces as he assesses performance alongside conformation judge, Tracey Brooks. So who is he, and what will he be looking for?

Russell is a well-rounded equestrian with experience in several disciplines, from travelling on a young riders’ showjumping squad, to being yard manager for Chris Hunnable and taking care of his Olympic event horses.

In the showring, he competed for many years producing Welsh sections C and D under saddle as well as part-breds and driving ponies, but now “I don’t own, show, produce or teach,” he says.

“I’ve been judging for over 35 years and am on numerous panels, but my love lies with our mountain and moorlands” adds Russell, who has officiated at most of the larger shows around the country as well as having had several international appointments.

And what will Russell Marks be looking for on the day?

While Tracey will be scoring the conformation of the ponies, breed type and way of going for that breed will be one of the things Russell will be assessing as he judges. But it’s safety that he cites as a primary concern in both of these classes.

“It’s absolutely paramount and is a must for me. If I see even slightly bad behaviour, I will penalise heavily!” he warns.

In the lead-rein class, Russell’s ideal pony will “travel smoothly and not be too big a mover, thus throwing its tiny jockey out of the saddle.” Overall, Russell will be looking for “a smooth, consistent, safe pony with smooth transitions”.

Ponies who are “over bent and in ‘fixed’ outlines,” will not please Russell, and he has high expectations of the leader, too.

“The leader should be at the pony’s shoulder with the lead rein in their left hand leaving their right hand free if to support the child if needed. They should have a nice, slack lead, but not a huge loop as that, too, can be dangerous! I hate to see the leader pushing the pony’s shoulder all the time; they should not be ‘on top’ of the pony.”

Leaders, you heard it here first: “Let the pony do its job!”

As well as safety, suitability for the rider is again, a key consideration for Russell when judging first ridden ponies. The pony should “not be too big a mover and must not be a complete ‘kick-along’”.

“I do not like to see a child kick, kick, kicking constantly.They should ask the pony once – possibly twice – and the pony should respond.”

To sum it up, Russell’s winning first ridden will be “a pony that you know is going to be completely safe and give the child confidence to improve their riding”.

To follow all the showing action from Royal Windsor, plus breaking news from other major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

23 of the most embarrassing comments we’ve ever seen on a dressage sheet

Alice Collins — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 07:30:10 +0000

Sometimes, when you’ve been out competing and your dressage test hasn’t gone quite as planned, there are some comments from the judges that you simply have to laugh at.

Here is a selection of our favourites we’ve seen written in the judge’s comments section on dressage sheets over the years.

1. “Talented horse with an opinion!”

2. “Flying changes not required at this level.”

3. “Horse may be better suited to a different sport.”

4. “Lacking activity behind”, shortly followed by a large buck and the comment, “Jolly to canter!”

5. “Head dangerously high.”

6. “Shame he was a bit saucy today!” — when the horse had spent the whole test looking like a giraffe and shouting his head off to his friend…

7. A comment about what a lovely young horse and how she’d be great as she got more experienced. She was 18 – the judge didn‘t realise she was blue roan, not a grey who was going to get lighter…

8. “Your horse looked like he would rather have had a showjump in the arena.”

9. “I’m glad he didn’t repeat what he did in the warm-up” — the rider was first in after a break and just before they went in got bucked off, which the judge had obviously seen.

10. “ *Stargazing* ” written in the comments (about the horse, not the rider) after the mare threw a particularly unelegant strop in the middle of a test and refused to bring her head down.

11. “A lively test, great choice of music however next time we don’t need to see the Moon Walk” — freestyle to a medley of Michael Jackson music. Horse decided to rein back after final halt…

12. “Lovely horse, calm and willing. Could use a little more OOOMPH.”

13. “Nice pony, has great sparkle – even without the bridle” — about a feisty mare that was done up to the nines in bling.

14. “Was spooky tonight – rather you than me!“ – a lovely coloured warmblood who spent the whole novice test in shoulder fore and also executed a stunning half pass (not required) when he caught glimpse of the fire exit sign…

15. “Nice test, but lose the chewing gum!”

16. “Oh you’ve got to love them!”

17. “Nice little horse in a horrible hurry.”

18. “I am sure a good test is just around the corner”

19. “Well rescued!”

20. “A very enthusiastic test, I’m sure he’ll settle with age” — said horse had just turned 21.

21. “The rider should salute; not the horse!”

22. “Nice plaits” — when this is written on your sheet, you can be sure that everything else was horrendous.

And finally…

Heard from the judge’s mouth – but not written down: “That horse sounds like a pig” as he snorted his way around the arena.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Judges confirmed for ‘the pinnacle of excellence’ at HOYS 2025

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 15:07:59 +0000

The organisers of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) are “thrilled” to confirm the 2025 HOYS judges.

Grandstand Media has announced the ride and conformation judges for all the light horse classes to run at the NEC from 8-12 October this year. This reverts to normal processes for HOYS; last year, the judges’ names were not revealed until the morning of each competition, to mark the show’s 75th anniversary year.

“The show horses and ponies competing at Horse of the Year Show are the pinnacle of showing excellence, and the judges responsible for awarding such prestigious titles are no strangers to these high standards of horsemanship,” a Grandstand spokesperson said.

2025 HOYS judges:

British Show Pony Society Children’s Riding Pony of the Year

Ride judge: Fiona Cabrol

Conformation judge: Chris Walker

The Harrod & Coles Family Cob of the Year

Ride judge: Margaret Hopkins

Conformation judge: Faith Ponsonby

Coloured Horse and Pony of the Year sponsored by CHAPS (UK)

Ride judge: William Murray

Conformation judge: Mark Fuller

The Andrews Family Hack of the Year

Ride judge: Lucinda Sims

Conformation judge: Lesley Jones

Harness Champion of the Year

Araminta Winn (drive)

Andrew Counsell (stationary)

Intermediate Show Hunter of the Year

Ride judge: Tim Wiggett

Conformation judge: Jill Godden

Intermediate Show Horse of the Year

Ride judge: Tim Wiggett

Conformation judge: Jill Godden

Thor Atkinson Steel Fabrications Ltd. Mountain & Moorland Junior Ridden Pony of the Year

Ride judge: Clare Dew

Conformation judge: Fiona Cabrol

Mears Flooring Ladies’ Side Saddle Horse of the Year

Ride judge: Susan Oakes

Conformation judge: Sarah Smith

Enablelink LTD Lead Rein Pony of Hunter Type of the Year

Judge: David Dixon

Colne and Sweet Dreams Show Confectioners M&M Mini Pony of the Year

Judge: Erik Mackechnie-Guire

National Pony Society/Baileys Horse Feeds M&M Ridden Pony of the Year

Ride judge: Heidi Davis

Conformation judge: Gillian McMurray

Jacksons of Yorkshire M&M Working Hunter Pony of the Year

Ride judge: Sue Hughes

Conformation judge: Erik Mackechnie-Guire

The Leeman Family Maxi Cob of the Year

Ride judge: Margaret Hopkins

Conformation judge: Faith Ponsonby

Annabel’s Deliciously British Mini Show Pony of the Year

Judge: Tim Wiggett

Miniature Horse of the Year

Judge: Jill Godden

The Binks Family Ridden Partbred Pony of the Year

Conformation judge: David Bennett

Ride judge: Clare Dew

NeedleSmart, John Illingworth and Cliff Kirby Ridden Purebred Arab of the Year

Ride judge: David Bennett

Conformation judge: Crispin Mould

Riding Horse of the Year

Ride judge: Aubrey Chapman

Conformation judge: Pippa Moon

Catplant Group of Companies Show Hunter of the Year

Ride judge: Kevin McGuinness

Conformation judge: David Dixon

Show Hunter Pony of the Year

Ride judge: Stuart Stafford

Conformation judge: Jill Godden

Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year

Ride judge: Aubrey Chapman

Conformation judge: Pippa Moon

The Price Family Supreme In-Hand Championship

Judges: John Ferguson and Jayne Stuart

The Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain Working Hunter of the Year

Ride judge: Susan Oakes

Conformation judge: Sarah Smith

The National Pony Society/Mole Valley Farmers Working Hunter Pony of the Year

Ride judge: Helen Sloan

Conformation judge: Chris Walker

The Grandstand spokesperson said: “The showing season is soon upon us, and we look forward to seeing competitors support the qualifiers and vie for those coveted tickets to HOYS. Further announcements are due to follow, including the heavy horse judges, qualifiers and more.”

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Judges speak out as they ‘put their lives in competitors’ hands’ while work on insurance continues

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 19:51:56 +0000

Judges and officials must have better insurance cover to protect them, shows and the sport as a whole – as they are “putting their lives in competitors’ hands”.

This is the message from leading figures in showing calling for better accident cover for the volunteers, without whom shows could not run.

H&H reported that ride judge David Ingle was seriously injured at Balmoral Show, Northern Ireland, in May when a young horse reared and plunged, and he fell. He incurred huge expenses as a result of his injuries and, months after the show, he has not fully healed.

“I hope I will ride, and judge again, but have to go at the pace my body allows,” he said. “It could have been a lot worse but I’m not going to shut up about the insurance issue; showing has to get its act together.”

Mr Ingle said he has talked to some showing societies, which say they have adequate insurance to cover judges but, he says, will not share details of the policies.

“Someone told me I was causing trouble and if I didn’t shut up, we’d have no ride judges,” he said. “I said if we don’t sort insurance out, we won’t have them. What would have happened if I’d been killed? And it was a very close call.”

Mr Ingle said he cannot understand why his accident has not been a catalyst for change, adding: “I’d be very frustrated and disappointed if nothing changed. This is an opportunity. I’m sure there are challenges but it’s as difficult as we want to make it.”

Mr Ingle referenced work carried out on the issue by The Showing Council (TSC), which has been investigating a group policy that should be appropriate and affordable – if enough societies sign up.

TSC chair Liz Inman told H&H a lot of work has gone into exploring options, starting before the pandemic, when it was put on hold. It was raised again last December and after a presentation by a specialist broker, TSC members supported more consideration to a group judges’ accident policy.

“Having undertaken extensive research, we are now ready to present the proposed policy to TSC members next week,” she said on 25 November.

“The proposal represents extremely good value at a very attractive premium; we are aware some shows and societies think they would be covered by employer’s or public liability cover, but this is not the case unless negligence can be proven.

“You could have a ride judge injured, or a conformation judge or steward kicked,” she said. “I think a lot of people don’t realise how significant this could be. It’s for the greater good and future safeguarding of showing, and the more of our members sign up, the more likely it is we can get this policy over the line for them.”

Judge Michelle Underwood, a friend of Mr Ingle’s, told H&H she has taken out her own accident insurance, which costs £55 per month all year, although she only judges in summer.

“Add that to the society memberships, travel and everything, I’m paying more than £800 per year to then be put in danger,” she said. “This needs to be addressed.

“David is such a talented rider but what happened to him shows that you just don’t know. We’re not trying to be difficult, we just want a fail-safe safety net so everyone is protected. Judges put their lives in competitors’ hands and not all competitors are truthful. We have to know the societies have our backs. We have to move with the times and ensure the sport we love can continue.”

A spokesperson for the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, which runs Balmoral Show, told H&H the society is “adequately insured through our comprehensive public liability and employer’s liability policies”.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout major shows such as London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Robert Walker: ‘The new HOYS format removes speculation’

Robert Walker — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 09:28:48 +0000

Robert Walker weighs up the new judging system set to premiere at HOYS

As a team, we’re gearing up for the biggest occasion of the year, the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Our season has shifted a bit towards the end given my wife Sarah’s recent fall at the Sports Horse Breeding of Great Britain championships, meaning she’s been out of action. However, we’re grateful to have good people around us who have been mucking in when and where they can to keep the show on the road.

We had a good run at our last show, the British Show Horse Association championships, and our main focus now is keeping our HOYS contenders sound, happy and healthy.

There is to be a new judging format this year, whereby the judges of each final won’t be announced until the morning of the class. When this change was announced at the beginning of the year I was enthusiastic about it. There was less pressure in a way, as it took away all the usual speculation that goes on in modern showing on social media.

As we move towards HOYS, though, I do have a couple of concerns. As a show horse producer, the main part of my job is to produce a horse for a particular ride judge. Each judge has a different riding style and preference, and preparing a show animal for a certain rider is an art for my fellow producers and I.

Ideally, every horse will carry anyone well, but knowing who is to be riding could be the difference between giving something a bit more work as you know a judge prefers something on the steadier side, or leaving it fresh so it goes on more. The atmosphere at HOYS is also so unique that it can be tricky to prepare a horse even without the unknown of who will be sitting on it.

Looking at the initial list of judges, all of the potential ride judges look to be very good riders, which is a positive. At this year’s HOYS, at least, we’ll all be going in the ring with a blank canvas, and we’ll have to see what happens on the day.

A showing spectacle

It’s evident that HOYS is still the main aim for all showing riders. The last few qualifiers of the year have been exceptionally strong with good combinations still clambering for those elusive tickets. There’s a passion around going to HOYS that you just don’t get at any other show.

The appeal to ride there is still as strong as when I first started out and it’s the one show that all my customers want to aim for. The buzz is like no other and while it’s been a very lucky show for us results-wise, the spectacle of it creates an incredible occasion outside of the show ring too.

This type of event is only positive for our sport – it’s the ultimate showcase of our best animals.

While Sarah’s accident has certainly put things into perspective for us this year, we’ll still be trying very hard to have a successful week at HOYS. I wish everyone competing there the very best of luck.

● What do you think of the new judging format at HOYS 2024? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout HOYS. Maryland, Pau and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘Craziness’: judge struck off panel after ‘frivolous’ pose in photo

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 19:19:36 +0000

A judge has been struck off by a showing society after he struck a “frivolous pose” in a photo at the Royal International Horse Show.

Russell Marks said he is “stuck for words” after the British Miniature Horse Society (BMHS) told him it was preparing its list of panel judges for 2025, and that he had “unfortunately not met the standards expected to be included on our list”.

Mr Marks judged the BMHS supreme miniature horse championship in the International Arena on 27 July, and was asked to strike his “usual pose” with the winner, Harriet Miller’s Model Farm UK Midnight Meadow.

“I’m renowned for it; I’ve been doing it for years,” he told H&H. “Showing can be a bit stuck in the mud and people forget it should be fun. I try to encourage people, and I’m known for my lightheartedness and zest for life.

“I’ve done that pose many times at many shows and the photographer asked if I’d do it in the main ring.”

Mr Marks checked with RIHS showing director David Ingle, who said it was fine, so after most of the presentation pictures had been taken, the photographer snapped the light-hearted one.

“It was one shot and that was it,” Mr Marks said. “I thought nothing of it, then got the letter from the BMHS that calls it ‘frivolous behaviour’. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”

The letter reads: “It is important that British miniature horses are represented and promoted by our judges in the best way possible, especially as we have the eyes of the public on us… you will see from the [photograph] that the frivolous pose shown to the public and our colleagues in the wider showing world does not represent or promote the BMHS or British miniature horses in the way we wish to be represented.”

The letter also says that “social licence… is at a precarious point which we cannot risk jeopardising”, although it does not explain how the picture could do so, and adds that it is “very disappointing” that Mr Marks had not made any of the four dates provided for obligatory online judges’ briefings in the past two years.

But Mr Marks said: “I haven’t been at the Zoom conferences but if they’d wanted to pull me up for that, they could have done it before, as they knew I was judging there.

“I judge the same at every show, whether it’s a local gymkhana or the RIHS, and that’s what I’m respected for, and I always try to make it fun. And competitors like these pictures and they buy them.”

The picture has been shared widely on social media, and some have digitally transposed Mr Marks’ pose into a range of other photographs.

“Talk about egg on your face for the society!” Mr Marks said. “If I’ve done wrong, ring me up and give me a slapped wrist, but to have it for such a ridiculous reason is beyond craziness.”

Mr Marks added that he has been judging for 33 years, including about 10 for the BMHS, and that accepting such appointments often results in his losing money, as judges are unpaid.

“You do it for the love of it,” he said. “Luckily, most societies are lovely. I always try to help and give constructive criticism; I’m serious with my judging but showing can and should be fun, and this gives it a bad name, which it doesn’t need.”

The BMHS told H&H: “The unanimous decision to ask Mr Marks not to accept any further judging appointments on behalf of BMHS was taken after the RIHS. The committee stands by this decision.”

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Stuart Hollings: ‘I was accused of inciting a riot, but are we any nearer to knowing the full picture now than 20 years ago?’

Stuart Hollings — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 09:28:47 +0000

Stuart Hollings on persistent issues affecting the show ring, and why exhibitors should think before they act

The 2024 show season has been so open on the results front up to now, as most of the major players have been beaten on occasions. Is this scenario – a bit of a shake up of the form book – preferable to seeing the superstars take all the spoils?

Earlier in the year I purchased a subscription to the Horse & Hound historic archive and it is so interesting to be reminded of both the legendary champions that have graced the rings in the past and of important topics that are as relevant today.

On 16 September 2004, and with the heading “Time to insure our future”, I suggested in my H&H column that judges “create merry hell at their next annual general meeting” if precise information was not forthcoming over insurance cover while judging. One chairman subsequently accused me of inciting a riot!

Twenty years later, are we really any nearer to knowing the full picture? This concern does not solely apply to ride judging – I’ve had some lucky escapes when judging youngstock and even during rosette presentations.

My understanding is that judges’ membership fees automatically include insurance cover but how many of us have seen any documentation?

When judging for the British Show Pony Society (BSPS), I believe judges are covered from the moment they leave home to returning home from judging BSPS classes. But it doesn’t include officiating for other societies or non-affiliated classes.

What happens when you are invited to judge a stand-alone supreme championship like a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in-hand qualifier?

Will your travel insurance be sufficient when judging outside the UK, at shows that have no affiliation to our showing bodies? Are celebrity guest judges and those invited from overseas, who are not on our judging panels, in a vulnerable position?

The devil is in the detail and there are so many questions that still require answers for both show organisers and officials alike.

“It’s not rocket science”

Competitors can be their own worst enemies at times. They readily complain when classes are dropped from the schedule and yet didn’t support them beforehand.

There are different schools of thought regarding which option attracts the most entries; a definite closing date or allowing entries on show day. The former is certainly easier for shows but the latter is considered to be more exhibitor-friendly.

However some competitors are running the risk of losing the goodwill of show secretaries over two issues that could see entries on the day being next to face the axe. Firstly, when entries are reopened at the show, this is not an invitation to start changing your pre-entries or even asking for refunds – usually because their pony has since qualified!

My advice is to take up the show day option if you are unsure what to enter – particularly at the beginning of the season – as being more accurate could save you a lot of money in the long run.

Secondly, is it that far too many competitors are still arriving at shows without completed HOYS entry forms to hand? It’s not rocket science to photocopy these forms with all the relevant details and keep them in the horsebox until required.

HOYS may already have the information on file, but show secretaries still need correct and legible ID numbers to type the facts into the HOYS database. There is nothing more frustrating than when this data on an entry form is obviously incorrect, causing unnecessary work after the show!

● How can competitors and secretaries work together so that entering shows is simple? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

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11 things judges say vs. what they are really thinking…

Alex Robinson — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 07:30:41 +0000

Judging can be a thankless task at the best of times, so we salute the dedicated few who wake at the crack of dawn, thrown on their best attire and trek off to stand on a muddy showground so we can proudly parade our horses and ponies in front of them.

While judges are professional and polite at all times, we sometime wonder, what are they really thinking during those brief exchanges with competitors on show day?

Read our tongue-in-cheek guide to what might be running though their minds…

“Are you okay?” – Please show me you can pull up immediately
“He was a bit tense today’”– Piaffe and half pass aren’t required in a riding horse class
“It was a very difficult class to judge” – Slim pickings today
“You win the best turned out prize” – Your show wasn’t up to much, but I can tell you tried your best
“Is he a New Forest?” – It’s been a long day, I’ve seen hundreds of natives and they are all blurring into one…
“There were some really quality horses forward today’”– The trifle served in the lunch tent was fantastic
“Can I have a nice short show please” – If you change the rein more than once I will stop watching
“At least the weather was nice today’”– There was an hour this afternoon when I could actually feel my fingers.
“Thank you for coming forward” – I wish I’d stayed home in the warm and dry.
“Can you fetch me a coffee please steward?” – It’s going to be a long day, is there anything stronger on offer?
“Will he be OK with this sash?’”– If your horse tramples over the top of me, I will sue
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Study on dressage judges’ eye movements could help inform their training

Lucy Elder — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 07:21:51 +0000

A new study has revealed insights into how dressage judges focus their attention when assessing competitors at different levels – with hopes this could help inform judge development and training.

The research was led by Dr Inga Wolframm, professor of sustainable equestrianism at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (VHL) in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Tobii Eye Tracking Technology.

The researchers used eye-tracking technology to record the eye movements of 20 judges – who had varying levels of experience – as they assessed grand prix dressage tests on video.

The research team calculated how long and how often judges “fixated” on different aspects. Fixation in this context means how long the eyes focused on a certain area long enough for the brain to process the detailed information being looked at.

The study found that overall, the judges involved focused more on the front of the horse, compared to the back end, feet, or the rider. But for movements in trot and canter, higher-level judges paid comparatively more attention to the horses’ feet, while lower-level judges focused comparatively more on the rider.

“Dressage judging is cognitively very demanding. Per movement, judges only have a limited amount of time in which to assess a horse-rider combination,” said Dr Wolframm.

“That means judges have to develop their own strategic visual search patterns, focusing on the aspects they consider essential when assessing horse-rider combinations.

“While we were able to detect overarching patterns of visual search behaviour, we also saw considerable variation between individual judges.

“This is something we’ll investigate further in the months to come. At a time when equine welfare and transparency in the sport is increasingly important, we need to know what judges engaged at different levels of the sport focus on.”

The study concluded that although the different visual patterns “may be indicative of the greater expertise of advanced judges, they may also reflect differences in task-specific patterns and their subsequent interpretation by judges”.

“The study underscores the importance of investigating visual gaze patterns in equestrian dressage in particular and highlights the potential of eye-tracking to enhance judging accuracy and transparency, especially with a view to prioritising welfare parameters,” it added.

“The findings suggest that current judging practices could benefit from the development of new guidelines incorporating these insights. By refining these guidelines, the judging process could become more transparent, helping to promote equine welfare by ensuring that horses and relevant behavioural expressions are judged more accurately and fairly.”

Peter Reuter, from Tobii and associate professor at VHL, said: “By identifying the visual cues and patterns associated with effective judging, educational materials can be designed to enhance judges’ observational skills and decision-making accuracy.”

British Dressage (BD) training and education manager Charlotte Osborne told H&H that insights from this study will help BD to better understand how judges make assessments of a combination’s performance.

“The focus and priorities of our more experienced judges, who have long careers as officials in dressage, will in turn help the development of those who are starting out on their judging journey,” she said

“We can use this data to help us define optimum judging at all levels, taking into consideration other important factors such as the mental load and cognition of judges, measured over different periods of time, including length of test and number of competitors per class.

“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to improve the training processes for our judges and welcome this type of evidence-based approach to support the next stages of development for our education systems.”

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‘What showing should be like’: love for judge who demonstrates show on foot – and canters on the right leg

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 18:51:15 +0000

A judge gave young riders their perfect start in showing as he demonstrated how their ponies should go – including cantering on the correct leg on both reins.

A video of Robert Parker-Jones judging a first-ridden class at the National Shetland Performance Show on 13 July has been seen by more than 53,000 people across the world.

Posted by on

Karen Hodge filmed Mr Parker-Jones as he talked the riders through their show and went through it on his own two feet, “trotting”, then picking up canter, changing the rein through trot and cantering away on the other rein.

Mr Parker-Jones told H&H he had been invited to judge three “teaching classes”, a lead-rein and a new combination class, as well as this one.

“After I’d done the two classes, I thought the children weren’t really grasping what I wanted them to do,” he said. “Someone reminded me that I had also done it 40 years ago, but I thought it might be easier for them if they saw what I wanted them to do, and actually it worked really well; all of them came out and did exactly what I’d said.”

Mr Parker-Jones added that all the riders followed his example in cantering on the correct leg; the set-up of his own show and the positioning of the transitions may have helped.

“It was nice because it got them thinking about it and discussing it too,” he said.

“I’ve done it in the past; even with dressage tests, to get people to use their space or show where I want them to go. That visual prompt is better than words.”

Mr Parker-Jones said he knows and has judged Karen, who shows Shetlands and a Fell.

“I think she must have been sitting at the bottom of the ring and she saw the first bit, when I set off at walk and got into trot, and must have thought ‘This is worth recording’!” he said.

“I think what’s nice is that in the present climate, judges aren’t the most popular people and this has restored faith. A lot of people have messaged me saying it’s making yourself approachable and interacting, and that it’s so nice people are comfortable and happy.”

Mr Parker-Jones said this was reflected throughout the show, at which he had never judged before but has already agreed to go next year, which was “like going back 50 years; there was a real camaraderie between exhibitors”.

And he said he was amazed by the video’s reach; it has been shared in South Africa and Australia, and people have found pictures of him judging or presenting prizes in both countries.

Karen Hodge told H&H Mr Parker-Jones’s assessment of her thinking was spot-on.

“I thought ‘What’s he up to? Quick!’” she said, adding that the video has also been viewed more than 6,000 times on TikTok, and that it has had very positive feedback.

“‘This is what showing should be like’, is what’s coming across, and rightly so; inspiring the next generation,” she said. “I almost wish my grandson had been in that class as that would have been really helpful.”

Ms Hodges, who also judges, agreed with Mr Parker-Jones about the show.

“It was all very laid-back and good fun,” she said. “Absolutely brilliant.”

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‘Stay on the ball’: are you an amateur heading to the RIHS with a hunter? Meet your judge

Alex Robinson — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 15:30:41 +0000

Riders are fine-turning their horses for 2024 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) and if you’re heading to the final as an amateur with a show hunter, then catch up with your conformation judge Magnus Nicholson who will be officiating each of the prestigious amateur hunter classes.

Who is Magnus Nicholson?

Magnus Nicholson is a leading showman, show horse producer and judge. He has won at all major shows including Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), Royal Windsor and the RIHS. He has also judged across the country, last officiating at the RIHS in 2023 in the open hunters and at HOYS in the Racehorse to Riding Horse final. At this year’s RIHS, his wife, Kate, will also be judging.

“It’s such a long journey for us but it’s a lovely, fun show with a great atmosphere,” Magnus says. “Everyone always seems relaxed and in high spirits.”

What will he be looking for when the horses enter the ring?

“I will be looking for the best horse in the class — in theory, the same type, quality and correctness that I would be in an open hunter class. Though, I will be looking for a good amateur’s horse. This means something with a lovely, relaxed temperament; the type of horse that looks like someone could ride and produce it themselves.

“I like a hunter with a good open walk that is looking through its bridle. The picture should look relaxed and happy, and the horse should look like it’s there to do a job.”

What about during the conformation phase?

“Overall, I want a horse that looks a complete picture when stood up. I want to see straightness when the horse walks away, and when it comes back I don’t want to see dishing; this could eventually impact soundness. While these are hunters, they are also show horses, so I like to see lovely, light movement.

“A nice well-behaved horse with manners is also important, even in the conformation phase. You and your horse are being judged all of the time while you’re in the ring, so stay on the ball. Keep the horse looking at his best as the judge could turn around to look at the line-up at any given time. If your horse is standing half asleep all fallen apart you could lose a place! From the moment you enter the ring to the moment you leave, you’re on show!”

How will he look at the championship?

“The champion must sell itself. It’s the one we want to buy and take home. It will catch our eye, be well-mannered, look through the bridle and have given my co-judge a comfortable ride.”

Does he have any show ring pet hates?

“I don’t like to see a horse that’s back at the knee as it’s a sign of weakness. Also, I don’t like a bad front leg as it likely wouldn’t stand up out hunting when you land after a fence.

“In the way of going phase, I don’t like to see horses that are overbent or that don’t track up.”

Any sign-off advice for RIHS first-timers?

“It’s very easy to say, but try to not let it get to you. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect all of the time; we all make mistakes, even the professionals. The best thing to do is to try and look relaxed, make your horse look easy, and don’t worry if everything isn’t absolutely right.

“My former boss, the late Peter Richmond, once said to me that you’re selling the overall picture to the judge.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Subscribe today and enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus unlimited website access and digital versions of the magazine dating back to September 2012.

‘A pretty bad situation’: judge who broke neck at show fears for sport’s future

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:14:27 +0000

An experienced ride judge who was not supported by the show at which he sustained serious injuries says he is concerned about the implications for the future of the sport.

Former Showing Council chair David Ingle is also facing huge bills as a result of the fall, from a heavyweight hunter at Balmoral Show, Northern Ireland, on 16 May. NHS doctors missed the significant fractures to his neck and shoulder, which were diagnosed when he sought private healthcare, weeks later.

David had just mounted the horse and did not have his feet in the stirrups when it reared, pawed then bronced repeatedly, throwing him to the ground.

“I didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter; it happened pretty fast,” David told H&H. “I knew at the time it was fairly serious, but probably not quite as serious as it turned out.”

David flew home and was taken to hospital, where he was told no fractures could be seen. He carried on working, but was advised to seek a second opinion.

“I was sent to a specialist, who said I shouldn’t have been doing what I’d been doing since the fall, and the fractures should have been spotted,” he said.

David was booked in to have his shoulder pinned and plated on 4 July, but this was postponed as doctors were concerned that the neck fracture was not stable. He was told to wait six weeks for reassessment, in hope the neck will have healed enough to allow the shoulder surgery. His medical bills are expected to total nearly £20,000.

“I’m in a pretty bad situation,” David said. “I’m arguably one of the most experienced ride judges around and I’ve been campaigning for 15 years for better insurance and support for judges. I’ve been very disappointed by the complete lack of support. The show isn’t affiliated to any society, which is fine, but that means I was there as their employee; they invited me there to judge and you expect to be looked after.”

David said he would advise all ride judges to check what insurance or protection there is in place before they accept appointments.

“I fear for the future of ride judging if shows can’t do better than this,” he said. “Judging has always been a difficult thing. You don’t do it for money – it probably costs us to do it – but because you love it. Volunteering is everything in this sport, but I told another friend who’s a judge what happened and he said, ‘We must be mad. Why do we do this if no one cares if we get hurt?’

“I’m not out of the woods yet and the most important thing is getting back to full health, but I fear for the younger generations coming into this job.”

David praised the work of Ruth Flack of Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB(GB)), who has been very supportive.

“It would be great if from this we could create something that might benefit people in future,” he said.

Ruth told H&H it was “extraordinary” that David had contacted the show for support and had none.

“On top of that, it would appear that the show denies any duty of care towards their judge,” she said “Judges like David give their time, expertise and credibility to shows for free; it is not unreasonable for them to expect the show to take responsibility for their safety.”

Ruth added that SHB(GB) is concerned that David’s may not be an isolated incident.

“Many shows choose not to affiliate with any show society, so need to address insurance cover for the judges they use,” she said.

“By making an unvalidated assumption that individuals are covered by their own personal accident insurance, shows are failing in their duty of care. At SHB(GB), we train our judges to a very high standard. As a result of this, they are highly sought after. “The worrying truth is, it seems that some shows are not respecting them by insuring them for the vital task that they are performing, without which shows would not be able to run classes. We are now left with a seriously injured judge with a broken neck and shoulder who, currently, will have to fund his own medical bills.”

SHB(GB) has now advised judges to check with shows that insurance is in place and ask for relevant risk assessments.

“We value every judge, official and volunteer and will take any steps necessary to ensure that their personal safety is at the forefront of everything that we do,” Ruth said.

“We will also be writing to our members to remind them of their duty in respect of the behaviour of their exhibits. Every owner has a responsibility to make sure they do not put judges, officials or staff at any unnecessary risk by exhibits being challenging, difficult or even dangerous.

“Finally, we ask all shows to check their insurance and be certain that they are covering the judges as part of this schedule. The judge is a vital part of what we do and they must be insured as standard. To not insure them is to be irresponsible and reckless, not to mention morally wrong.”

David said he is very grateful for the support from within showing and thanked ride judge Michelle Underwood who, with other judges, created a GoFundMe page to help with medical costs.

Theresa Morrissey, group executive director of Balmoral organiser the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society told H&H: “The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society is very sorry that Mr Ingle was injured while judging at the Balmoral Show.

‘We cannot comment on individual cases however, any suggestion that the society does not have adequate insurance is factually incorrect. In line with other show societies, the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society has adequate and substantial insurance coverage.

“The society takes the safety and care of all its visitors, members and personnel exceptionally seriously. On behalf of the society, I wish Mr Ingle a speedy recovery.”

Robert Walker: ‘Are we asking too much of judges?’

Robert Walker — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:28:35 +0000

Robert Walker shares his thoughts on making things easier for show organisers and judges

It’s been fantastic to get back out on the county circuit, and I’m pleased that some shows seem to be moving with the times a bit more by allowing competitors to enter classes on the day.

Royal Bath & West was one such show that opened their entries up on the day for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers. For many years, entry deadlines for county shows have been well in advance, despite calls for more flexibility from competitors.

In the past couple of years though, organisers and societies have become a lot more open-minded, some allowing substitutions or late entries, even if with an increased fee, which I am all for, given the extra admin. It would seem that shows are starting to consider how they can do things differently to accommodate competitors and boost entries.

From my perspective, I often don’t know which horses will be ready for certain shows so early in the season. Often, I’ve had new horses join the team halfway through the year, and due to early closing dates they haven’t been able to contend any major shows, despite being fit and ready to go.

Secretaries are some of the most dedicated and knowledgeable people, who often work unpaid, so it’s great to see them making steps into the future to try to get people into the ring.

With this in mind, I always encourage competitors to go and thank the secretaries and their team at the end of a show day, and be courteous when communicating with organisers at any venue.

Recently, at Staffordshire County – one of my favourite shows – we suffered the impact of horrendous weather on day one. The hugely popular Dancing Diggers display in the main ring ploughed up the going and it meant the show was unable to hold showing classes in there the next day.

I was disappointed to hear grumblings from competitors who were frustrated with the change. What we must remember is that displays are such huge crowd-pleasers – spectators were five deep during the Dancing Diggers – and they are what keep these shows going.

Our sport is so niche and it’s likely we only get a few keen enthusiasts watching us in the main ring, so we must take what we can get in these situations. The organisers did not make the change out of malice and it caused a huge amount of stress for everyone involved.

Let’s be more understanding. Everyone is trying to do their best, even if you’re disappointed you don’t get your chance to ride in the main ring.

It’s a big ask

Over the past few months, a couple of show organisers have asked me to step in to judge at the last minute, as they can’t find anyone else to fill the position. I predicted this sort of thing happening about 12 months ago when the new London International (LIHS) qualifiers were added to show schedules.

Now, a judge isn’t just required to assess one section of open horses and perhaps the odd novice class like they were back in the day. They are being asked to stay on and judge the LIHS classes too. Are we possibly asking too much from our judges? Even if organisers invite more than one judge to share the load, ensuring we have enough judges in the area is proving difficult. I wonder if it’s time for us to incorporate these new qualifiers into the open classes at shows.

Also, as fellow H&H columnist Simon Reynolds mentioned in his column, we now have three times the number of shows during the season compared to yesteryear. When I first started showing, we’d begin our year at Newark and Notts in May, but now we’ve already been going for two months at that time.

It’s not that we have a lack of judges, we just need an awful lot more of them to make things work!

As we move into the summer season, it’s been lovely to see HOYS qualifiers being well supported and entry numbers have bounced back up again. Things are gearing up for the year, and I wish everyone the best in their competitions.

● How do you think shows could alter their schedules? Let us know by emailing hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 27 June

From hors concours to middle tour – 14 confusing dressage terms explained

Polly Bryan — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:00:25 +0000

Confused by certain dressage terminology you may have heard? Say no more. We’re here to help with our handy dressage jargon buster, to decipher all those weird and wonderful dressage terms you’ll hear around the competition circuit.

From middle tour to hors concours, we’ve got the most confusing competitive dressage terminology covered, so you’ll always know what’s what.

Small tour – a collective term referring to the lowest of the FEI international dressage levels, which are prix st georges (PSG) and intermediate I (inter I).

Middle tour – a category of FEI tests introduced in 2014 to act as a “stepping stone” between small tour levels and big tour. Middle tour refers to inter A and inter B tests, and generally inter II as well.

Big tour – this piece of dressage terminology refers to the highest level category of FEI dressage test, namely the grand prix, short grand prix and grand prix special.

Hors concours – this French phrase, which is commonly abbreviated to HC, loosely translates as “excluded from the competition” and it refers to an entry that is non-competitive. A rider who chooses to compete HC can ride the test, and be marked by the judges, but they will not appear within the results, and they can opt to keep their score private and unrecorded.

Grand prix special – this is a more difficult version of the grand prix dressage test. It includes all the same movements but in a more complex routine, and is regarded as the most difficult test in dressage. It is used at top level international competitions and at championships, where it can be used alongside the grand prix test to determine the team medals, as at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, or as a standalone competition to determine one of two sets of individual medals, as is common at European and world championships.

Double coefficient – some important movements within a dressage tests earn double marks, and these are referred to as having a double coefficient. In the grand prix test, these are the half-pass on both reins, each piaffe, the pirouettes on each rein, the collected walk, the extended walk, the canter half-pass “zig-zag” and the one-tempi changes. For example, if a rider scores an eight for one of these movements, this gets doubled on their score sheet to 16.

Long arena – a long arena in dressage actually just refers to the standard-sized arena, which measures 20x60m, with the diagonal length from corner to corner measuring 63.24m.

Short arena – a short arena is a shorter version of the standard arena, measuring 20x40m and 44.72m diagonally from corner to corner. The short arena is used for certain British Dressage tests from intro (which is solely performed in a short arena) up to advanced medium, as well as for some para dressage tests.

PYO – this stands for “pick-your-own” and is a type of class seen at national competitions in which riders can perform a test from whichever permitted level they like and all are judged together, regardless of the test they choose to ride.

Ground jury – this term refers to the judges at an international competition. There are usually three, five or seven judges, depending on the level of the event. One of them will be appointed president of the ground jury, and is therefore responsible for ensuring that all rules, regulations and requirements are upheld during the class in question.

Stewards – these are the officials who oversee the running of a competition. Their job involves protecting equine welfare, running the warm-up, organising combinations to enter and leave the competition arena at the allotted time and also to perform “tack checks”, where they make sure all equipment is within the rules.

Chef d’equipe – another French term, which translates as team leader. In horse sport, it refers to a team manager, a person who accompanies the team to international events and championships and is responsible for overall team management, logistics and welfare. A chef d’equipe is not the same as a team trainer, although many are coaches too.

Friendly horse – a companion horse that is permitted to enter the arena with the competing horse at grades I, II and III in para dressage. The friendly horse can be held in hand within the field of play but outside the white boards.

Top and tails – this phrase refers to a top hat and tailcoat: the traditional dress for advanced level dressage. This has changed in recent years with a protective helmet becoming compulsory at all levels. Tailcoats are worn, however, at advanced level and above.