A producer makes a new mark on the history books, and first-timers impress as natives go head to head for 2025 London International heritage champion crown.

Katy Marriott-Payne made history on the final afternoon of the London International Horse Show (LIHS) astride Felicity Thompson’s home-bred Dartmoor Salcombe Starehole Bay (Cecil) as she became the first rider to win the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) heritage championship title four times.

“I always knew he had it in him,” said Katy. “We just needed to wait for everything to be right and go his way. Although I was beginning to think, ‘What if he doesn’t do it?’ And, ‘Does it matter?’ Because he’s had such an amazing career.”

She also worried that being in the first split of shows, she had played it “too safe”.

“I worried that maybe I’d not done enough – it’s hard to know whether to keep it simple or throw in fancy moves when you’re in the first split, but he has such a correct way of going.”

Eleven-year-old Cecil has been produced by Katy since the beginning of his career, and has more than earned his nickname “Special Cecil” over the years. The pair have proven ones to watch time and again, notching up championships at Royal Windsor and Royal International (RIHS), and a win at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). He’s also twice stood best of breed here, and finished runner-up in 2021.

Felicity, who sustained a serious accident in 2022, was there ringside, and said that after her accident, he hadn’t covered many mares, but now that she is fully recovered, “he has some lovely ladies waiting for him in the field”.

Katy had more reason to celebrate, with a further two in the line-up of the class, which was sponsored by New Horizons Plastics.

Young team member Maisie Kerry-Oates and seven-year-old Cadlanvalley Royal Bronze finished fourth and added yet more titles to their tally: best junior, and best Welsh section B, having stood champion performance pony here last term. They have also been crowned champion junior at both HOYS and Hickstead.

Finally, Kimberly Bates – Katy’s “chief pony stealer” – finished the best of the Welsh section Ds and seventh astride Chris Phillips and Charlotte Laurens’ Garthfach Classic Addition. Kimberly and the Ynyslyns Orlando daughter executed an effortless performance to gain the best of the ride marks, with 89.

Reserve for the 2025 London International heritage champion crown

Kimberly shared the top ride mark with London debutant Harriet Lawton, who rode Ellena Thomas’ New Forest best of breed Nutschullyng River Dance to reserve champion. Interestingly, Team Thomas also took the highest performance score in this championship last year.

London debutant Harriet and “Dancer” appeared to enjoy every minute in the arena and gave a sparkling performance here, her last show with him.

“He’s been sold now,” revealed Ellena, who was also riding in the championship, “so it’s extra emotional. I had my last show on him at Royal International where we were second, and now this is Harriet’s last show. She did so much for me at the beginning of the season when I had to have time out of the saddle and she loves him so much. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Notching their best result yet of five appearances at London were third-placed Lucy Heygates and her partner of five years, Connemara gelding Inverin Paddy. They were the best of three Connemaras in the top 10.

Chelsea White’s reigning HOYS ridden Connemara and RIHS junior large breed King Bunowen Castle Ali and Chelsea’s daughter, influencer Harlow White, 14, took home fifth. An emotional Chloe Heathcote rode her mother Tammy’s former best of breed Eastlands Dunknowe to seventh place on their final show-ring appearance together.

Also ending their stunning run on a high were winners of the Fell best of breed sash, Aimee Devane and charming Greenholme Kate. This year, the pair were reserve champions at both Royal Windsor and HOYS, after lifting Aimee’s first-ever win there.

Owned by Chantelle Bryan, the nine-year-old is by Greenholme Warrior and out of Greenholme Bethany, who was struck by lightning just three weeks after Kate was born, leaving her orphaned. Luckily, Kate was successfully fostered by a coloured cob.

Ninth place headed home to Lilly Richardson and her mother Lucy’s Welsh section A Marsh Walk On By (Archie). Lucy and Archie are no strangers to the limelight. They are former winners of the open section A and the junior small breeds at HOYS, and were champion in the workers here last year having topped the nursery stakes final.

Megan Hewitt staged a successful comeback astride her own New Forest Berrywood Wind Dancer, a seven-year-old by Portmore Downpour out of Portmore Raspberry Ripple. The pair were 10th. Megan badly broke her leg 13 weeks ago, meaning she had to sit out HOYS. Luckily, Lucy Glover stepped in to ride him, and qualified for here at their practice run, the Heritage championships.

“I can’t believe I actually managed to pull it off; it was only my third time back in the saddle since the injury and first show since August,” said Megan. “It was also my first top-10 placing at London – I’ve been best of breed several times but never the top 10. I’m lucky to have a very genuine pony that looked after me today.”

While his rider Sam Roberts has plenty of London experience under her belt, her ride was also making a first appearance. This was Bradley Helyer and Cheryl Hillman’s Welsh section C Cnwch Carwyn. The six-year-old is in his first season under saddle, but has hit the ground running, qualifying for HOYS on his first attempt. He gave Sam a cracking birthday gift by qualifying for here and standing supreme at the BSPS Heritage championships.

Also at the Excel for the first time was Dales best of breed Cleatlam Calamity Jane, owned by Christopher Joseph and Kyle McClements, who was at the reins. The upstanding mare – who has previously bred a foal – and Kyle were runners-up at HOYS earlier this autumn.

Another London debutant, Alice Sheen, made the journey from the Isle of Wight worthwhile with her own Carlung Xephyr who stood best of the Highlands. The award topped a super year for Alice and Xephyr, who also finished seventh at HOYS.

Jade Pirie rode James Pirie’s Anchor Jaffa Cake – by Waltersgay Nightingale out of Anchor Earthworm – to the Exmoor spoils. Jade and the former HOYS contender qualified at the Heritage championships.

Finally, Julian Walters and Jessica Talbot’s “yard favourite” six-year-old Shetland stallion Sharptor Democrat (Dexter) was piloted by Megan Bullen to be best of his breed. London marked the end of Dexter’s first season under saddle, in which he’s proven one to watch, winning the prestigious Picton novice final at the National Pony Society championships and qualifying for HOYS and London on his first attempts.

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Leading mountain and moorland (M&M) producer Katy Marriott-Payne would usually be in the final thralls of preparing her string of open ponies for the prestigious M&M supreme final held at Olympia. Though for obvious reasons, this year is a little different.

“Normally, there is just so much going on,” says Katy, when H&H’s showing editor Alex Robinson chatted to her on episode 29 of The Horse & Hound podcast. “I’m trying to juggle getting ponies ready, Christmas and everything else which goes with that. It’s really strange; there’s this big gap between the season that hasn’t happened and the hope that next season will start up again.”

Katy, who has been victorious at Olympia on three separate occasions, first rode at the final on Welsh section B stallion Lemonshill Limelight.

“It didn’t go too well,” she laughs. “I always say that it takes three goes at Olympia before you even have any idea of how to do it. It’s a show like no other. My first time riding there was memorable for all the wrong reasons. If I knew then what I knew now it might have been different. I didn’t fall off or anything like that, but Limelight was definitely on his toes.”

After her debut Katy accelerated up the final placings, eventually achieving her centre line moment in 2005 aboard Exmoor mare Stowbrook Jenny Wren, who is still the only representative of her breed to lift the crown.

“I think she was a little bit underestimated on the day,” says Katy, of the then five-year-old. “I don’t think M&M competitors would expect an Exmoor to come up with the goods as they can find the atmosphere difficult and some of the flashier breeds tend to shine on the day. We just went there to have a good day out and show everybody what she could do. This summer, I watched the videos back from when she won. She was a really lovely pony and it was her day.”

Katy achieved another breed record in 2016 riding Welsh section A stallion Uphill James Fox.

“Having done it with Jenny a few years previous it made me want to break another record with the Welsh section A; I’d been second and third with the stallion Delami Destiny in 2007 and 2008 so it just made me more hungry for the win. James Fox was one of those ponies who loved the atmosphere and on his day he was amazing. He felt great the day he won and he was certainly a pony who was deserving of the title.”

Katy achieved her hat trick the following year riding Welsh section B Cadlanvalley Sandpiper who already had a phenomenal Olympia tally.

“It was so speacial; Sandpiper has been with me since he was a three-year-old. He’s like putting on a pair of slippers. I trust him implicitly and I knew he’d pull all the stops out.”

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When asked what she thinks goes into winning the coveted title, Katy says you really need to be confident in your pony’s capabilities before you enter the ring.

“We iron out any issues long before we get into the situation; the atmosphere affects the performance of both pony and rider and while I like to think I don’t get too nervous you can’t help the excitment kicking in.

“You have to try and prepare for every eventuality that you possibly can. The fact we get to do an individual show of choice means you can play to your strengths. Generally, I like to keep the show simple with a flowing performance which is well within the breed type, though the freedom does allow you to put as many tricks into your show as you like and really make the most of it.”

If you’d like to hear more from Katy, including how she feels the Olympia final has changed for the better and worse, and much more listen here to episode 29 of The Horse and Hound podcast or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

We are continuing to produce Horse & Hound as a weekly magazine during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as to keep our website at horseandhound.co.uk up to date with breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

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In our 29th weekly episode of the first series of The Horse & Hound Podcast, H&H’s showing editor Alex Robinson chats to showing producer Katy Marriott-Payne about her three Olympia M&M champions. Moving on to the week’s top news stories, our news team join our podcast host Pippa Roome to discuss an exciting change at Badminton, temperatures when transporting horses, and attempts to stamp out the cruel practise of soring in the USA. We also catch up with vet Ricky Farr to talk about worming during the winter months.

Episode 29 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our popular audio service available exclusively every Thursday morning for our H&H Plus subscribers, is now live.

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In episode 29, native pony specialist and three-time Olympia M&M champion Katy Marriott-Payne talks to H&H showing editor Alex Robinson about her Olympia highlights and her thoughts on the changes that the competition has undergone in recent years.

H&H podcast host Pippa Roome is joined by H&H news editor Eleanor Jones, senior news writer Lucy Elder and news writer Becky Murray to discuss some of the week’s key stories, including an exciting change at Badminton, why the European eventing championships won’t be going ahead next year, the rules around temperatures when transporting horses and attempts to stamp out the cruel practise of soring in the USA.

In this week’s advice section we catch up with equine vet Ricky Farr of Farr & Pursey Equine about what worming challenges owners need to think about during the winter.

We hope you will enjoy our latest episode and would love to hear your feedback, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

H&H Plus podcast: episode 29

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Listen now to other popular episodes of the H&H podcast…

The Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 20 – Jayne Ross’s HOYS memories | Autumn horsecare | News round-up

The Horse & Hound podcast: episode 23 — Sam Roberts | Swollen legs after hunting | News round-up

The Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 28 – Evie Toombes | Winter weight management | News round-up

The Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 13 – Simon Reynolds | Care at hot horse shows | News round-up

The Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 27 – Michael Whitaker | Caring for hunters | News round-up

Northamptonshire-based Katy is one of the leading producers of native ponies. She has won Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) countless times, scooping the mountain and moorland championship with Cadlanvalley Buzby in 2016. She has also won the native supreme at Olympia more than once; most recently with Welsh section B Cadlanvalley Sandpiper.

What’s the best book or last book you’ve read?

I’m not much of a reader; I don’t sit still for long enough to read unless I’m on holiday and then it’s usually something terrible I’ve bought in the airport on the way.

What are your favourite tunes for a road-trip?

As the sole lorry driver, road-trip tunes are so important to keep me going. My music taste is vast, but we always like a good singalong in our “red bus”. Anything from ABBA to Green Day, with Queen, Pink and Beyoncé mixed in.

If you weren’t a rider, you would…

Probably have joined the RAF. I was a cadet during school and my father never wanted me to do horses. I used to joke I’d be a Tornado pilot! Nowadays, I think I’d enjoy ambulance driving.

Do you speak any other languages?

I wish I did, but apart from a French GCSE, sadly not. Although, I was musical as a child and passed piano to grade six.

What’s your favourite country?

I haven’t found it yet. I love to travel, but there’s no place like home.

What’s your most annoying habit?

According to my husband it’s falling asleep in front of the TV, then waking up in a really bad mood.

Which famous person would you invite to dinner?

It would probably be Patrick Swayze – I could do with a dance lesson or two. Living guests would be Ant and Dec, and Pink; she’s an incredible woman with so much drive and she’s a hell of a performer. I’m glad she doesn’t show horses as she’d be a serious competitor.

How many dogs do you have? Any other pets?

We have a yellow Labrador called Darcy. She’s the kindest dog, but is not allowed to come to shows any more since she visited someone’s lorry and ate all their food. We also have a ginger yard cat called Tiger.

What got you into the most trouble as a child?

I was generally a well-behaved child; I was even head girl at school. My brother and I had to help our parents, who were market gardeners, whenever we weren’t at school. But I would always rather be with the ponies so I’d ride bareback and make my own jumps out of bricks or crates. I once decided to trim my pony’s mane with a pair of scissors. Mum was not impressed with the result.

What is the best dish you cook?

Roast dinner. Every Sunday we are not at a show there’s a roast on our table. I love baking, too, but I feel guilty eating too much cake so I don’t do it often.

How have you coped during the coronavirus crisis?

Now we’ve got over the initial shock of the shows cancelling we have adapted and the workload isn’t much different. The open ponies are enjoying lots of hacking and turnout. We’ve been doing more training with the young ponies and building partnerships ready for when competition restarts. We’ve also started some of next year’s projects and are enjoying working in the sunshine instead of the usual winter conditions.

One to watch

Liz and Mark Kilbey’s five-year-old Welsh section C stallion Fencers Royal Addition (Roy). He was very lightly shown last year, winning most of his novice classes. He ticks all the boxes for me; he is very true to type with great limbs and tonnes of welsh character. Charlotte Kilbey and I will share the ride.

Ref Horse & Hound; 9 July 2020

She’s the reigning Olympia champion and she scooped her first ridden Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) title last year. Leading pony producer Katy Marriott-Payne shows H&H around her “ponies in the garden affair” — the cosy Northamptonshire yard that turns ponies into winners.

1. The yard

Katy is based in Northamptonshire and her parents used to run a market garden on the yard. Now all stables are filled with ponies — in fact, there are more ponies than stables, so some live out. Katy expects to show 24 this season.

2. The land

The reigning Olympia Heritage champion, Tonwen Hughes’ Welsh section A stallion Uphill James Fox, enjoys some turnout time. Katy has three acres around her Northamptonshire yard and rents a further 10 acres nearby.

3. Championship mementoes

Katy’s HOYS plaques have pride of place on a yard wall. She has headed the section B class at HOYS for the last three years and netted her first ridden championship there in 2016, winning aboard Yvonne Davies’ Cadlanvalley Buzby

4. The house

Katy’s home, where she lives with her husband Rob and 10-year-old son Thomas, is a two-minute walk from the yard.

5. The arena

There is a 20x40m outdoor arena, where Katy schools her native ponies and teaches. Pictured is Katy teaching Alice Tomlinson, who has worked for Katy for three years, on the section A Rhesfair The Don.

6. Schooling sessions

Katy schools Woodrow March Past, a recently arrived New Forest stallion belonging to Sam Woolerton. The pony was previously with Paul Armitage, who showed him in-hand.

7. Happy hacking

Steph Britain hacks out Clandon Precious with Alice Tomlinson on Grahamsley Crackerjack. There is good local hacking around the yard, and all ponies go out regularly as part of a varied workload. Happy ponies perform better in the show ring, says Katy.

8. Keeping on top of office work

Katy does all the admin herself. After dropping Thomas at school, Katy sits down to do entries, paper work and speak to owners before going out on to the yard.

9. Fitness matters

Katy likes to keep fit. She does Pilates on a Thursday evening and also cycles — she once completed a bike race from London to Paris, raising money for charity in the process.

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10. Thomas’ goals

Thomas schools Cadlanvalley Sandpiper, the six-time Olympia finalist with whom he is aiming at junior classes this season. Thomas will also campaign Powys Jack Flash in first ridden classes.

11. Katy’s one to watch

Colne Tiger Bay has joined Katy’s yard after being successfully shown in-hand by Sam Morsley, with whom he qualified for the Cuddy in-hand final in 2015 and 2016. The section A was home-bred by his owner Ann Overton-Ablitt and begins his showing career under saddle with Katy this term.

Don’t miss the full interview with Katy and much more in H&H’s showing special issue (16 March), on sale now

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Uphill James Fox became the first ever Welsh section A to be crowned the Blue Chip BSPS Heritage champion at the London International Horse Show, Olympia, this afternoon (19 December).

The eight-year-old grey stallion is owned by Tonwen Hughes and ridden by producer Katy Marriott-Payne. How did the stallion with a penchant for muddy puddles, thick winter coats and running with mares become a champion in the show ring?

Katy reveals all in the following video:

“He doesn’t always give 100 per cent and we’ve worked hard to get him right to come here,” said Katy, who runs a yard in Northamptonshire. “He loved the crowd and the arena; I really feel like he gave the best he’s ever given.”

The pony is a covering stallion and spends most of the spring running with mares.

“So he’s easier to handle at this time of year,” added Katy. “He went to Horse of the Year Show in October and then had some down time. He grew a big woolly coat so he’s had a clip and I felt his coat was just right for today.

“Keeping him clean is an issue because he’s grey, and he loves to get covered in mud. He’s got a favourite patch in the field that’s a mud bath — I’m sure tomorrow he’ll enjoy wallowing in that.”

Final results

1, T Hughes’ Uphill James Fox, ridden by Katy Marriott-Payne (Welsh section A)

2, M Stanford’s Benbreac Of Croila, ridden by Matthew Cooper (Highland)

3, L Scott’s Lynuck The Snowman, ridden Aimee Devane (Welsh section C)

4, Lady Huntingdon’s Slieve Bloom Jill, ridden by Hannah Horton (Connemara)

5, Waterside Black Prince, owned and ridden by Tarnya Shields (Dales)

6, Mrs Brereton’s Dunedin Duncan, ridden by Harriet Dennison (Highland)

7, M Wood’s Swchyrhafod Brenin, ridden by Michaela Wood (Welsh section D)

8, Moorlandsdale Mia, owned and ridden by Julie Robinson (Dales)

9, K Scott & C Green’s Cadlanvalley Sandpiper, ridden by Collette Green (Welsh section B)

10, J Crane’s Murthwaite Windrush, ridden by Stephanie Peto (Fell)

Don’t miss the full Olympia report in this week’s Horse & Hound, on sale Thursday 22 December.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A five-year-old Exmoor mare made history at Olympia when she became the first of her breed to win the coveted NPS Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain and Moorland supreme ridden title.

Stowbrook Jenny Wren, a superb example of this rare breed, is in her first season under saddle. In the expert hands of native specialist Katy Marriott-Payne she gave a foot-perfect, charismatic display in the daunting atmosphere of a buzzing arena to score the highest performance mark of the 34-strong final.

Co-owned by Katy and breeder Margaret Burnett, Jenny Wren began the season contesting mostly novice classes. She went on to stand reserve supreme at East Anglian Natives; reserve in the Garrick Wareing Collins £1,000 ridden M&M championship at North of England; second in the Picton final and working hunter pony championship at NPS, and gained her Olympia ticket at the Exmoor breed show.

“Six months ago, this pony couldn’t even canter properly,” said an overwhelmed Katy, for whom this was a first Olympia triumph after a career that has brought HOYS and RIHS victories on various different breeds.

“I’ve always wanted to win this but I never dreamt I’d do it on an Exmoor — I don’t think one has even been placed here before!”

It was close at the top with Sheila Peet’s super Fell gelding Townend Hamish, beautifully ridden by Amie Houghton, finishing only one mark adrift.

Richard Telford finished third with Bill Ireland’s home-bred Dales mare, Kilmannan Black Velvet, a full-sister to last year’s champion, Black Pearl, while one of the hot favourites, Vanessa Compton’s former HOYS supreme, Castle Comet, stood fourth.

Don’t miss the full report on the NPS Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain and Moorland final in this Thursday’s issue of Horse & Hound (8 January).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now