KIRKWOOD TABITHA TWITCHIT, exhibited by Jerome Hartforth winners The Price Family Supreme In-Hand Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 9 - 13 th October 2024
Two small-scale breeder’s dreams came true at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) as their respective home-breds took home the pony and horse titles and both spots in the Price Family HOYS in-hand supreme championship.
Star of the show at only her fourth show was the pony champion, Evelyn Tate’s very lightly campaigned home-bred Kirkwood Tabitha Twitchit. The two-year-old riding pony filly, shown to perfection by esteemed showman and breeder Jerome Harforth, captivated both judges, Colin Tibbey, a multi-winner of this championship himself, and Australia’s Vicky Lawrie, a leading showing figure in her home country.
“She was a beautiful pony who gave a hell of a show,” Colin noted. “She moved out of her skin and never missed a beat all afternoon.”
Tabitha Twitchit qualified for HOYS on her show ring debut at Nottinghamshire County back in May. She is sired by Jerome’s stallion Turberry Top Cat and is out of Rotherwood Have A Peep, a 138cm contender by Rotherwood Peter Pan.
Evelyn approached Jerome last summer about possibly producing a pony for her.
“She asked if I would come over and view her youngstock to see if there might be anything I might like to show, and when I saw her in the field I knew she was the one,” Jerome said.
“She’s got great presence,” he added, of the 2024 Royal Highland and NPS summer championships winner.
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Evelyn, for whom this was a first HOYS win, added: “I’m a bit of a realist and I never think things will happen. It was a shock when she qualified so to win here has been so unexpected, though Jerome certainly knows what he’s doing!”
Second in the pony section was Cathy Wood’s consistent Connemara Clover Hill Magic, shown by Jamie Frost.
Reserve in the Price Family HOYS in-hand supreme championship was the exceeding 148cm winner, Johanna Foster’s home-bred three-year-old Scottshall Aristocrat, a bay gelding by Stanley Grange Regal Empire out of Johanna’s Irish Draught x thoroughbred mare Social Climber.
Peter Green from Team Harvey led him to glory on this occasion, though he qualified at Bucks County with Johanna at his bridle.
Amateur breeder Johanna has similarly never won HOYS before: “He is the last one I’ve bred. He was a huge foal; very gangly, but I just liked him and decided to keep him all the way through.
“I cried a lot when we qualified,” she continued. “I asked John Harvey’s team if they’d show him here [at HOYS] as he’s getting bigger and I’m getting older and shorter. They said yes and Peter led him here; all of the professionals have been so supportive of me over the years.
“My dreams have all come true today; I can’t explain it. It’s something that anyone who breeds would love to happen.”
Colin commented: “He was full of quality and my co-judge and I liked him a lot. He also put on a good show. Overall, we were very happy with our choices.”
Second placed horse was Jaki Attril’s three-year-old coloured Willowsway Mr Brightside, handled by Karl Schuller.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
