HOYS 2023 ridden coloured championship: Castra

Mares dominated in the Coloured Horse and Pony of the Year championship sponsored by CHAPS (UK) on the final day of the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). The stand-out queen of the ring was Stephanie Fitt’s home-bred seven-year-old plaited pony Castra (Cassie), piloted by Rhianon Loader.

Earlier that day the pair had advanced on the second place they’d achieved in the non-native pony of the year final 12 months ago.

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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.

‘She’s so beautiful’: girl power prevails in HOYS coloured horse and pony championship

Cassie is by popular late stallion Strinesdale Matador and out of prolific ridden champion Fairfax C. She is produced Elliee Stunt and she is in her second ridden season.

She began her career shown in-hand by Philip Ward-Burton and she was backed by Caron Roberts.

The mare has now done the double, as she was crowned pony supreme and overall reserve coloured horse at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) in July. Her dam was also champion at Hickstead during her ridden career.

“We had a great year last year, but to come and do one better is incredible,” said Rhianon, after her class win. “She’s such an easy pony and she’s such an incredible ride. She’s so beautiful and feminine. She’s just lovely.”

This victory marked Elliee’s first HOYS championship win, and the cherry on top was that the previous day Elliee had finished second in the part-bred final riding Cassie’s full sister, Cleapatra, who is also still owned by her breeder Stephanie.

“We’ve had a couple of reserve champions here before, but never an overall title,” Elliee said. “Cassie is the safest pony and at home all the children sit on her; she’s so cool. She’s so educated, too, which means she can really deliver when she’s in an atmosphere.”

Lucy Cameron’s six-year-old KBF Lucia retained her non-native horse title before clinching section reserve, under Jayne Ross.

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