‘I’m pinching the ride!’: 12-year-old borrows his dad’s horse (who’s won with John Whitaker) to win national title

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Charlie Barker and Green Grass win the children on horses final at the British Showjumping Spring Championships.
Charlie Barker and Green Grass win the children on horses final at the British Showjumping Spring Championships.
(Image credit: ATG Photography)

At last year’s British Showjumping Spring Championships, Paul Barker won the 1.35m title with the 13-year-old son of Luidam, Green Grass. This year, the chestnut stallion was back at Arena UK (21-24 March) but with Paul’s 12-year-old son Charlie at the helm, heading the winter children-on-horses final in tremendous style.

Charlie launched a five-horse jump-off with a pathfinding round on Strides Maureen, before snatching the win from Honey Bowes (Lagrandessa W) with a smooth and neat round from final draw on their quality home-bred.

Jennifer Donald
Jennifer Donald
Showjumping and racing editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.