‘Family horse’ takes London International Horse Show puissance

Guy Williams and Mr Blue Sky UK win the London horse show puissance — Guy Williams and Mr Blue Sky UK pictured winning the puissance at the 2021 London International Horse Show.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Red-wall specialists Guy Williams and the “family horse” Mr Blue Sky UK were the only combination to clear 2.10m to win the London International Horse Show LeMieux puissance.

Guy and Caroline Phillips’ 12-year-old gelding took the honours in a four-round competition with Mathieu Billot on Dassler and Dan Delsart on Granby in joint second.

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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

‘Family horse’ back to his best to take London puissance in style

Video courtesy of London International Horse Show

“I made a mistake last time, at HOYS,” Guy said. “So I did have a little practice before I left home and he jumped it so well at home, I thought good, he’s fine, back to his usual self.”

Guy said his method of riding the big gelding is to come three times slow and “risk maybe having a little rub”.

“But I don’t think he’s going to knock it down the first three rounds,” he said. “I don’t really want to run at it too many times; I let him run a bit the fourth time but then if you’re riding forward at it, he’ll jump it the last time, almost every time.”

The class was worth £7,560 to the winner, and Guy joked that “we can eat this year, so that’s good!”

“My daughter was jumping young riders two weeks ago in Scotland on him; he looks after her unbelievably,” he said. “He’s a good schoolmaster as well; the whole family ride him.

“We’ve had him a long time; Caroline and Rupert own him, and they’ve been really good friends of mine ever since I started so it keeps it all bonded.”

Guy said the arena at the ExCeL felt packed for the London horse show puissance, with a good atmosphere.

“There were a lot of people out there, all shouting your name but you’re trying to concentrate,” he said. “So I do my job first and then I can wave at them. I’m not very good at waving before I’ve won!”

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