‘A good friend, mentor and great character’: farewell to one of showjumping’s greatest supporters

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Shane Breen and Haya win the Queen Elizabeth II cup at the Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, 2023
The dual Queens Cup-winning mare Haya, with Shane Breen in the saddle, was owned by Prince Torki of the Old Lodge Stud.
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves)

HH Prince Torki Bin Mohammed Al Saud, a great supporter of showjumping who “loved to win”, would have been thrilled to see his horses take first and second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Royal International Horse Show last weekend (29 July). But the same day as Shane Breen on the 11-year-old mare Haya (pictured, above) and Harriet Biddick riding Night Of Glory OL topped the podium in their Old Lodge Stud livery, news also broke of founder Prince Torki’s sudden death.

“He’d have been very proud of that result,” said Shane, whose partnership with Prince Torki goes back many years, beginning with the great stallion Golden Hawk. “He always loved having a winner, as we all do, but he’s had Olympic medal success [a bronze in 2012 with Sultan V, who he bred, with the Saudi Arabia team] and it meant as much to him winning an Olympic medal as it did winning the newcomers – he was just a real supporter of horses and riders.

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.