Blackman was discovered by Shelly Argyle as a three-year-old at Cavan Horse Sales and he began his showing career as a 15hh working hunter pony under Katie Druggan.
As a five- and six-year-old he jumped to second and third at HOYS in the 15hh working hunter pony of the year final. After measuring out, Blackman returned as an intermediate, going on to win HOYS in 2004.
“He was one of the most consistent intermediates on the circuit and was never out of the top eight,” said Joanne, who bought Blackman from the Druggan family in 2005. “He took on the biggest and most technical courses with ease.”
Joanne developed her partnership with Blackman with help from the late Jane Beswick.
“He had a quirky nature and a lot of people found him difficult to understand,” she added. “But we developed a bond which would give us a lot of success over the next 17 years.”
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Joanne and Blackman’s tally included winning the Desert Orchid final two years in a row, multiple Gold Cup wins and championships, including at the BSPS summer championships and Cheshire County, and several England working hunter team appearances, a final they won in 2010.
In 2013, Joanne’s sister Jennifer Keepe took over Blackman’s reins and piloted him for one season before he retired at HOYS aged 19, having placed third.
“In 2015, he came out of retirement to represent New Zealand in the [British Show Pony Society] BSPS international working hunter team, ridden by Chloe Akers,” said Joanne. “He was then chosen as horse personality of the year by the BSPS.
“Blackman was a horse who really enjoyed his job, so in 2016, Immy Kennedy showjumped him and they came away with many ribbons, including a second at the Scope Festival. He spent his final years enjoying the fields at home and Saturday morning adventures out hacking.”
“He was a one in a million horse and an absolute horse of lifetime. What made him truly special was not the prizes, but his character and personality. Once he learned to give kisses, it became a lifetime habit and they would be given to anyone passing by his stable. He always greeted you with a happy face and a whinny over the door. He won the hearts of everyone who met him and left a mark on all those close to him.”
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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.
