Millfield Baloney, the two-time British national showjumping champion and phenomenal force on the county circuit, has died aged 18.
Adrian Speight said that Judith Witham’s Balou Du Rouet gelding, known as “Louie”, became ill with an infection, and despite best efforts to save him, they “had to say goodbye”.
“He’s been unbelievable, and the majority of the time, unbeatable. It’s just been a fantastic partnership and he’s missed already,” Adrian told H&H.
Adrian gained the ride on Louie five years ago, through his former employer Pam Dunny. They became a force to be reckoned with, admired by riders and fans alike, for their blink-and-you’ll-miss-it jump-offs, countless international stairway wins, and famous moment at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2022 when they jumped a fence as it blew down beneath them.
In 2021 they won two area trials, and topped the British Showjumping gold league, then won the international stairway final to claim the British national champion title – a feat they repeated in 2023.
Adrian told H&H that the loss of Louie has “shocked us all”.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“He’s just one of those horses that kept going, but he got this illness and just didn’t get over it,” he said.
“Five years ago Pam suggested Judith send Louie my way, and I’m very thankful and grateful for them giving me the opportunity with him. We hit the ground running, literally, and never looked back.
“The highlight has been his consistency; to do the Highland three years on the trot, to be national champion twice, I’ve won a puissance, we’ve jumped speed classes, ranking classes, I couldn’t pick one stand out competition. Of all the classes he’s done, he’s been there or thereabouts.
“We were a commentator’s dream, I had several commentators contact me and say how fantastic Louie was in the ring and he gave them plenty to talk about.”
Charlotte Walker, Adrian’s groom, added that she always looked forward to going to a show because she knew Louie would be in the line up.
“It almost got a bit repetitive. You could put your money on them each time,” she said.
“He was kind, and he was a character at the same time. You can’t replace Louie, he was so consistent and he and Adrian were such a partnership together, they just knew each other and they had their routine.”
Adrian thanked all those who had sent support and messages, and everyone who had been part of his and Louie’s journey together.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
