{"piano":{"sandbox":"false","aid":"u28R38WdMo","rid":"R7EKS5F","offerId":"OF3HQTHR122A","offerTemplateId":"OTQ347EHGCHM"}}
Trending:

‘He’s a diamond’: triple HOYS winner enjoys his championship moment at the NEC

Alex Robinson Alex Robinson

    • On the final day of the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), The Binks Family HOYS 2024 show hunter pony of the year spoils were secured by a three-time class winner.

    Katie Parker and her 133cm contender Thistledown Sea Mariner shone the brightest in a field of eight championship finalists. Judges were JJ Kemp and Chris Lawrie.

    Britain win first home Nations Cup since 2010 | Friday round-up from Royal International Horse Show
    For the first time since 2010, Great Britain has triumphed on home soil after a Hickstead Nations Cup thriller at the Longines Royal International Horse Show on Friday (28 July). Horse & Hound’s Lucy Elder caught up with British team chef d'equipe Di Lampard, as well as rider Harry Charles, who also took home a share of the €50,000 bonus for his double clear. We also look at the other international showjumping and top showing action from the Longines main arena, with interviews and highlights from Britain’s Nicole Lockhead Anderson, Germany’s Richard Vogel, and supreme working hunter title winner Craig Kiddier. Actions footage courtesy of Hickstead and the FEI.
    0 seconds of 9 minutes, 9 secondsVolume 0%
    Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
    Next Up
    Meet Fell pony stallion Hardendale Ray
    01:08
    00:00
    09:09
    09:09
    More Videos
    09:09
    Britain win first home Nations Cup since 2010 | Friday round-up from Royal International Horse Show
    01:08
    Meet Fell pony stallion Hardendale Ray
    02:20
    Jayne Ross ahead of Royal Windsor Horse Show 2017
    03:50
    Starry Night is crowned RIHS Maxi-Cob Champion
    09:28
    Shane Breen’s fourth Queen Elizabeth II Cup win | Royal International Saturday round-up
    01:32
    Show Horse of the Year 2024
    10:37
    Robert Whitaker strikes gold in King George V at Hickstead | showing supreme champions crowned
    02:59
    Meet Royal International hero Times Square III
    01:07
    Sarah Parker: showing a Connemara
    Close
     

    “He was a top, top pony; just outstanding,” said ride judge JJ.

    It was a bittersweet moment for Katie, though, as this was her final ride on “Mario”, who is produced by Sharn Linney.

    The grey gelding is a pure-bred Welsh section B, being out of Loveden Sea Pearl by Paddock Sahara. He was bred by Sandy Anderson, also the breeder of the winning 123cm pony, Thistledown Galaxy, piloted by Rocco Lindsay.

    Sharn picked the gelding out of the field as a three-year-old. She explained: “We’ve had him since day one. He walked up to us and I said he was the one I wanted. He was coming home on our lorry.”

    Mario also won the 133cm crown in 2021 under Lily Brennan and last term he was victorious here with Katie.

    “He’s an absolute diamond to produce,” Sharn said.

    Reserve in the HOYS 2024 show hunter pony of the year championship was the second placed 133cm combination, Evante Hughes and her home-produced gelding Warleigh Fantastic Light.

    You may also be interested in:

    Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2025 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

    Alex Robinson
    Alex Robinson

    Freelance equestrian journalist
    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.
    Alex Robinson

    You may like...