HOYS 2019: working hunter with unknown breeding gallops to supreme pony championship
A working hunter who stands at just 12.2hh came to the fore in the 2019 Ruckleigh School supreme pony of the year championship to give his young jockey her first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) supreme sash.
William Calder’s superstar grey mare Coco Bongo started her 2019 HOYS campaign on Friday by clearing an up-to-height 13hh working hunter pony track with rider Chloe Lemieux on route to securing a red rosette. The pair were then crowned working hunter pony champions before an immaculate and flowing show with two cracking gallops saw them scoop top billing in the supreme under judges Tim Price and Terry Court.
Chloe and 10-year-old Coco Bongo — who’s breeding is unknown — qualified for HOYS back in July at the Royal Highland show in Edinburgh.
Chloe and Coco Bongo add their supreme accolade to a tally which includes the Desert Orchid supreme at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) summer championships. Chloe is also a member of the England International working hunter pony team.
The pair beat a top quality field of supreme contenders which included previous pony of the year Thistledown Van-Der-Vaart and (Lily Richardson) and the 2019 Royal International Horse Show supreme pony Drakemyre Puttin On The Ritz (India Till). Also in the line-up were two Team Jinks-produced ponies; intermediate show riding type champion Holmestones Tailor Made (Charlotte Elliott-Grooby) and riding pony of the year Stretcholt New Dimension (Charlotte Caulfield).
153cm winners Cashel Bay JJ and Susie Eddis took reserve in the working hunter pony championship.
Runner up for the 133cm title was Precious Gem and Lilliana Clarke, followed up by Captain Foley ridden by Mya Murphy.
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For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday. The full 2019 Horse of the Year Show report with all the action from the showing, showjumping and dressage classes will be in the 10 October issue. Catch up at horseandhound.co.uk during the week.
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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.