‘He’s such a prolific pony’: Third HOYS lead rein of hunter type triumph for show team
Producer Sarah Emmerson took the lead on the prolific lead rein of hunter type Priestwood Roc Star (Rocky) to give the fantastic mini winner his first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) victory at the 2021 final.
The grey 13-year-old Welsh section B by Kingsmead Fanfare out of Carolinas Wildgoose has been at the top of his game for several years and while he’s won the Royal International (RIHS) before, HOYS has been the one he needed to tick off, until today.
Owned by Kevin and Tracey Brady and ridden by their six-year-old grandson Grayson Brady Brooke, Rocky has only been based with Sarah for a couple of months.
“He was bought in lockdown last year and was shown by Team Ahern early in the season,” said Sarah, who last won the lead rein of hunter type of the year final in 2013 with Joebex Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Crista Lockhead). Hunter ponies are proving an Emmerson trademark as Sarah’s father, Peter Emmerson, also won the class in 2010 with Charn Secret Legend (Abbie Farmer) before leading the pony to the overall pony supreme award.
“Rocky came to me after the RIHS this year,” said Sarah. “As he’s such a prolific, big winning pony who has been with lots of producers he’s quite a difficult pony to lead in many ways. He’s won the BSPS champs, the RIHS and so many other titles, but this was the one he was missing.”
At home, Rocky is a true child’s pony:
“He’s a poppet, and he’s really what a mini pony should be,” Sarah added.
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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.