‘I wanted this for him, but HOYS is a lottery’: another major win for consistent Connemara

Alex Robinson's avatar
By
Published In News
Castle Kestrel
(Image credit: FIRST CLASS IMAGES)

The reigning Royal Windsor and London International Horse Show M&M supreme champion ticked another accolade off his bucket list, as he netted the National Pony Society/Baileys Horse Feeds M&M ridden Connemara pony of the year title at the 2023 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Amanda Sharman’s impeccable Glencarrig Knight eight-year-old Castle Kestrel gave his producer/rider Lucy Glover her first HOYS victory since 2018, when she finished as supreme pony champion aboard part-bred Carmens Novello. In the same year she won the Welsh section B pony of the year final riding Carrwood Shimmering Gold.

Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson
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.