Delami Bravado is 2023 M&M working hunter pony of the year

Delami Bravado exhibited by Ollie Rowlands, winners of the Thor Atkinson Steel Fabrications Ltd Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

This year’s Thor Atkinson Steel Fabrications Ltd. 2023 M&M working hunter pony of the year championship at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) saw four winning Welsh ponies battle it out for the title.

The top spot went to one of the smallest combinations, Ollie Rowlands and his mother Fiona Aston’s Welsh section A Delami Bravado (Benny).

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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.

Welsh ponies battle it out for HOYS M&M worker title, as home-produced combination reigns

The eight-year-old gelding and 13-year-old Ollie came through to the championship after winning the 122cm class. The pair, who were appearing at HOYS for the second year in a row, impressed this year’s judges Nicola Shuttleworth (conformation) and Jane Somerset (show) throughout.

Benny is produced from home by Ollie, who started jumping him during lockdown.

Benny is by Dukeshill Dotcom out of Brynrodyn Blodwen and he was bred by the Waller Family. He was started under-saddle by Hannah Turnock. Since he joined Ollie three years ago, Benny has been totally home-produced.

This year the pair won Royal Windsor, appeared at the Royal International Horse Show and they won HOYS qualifiers at The Showing Register’s amateur show and at Denbigh and Flint, respectively.

Ollie is a graduate from the ever-growing STARS amateur championships as in 2021 he steered Benny to working hunter pony glory at the final.

Reserve for the third time in their partnership was Ashley Bird riding his own Welsh section D stallion Gwerniago Gethin who had captured the 143cm honours earlier in the day.

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