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Tributes paid to legendary Dales stallion put down after field accident
“He was an amazing showman, but was the sweetest stallion in the stable and to ride. He was also an amazing hunter as he had an incredible jump – he was loved dearly”
A prolific Dales pony who won at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) has been put down aged 15 after fracturing his neck in the field.
Bill Ireland’s stallion Kilmannan Robert The Bruce — who was by Village Defender and out of Olympia champion Kilmannan Black Pearl — was produced and ridden by Richard Telford throughout his illustrious career.
One of his ridden highlights was in 2014 when he won the Fell and Dales pony of the year title at the HOYS before standing reserve in the overall mountain and moorland (M&M) championship. He was also a finalist at Olympia in 2012.
In 2016, he was crowned overall M&M in-hand supreme at the Royal Highland before lifting the coveted Cuddy in-hand ticket. Bruce and his sire Village Defender are the only two Dales ponies to have ever qualifed for the prestigious in-hand final.
He officially retired from the show ring in 2018.
“He had been with us since he was six months old,” Richard told H&H. “He was an amazing showman, but at the same time he was the sweetest stallion in the stable and to ride. Anyone could jump on him and take him for a hack and he was loved dearly because of this.
“He was also an amazing hunter as he had an incredible jump; I always felt I was too tall to hunt him but I’d watch him with others and he would jump five-bar gates.”
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Richard and Bruce formed an unstoppable partnership.
“My most memorable ride on him was when he won at the Great Yorkshire. He was unreal; I felt as if I was sat on a 16.2hh warmblood,” he said.
Bruce has several progeny waiting to follow in his footsteps.
“Bruce has some exciting stock on the ground, including a three-year-old filly living down South and we have a yearling, a two-year-old and a foal at home,” explained Richard.
“It was nice he had a happy retirement from showing. He is now buried in the field with his mares.”
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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.
