‘He loves a mud bath’: Welsh stallion makes history in Olympia’s BSPS Heritage championship
Uphill James Fox became the first ever Welsh section A to be crowned the Blue Chip BSPS Heritage champion at the London International Horse Show, Olympia, this afternoon (19 December).
The eight-year-old grey stallion is owned by Tonwen Hughes and ridden by producer Katy Marriott-Payne. How did the stallion with a penchant for muddy puddles, thick winter coats and running with mares become a champion in the show ring?
Katy reveals all in the following video:
“He doesn’t always give 100 per cent and we’ve worked hard to get him right to come here,” said Katy, who runs a yard in Northamptonshire. “He loved the crowd and the arena; I really feel like he gave the best he’s ever given.”
The pony is a covering stallion and spends most of the spring running with mares.
“So he’s easier to handle at this time of year,” added Katy. “He went to Horse of the Year Show in October and then had some down time. He grew a big woolly coat so he’s had a clip and I felt his coat was just right for today.
“Keeping him clean is an issue because he’s grey, and he loves to get covered in mud. He’s got a favourite patch in the field that’s a mud bath — I’m sure tomorrow he’ll enjoy wallowing in that.”
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Final results
1, T Hughes’ Uphill James Fox, ridden by Katy Marriott-Payne (Welsh section A)
2, M Stanford’s Benbreac Of Croila, ridden by Matthew Cooper (Highland)
3, L Scott’s Lynuck The Snowman, ridden Aimee Devane (Welsh section C)
4, Lady Huntingdon’s Slieve Bloom Jill, ridden by Hannah Horton (Connemara)
5, Waterside Black Prince, owned and ridden by Tarnya Shields (Dales)
6, Mrs Brereton’s Dunedin Duncan, ridden by Harriet Dennison (Highland)
7, M Wood’s Swchyrhafod Brenin, ridden by Michaela Wood (Welsh section D)
8, Moorlandsdale Mia, owned and ridden by Julie Robinson (Dales)
9, K Scott & C Green’s Cadlanvalley Sandpiper, ridden by Collette Green (Welsh section B)
10, J Crane’s Murthwaite Windrush, ridden by Stephanie Peto (Fell)
Don’t miss the full Olympia report in this week’s Horse & Hound, on sale Thursday 22 December.
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Aimi was responsible for Horse & Hound’s showing, pointing and veterinary pages, as well as assisting with eventing content. Aimi also edited Horse & Hound’s popular occasional magazines, Ask The Vet and Ask The Trainer. She is the former deputy editor of Eventing magazine. She left Horse & Hound at the end of 2017 to take on new challenges in the publishing industry and is now editor at Your Horse.