There was cause for celebration for showing producer Jayne Ross on the opening day of Royal Windsor Horse Show as the two horses that clinched the championship and reserve amateur hunter titles were both produced by her team.
Rose Bailey made a winning return to the show ring, taking the amateur middleweight/heavyweight class with her outstanding grey gelding Bloomfield Greystones (Liam) just 11 weeks after the birth of her daughter Clementine.
The pair are repeating their victory from last year, and this is also their third consecutive win here in this class – they finished reserve in 2023.
“I couldn’t think of anyone better to get me back on board and in the ring than Jayne – and Liam,” said Rose, who works full time as a lawyer and lives in central London with the 10-year-old being based at Jayne’s yard in Buckinghamshire.
Reserve amateur hunter champion at Royal Windsor Horse Show
“It is always just such a fantastic experience to ride at Royal Windsor and on a horse like him who was a dream today,” said an emotional Cari Goodridge aboard her own Kildalkey Lasrach, who finished second and reserve to Rose.
The chestnut gelding also contends the open and ladies ranks, partnered in the latter by Olivia Minihane, who rode him on his Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) debut last season.
“He will be heading to [Royal International Horse Show] RIHS in the open, amateur and ladies finals and we love the big county shows like Royal Bath and West,” said Cari.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Hannah Binks rode the charming grey small hunter Oaktree Day Dream to lead the field in the small/lightweight class. Produced by Team Helliwell, the six-year-old mare was bred by Claire Cooper and is by the Irish Draught stallion Bannvalley Pride of Midnight.
They secured their pass to HOYS in the small hunters at the end of last season and were also victorious at the British Show Horse Association national championships in the amateur small/lightweight division.
Lauren Falcus-Wright rode her own lightweight hunter Diptford Above Suspicion into second place. Produced by Danielle Heath, the pair won the RIHS amateur lightweight hunter qualifier at BSPS Area 7, where they also finished reserve champions.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Celeste is an experienced equestrian journalist based in Cornwall, specialising in native breeds and carriage driving. She has been reporting showing for Horse & Hound since 2012. Celeste brings a lifelong passion for ponies to her reporting. She competed both plaited and native working hunter ponies up to her teenage years, then taught herself to carriage drive in 2018 and has successfully competed and won at county and national level.
