Taran Hanover’s former Horse of the Year Show champion Whittaker’s Prince has passed away aged 12.
The prolific gelding who was by Kilvington Scoundrel out of part-bred Arab mare Unique landed many championships and supreme titles during his illustrious career and was set to come out for the coming season with Taran once again.
But he suffered a “sudden and severe” bout of colic and could not be saved, despite vets’ best efforts.
Sammy, as he was known at home, was bred by Margaret Atkinson. He was produced by Danielle Heath as a four-year-old and in 2012, he landed the coveted riding horse of the year title at HOYS. He was then sold to Samatha Nixon and ridden but Margaret’s daughter, Adele.
“In 2016, after Sammy had a year out from competition, I took him on lease for the following season to campaign him as a large hack,” said Taran.
“I soon fell in love with his adorable personality and knew I would never be able to send him back at the end of the season. So we purchased him.
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“Sammy fulfilled so many of my dreams in the show ring. We were champion hack at last year’s British Show Horse Association championships and he also took the supreme part-bred Arab title at the last Cherif championships. He also consistently qualified for and achieved high placing placings at HOYS and the Royal International Horse Show.
“He truly was the most magical horse. Jerome Harforth who produced Sammy for me described him as: ‘the most perfect pattern of a horse you could get.’ He was dearly loved and will be extremely missed. He had a big following and I am incredibly proud to have owned such a amazing horse.”
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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.
