A popular Fell Pony — who qualified for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and the Royal International (RIHS) on multiple occasions and made his final show ring appearance at Olympia in December — has died suddenly aged 16.
Owned by Jodie Smith, the stallion Darrenvale Warrior, who is by Whitburn Major Tom out of Townend Mountian Gypsy, was originally owned and produced by Charlene Richardson who introduced him to the ridden circuit with much success.
The pair consistently qualified for HOYS (2009, 2010 and 2011) and also won the coveted open ridden championship at the Royal Highland Show in 2011.
“I bought Warrior from Charlene after I’d had bad riding accident,” said Jodie. “He is the reason I am still riding today — he got my confidence back both in and out of the ring. We ended up establishing an amazing partnership.”
Jodie and the home-produced Warrior tallied up results including a fifth at HOYS in 2014, reserve ridden supreme at the Fell Pony breed show in 2015 and reserve in the Pretty Polly native final at the RIHS in 2017.
“We qualified for the Olympia senior finals at his first outing as a veteran. He was a true showman and he loved the limelight. He had the heart of a winner which he proved with his results,” she said.
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“At home he enjoyed a varied life; he loved the beach and hacking. He was a gentleman and made me laugh every day. I wouldn’t even be riding without this pony. I really do owe him the world.”
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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.
