Liz Mansfield-Parnell home-bred show pony mare Rotherwood Flight Of Fancy has died aged 25.
Fancy, who was by Strinesdale Matador out of Chirk Windflower, took many jockeys to the top as an open ridden 148cm show pony, a small intermediate show riding type and a part-bred Arab. As a 148cm she won the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) in 2003 and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2009. In 2008, she won the Sporting Sam intermediate supreme.
Fancy is a full sister to former HOYS reserve show hunter pony of the year Rotherwood Maybe and Rotherwood Spring Flower, dam of the multi-HOYS winning show pony and part-bred Rotherwood Rainmaker.
“What’s interesting is that all three sisters are different heights; Fancy is 14.2hh, Spring Flower is 12.2hh and Maybe is 14hh,” said Liz.
Liz sold Fancy as a foal to the Sanderson family and she was produced by the Jago family, John Harvey and Karen Burkin during her lengthy career saddle.
“She bred one foal for the Burkins before I bought her back in foal to Landemann Nighthawk,” added Liz. “She was carrying Rotherwood Fantasia at the time, and she since bred me two more foals, Rotherwood Touch Of Distinction and Rotherwood Fancy That.
Fancy’s in-hand achievements included standing supreme champion at the National Pony Society summer championships with a foal at foot.
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“After speaking to those who worked with her over the years I came to realise that Fancy had to like you to do anything for you,” added Liz. “She was either no trouble at all or an absolute monkey. You had to humour her and there were certain things you had to work around so she would oblige.
“I remember the day she was born and thinking she was possibly one of the best foals I had ever bred. In typical Fancy fashion she arrived unexpected in the field. We had cameras set up in the stable for weeks prior, but she did it her way, as per usual.
“Fancy enriched our lives and she taught us a lot. She was always the boss. It’s lovely to have her legacy live on in her successful offspring.”
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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.
