‘She rides like she’s 16.2hh’: career first for Scottish showman and ‘fabulous’ mare at HOYS

Scottish showman Richard Telford achieved a career first at the 2022 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) when he lifted the HOYS coloured ridden non-native pony of the year, sponsored by CHAPS (UK)/Man Wah UK, riding Lindsay McCulloch’s Wot Perfection (Spook).

Richard has reigned at Birmingham many times, but this was his first time winning a class with a coloured contender.

Wot Perfection, a nine-year-old mare by Free Spirit out of Walinka, qualified for HOYS at the Royal Highland Show.

Richard first came across Spook when he was out and about teaching:

“I saw her over the stable door and said to the yard owners ‘what is that horse’. I asked if she was for sale and thankfully she was.”

Spook was initially bought by Anne Vestey, before Lindsay took ownership of her:

“Lindsay fell in love with her,” Richard said. “Lindsay didn’t want a coloured mare initially, but she adored her. She’s a fabulous ride. She’s quite a small mare but she rides like she’s 16.2hh.”

“We’ve had her since she was a four-year-old and we’ve intentionally taken it slowly with her,” added Richard.

Lindsay works as a lawyer in Edinburgh:

“Horses are her escape and she rides Spook, too, but she wanted me to ride her here,” said Richard.

Stephanie Fitt’s home-bred Castra, ridden by Rhianon Loader, was second in the HOYS coloured ridden non-native pony final. The Strinesdale Matador six-year-old, who is out of Fairfax C, qualified at Stoneleigh Horse Show in August.

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Alex Robinson

H&H showing 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 since when she has cemented its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK.