Successful show cob dies in stable fire

The successful one-eyed show cob, Raffles, has been killed in a stable fire.

He was 2nd at Horse of the Year Show with Tony Walker in 2005, 4th with Tony in 2006 and 4th with his owner, Hayley Erner in 2009.

A 16-year-old mare also died in the fire at the yard in Yorkshire.

The 18-year-old cob was retired in 2011 after winning the amateur class at Royal International with Hayley, and was loaned to Hayley’s show groom, Patricia Parker.

“He was a tremendous character and will be so sadly missed,” said Hayley. “It’s yet another case for having smoke alarms fitted in stables because if there had been one, both horses would probably still be alive now.”

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