‘Their gallop was awesome’: ex-racer dazzles in RIHS amateur riding horses
A former racehorse broke the form book as he clinched the RIHS amateur riding horse championship at the 2022 Royal International Horse Show.
Katie Dashwood’s 10-year-old gelding Minella Rebellion (Reg) has become the one to beat in ex-racehorse classes, but he’s also shown his quality by stepping up as a top large riding horse.
In 2021, Katie and Reg landed the SEIB Insurance Brokers Racehorse to Riding Horse championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), and earlier this year they were ex-racehorse champions at Royal Windsor.
By Kings Theatre out of Afdala, Reg was in training with Nicky Henderson during his career. He ran five times in total and was placed twice, before retiring from the track in 2017. Reg is a full brother to Cheltenham Festival winner and Grand National runner-up Balthazar King and was purchased for £90,000 at a Tattersalls Ireland sale at Cheltenham in May 2016. He was first acquainted with Katie following a recommendation from her friend Henrietta Knight.
“I’ve never ridden at the RIHS before,” said Katie. “I’m lost for words. Reg wasn’t a very good racehorse, but he’s the ultimate show horse. He’s very well bred and was very expensive, but he never performed on the track.”
Reg is produced by Jo Bates:
“Their gallop was just awesome; I’m so proud of them,” said Jo. “He’s a showman and he loves his job.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Katie added: “I have to thank Jo for all her work; she’s believed in him from the moment I dropped him off.”
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits
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
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.