The most consistent native pony on the circuit? HOYS championship for star Welsh and new jockey

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Thistledown San-Siro
(Image credit: 1ST CLASS IMAGES)

First-ridden contenders dominated the line-up in the Colne and Sweet Dreams Show Confectioners mini mountain and moorland pony of the year championship at the 2023 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Champion was the Leeming family’s home-produced Welsh section A Thistledown San-Siro (Rocky), a 12-year-old by popular sire Blackhill Picalo, who was ridden on this occasion by his first-ridden jockey Lola Carabine.

This is the first season Lola has ridden Rocky in the show ring. Lola certainly has form at HOYS; last year she was a double winner in both show pony and M&M working hunter pony ranks.

Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson
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.