Westfield Calendar Girl is 2022 HOYS British ridden heavy horse champion

Heavy horse specialist Emma Green posted a first HOYS British ridden heavy horse of the championship at the 2022 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in the saddle of Lindy Winship’s exceptional Shire mare Westfield Calendar Girl (Callie).

“I’m so pleased that other people appreciate her as much as I do,” said Emma. “She works so hard for me, sometimes too hard.”

“We bought her unseen,” explained Emma. “I owned her brother so I wanted something from the same line. I broke her in and from the beginning her work ethic has been second to none. She’s a pleasure and even when I’m not asking anything from her, she gives me her all. If I ever walk past her stable with a saddle to go and ride another horse she’s not happy and she starts kicking at the door.”

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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.

‘Though she be but little, she is fierce’: history making Shire mare wins HOYS heavy horse crown

Emma purchased Callie, who stands at just 17.2hh, as an unbroken three-year-old.

The Bickerscout William eight-year-old, who is out of Westfield Cover Girl, was bred by the Clayton Family.

She made history this year by becoming the only breed representative to qualify for both the HOYS ridden heavy horse championship and the in-hand Shire of the year final in the same season.

“She might not be the biggest, but as they say, though she be but little she is fierce,” said Emma.

Lindy spotted Callie win at last year’s BSHA championships.

“Lindy ran up to me and said she wanted to buy her,” said Emma, who will lead Callie in this afternoon’s in-hand final. “She bought her straight after her class and now she has two Shires with me.

“Callie owes me absolutely nothing. She wants to go out and do the job, and all the way round the ring I’m talking to her. Today she rode effortlessly; her movement was there the whole time. Callie and I are a bit of a dream team.

“Now, she’ll have some recovery mash, go to bed for a while and then we’ll be back out for the in-hand!”

Reserve in the HOYS British ridden heavy horse final was Hollie Butterworth riding her own Shire gelding Acle Director.

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