Voter trots down to polling station to make his mark

In a move that would impress new Green party MP Caroline Lucas, voter Joseph Daborn rode his horse to the polling station on election day.

Joseph, who works near Chichester for online equine retail firm Dogwood London, headed home to Trotton yesterday evening to ride his intermediate event horse Monarch Motivator.

“I was going for a hack and my route normally goes past where the polling station is held, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone and place my vote,” Joseph said.

Stopping off at the South Downs Hotel polling station for the Chichester borough, Joseph found an obliging Tory party supporter to hold his horse and popped inside to mark his ballot.

Striking 18-year-old thoroughbred ‘Raj’ attracted plenty of attention from voters and was happy to pause at the pub afterwards for Joseph to toast his vote before continuing his ride.

Commenting on the hung parliament, Joseph said: “I’m not sure what will happen but any change is good at the moment.

“Riding to the polling station was great fun and I would definitely do it again.”

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