With a field including The Queen’s horse and a mare who already has a 2021 Windsor win under her belt, it was all to play for in this morning’s intermediate championship
ZARA Brookes added another win and section championship to Team Walker’s 2021 Royal Windsor Horse Show tally with Nick Brookes’ stunning gelding Parkgate Royal Visit William. The 11-year-old small contender put on a foot-perfect display with Zara on route to the intermediate title.
They reigned over Gary Parr with Georgina Wilkes’ winning show hunter, Mexican Summer, who had clinched the ladies’ show hunter class with her owner at the helm here just two days before.
William is one of the most prolific show horses on the circuit, successfully contending intermediate and hack classes. He’s won Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and Royal International (RIHS) and here, he gave Zara her first ever Windsor championship.
“It’s always been an unlucky show for me,” said Zara, as she left the ring after the championship. “I was quite stressed this morning; the rain put me off a little as I was worried about the ground being a bit slippy. But it actually worked in our favour as it was softer and he went really well.”
Zara has moved straight from show pony ranks into intermediates, and she says that the non-existent 2020 season was a blessing in disguise for her and William:
“We got extra time to bond” she said. “I was able to really get used to him and could practice with no pressure.
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“He’s a great horse and is definitely the yard favourite. He’s like a human; my mum would have him in the house if she could.”
William is based with Team Walker and Robert takes the ride in hack classes.
“We share him and it works well,” said Zara, who has owned William since the RIHS in 2019.
The Queen’s Daydream III headed the large section for Ellie Greenhalgh. The four-year-old was a winner on the first day of the show in the ridden sport horse class with producer Katie Jerram-Hunnable.
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The gelding, who is now 22, was the long-time partner of Sam Griffiths...
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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.
