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‘Like he’s been here all his life’: tiny rider takes second Royal Windsor title, with four-year-old pony

Millie Bowles Millie Bowles

    • A four-year-old gelding and tiny 10-year-old rider performed beyond their years to take the 2026 Royal Windsor novice show pony championship.

    Littmere Duplicate (Dexter), owned by Caryln Baillie was ridden beautifully by Posy Lindsay, who had won the mini mountain and moorland championship with Heniarth Stand Up 24 hours beforehand.

    The Litton Harrison 128cm is based with mother and daughter Emma and Gayle Holder’s production team.

    “He’s got a temperament to die for,” said Emma. “He’s done three shows this year and won all three.

    “He hasn’t done an open class yet; we’ve just kept him in the novice classes and he’s come here today and acted like he’s been here all his life.”

    Dexter was bought by Caryln as a foal, and did some in-hand classes before he went to the Holders to be backed at the end of last year.

    In a buzzy Copper Horse Arena, the young pony gave a relaxed, mannerly performance.

    “It’s always hard when you bring a four-year-old here,” said Emma. “It’s such a lovely show, but there is so much going on, so you never know quite how it’s going to go.

    “But his temperament at home and how he’s been the last few shows definitely has us in good stead. He’s a very good boy.”

    While not out showing, Dexter enjoys hacking round the lanes at the Holders’ yard in Guilford.

    “It’s his favourite thing to do,” Emma added. “We’re going to take it very steady this season. We’re not going to do any Horse of the Year Show qualifiers. We’ll save him for next year and let him mature.”

    Reserve in the 2026 Royal Windsor novice show pony championship was the winning 148cm, Tandridge State Affair.

    The seven-year-old Tandridge Democrat mare is owned by her breeder Joanna Adams and was ridden by Florrie Duncalf on behalf of producer Harrison Taylor. She later went on to stand part-bred Arab champion with Mia Whittaker in the saddle.

    The final novice class, the 138cm division, was topped by Rachel Cowan’s Goldengrove Picture Perfect, a six-year-old mare by Wycroft Rainbow Dancer, ridden by Rachel’s daughter Heidi Cooper.

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