2026 Royal Windsor working hunter champion title for Its Lush

A gelding his owner thought may never jump again rose to victory and was crowned 2026 Royal Windsor working hunter champion.

Its Lush was piloted by owner Hannah Horton to stand top in the lightweight working hunter division en route to the tricolour.

“Lush” – out of Ordell and by Ars Vivendi – was brought as Hannah’s eventing ride and competed with success, including a top-10 placing in a competitive early season intermediate section at Tweseldown in 2020. But last year, the 16-year-old had an accident in the field.

“We thought he’d broken his leg,” said Hannah. “But we got him back thanks to our vet Chris Tufnell, who was amazing with him. It means so much because we never thought I could jump him again. He’s incredible.”

Lush was on box rest for eight months, and only came back into work last November.

“It was quite difficult for him. He doesn’t like to be doing nothing. But, because he is ours, I could take the time. Although he’s mine, it’s a massive team effort and he doesn’t feel like just mine – it feels like he’s everyone’s.”

Hannah has had much success at Windsor in the past, including winning the 2025 working show horse and retraining of racehorses (RoR) flat classes. However, this was her first championship win in the Castle Arena.

“It’s always been a goal of mine and it’s just amazing,” she added.

Lush jumped a stylish clear to stand ahead of Jasean Spraggett and KBF Paved With Stars in his class.

Hannah said: “He was phenomenal. I’ve worked really hard over the winter in just trusting the canter. He’s got such a massive stride, I sometimes kill the canter a bit. But I went in and trusted him and we looked after each other and helped each other.”

2026 Royal Windsor working hunter reserve champion

Reserve in the championship went to Olivia Minihane and Calcourt Victor, who also stood reserve with his owner Rose Bailey in the amateur hunter championship earlier in the afternoon.

Olivia Minihane and Calcourt Victor are reserve champions in the 2026 Royal Windsor working hunter championship

Olivia Minihane and Calcourt Victor, reserve champions.

In the working show horse class, sponsored by Mr and Mrs Michael Rider, Nicolina Mackenzie’s Russmond Vega (Yorkie), a former broodmare by Grafenstolz – also sire of now three-time Badminton winner Lordships Graffalo – took the win.

Yorkie was bred as an eventer, but was felt to be too small for the job at 156.2cm.

The 13-year-old – already Hickstead bound this term – was purchased by Nicolina in 2024 and began her showing career with Leicestershire-based Jill Wormall last season.

“I saw her on Facebook and had to have her,” said Nicolina, for whom the win was a welcome boost after breaking her foot two weeks ago.

“She had been in the field for several years having babies so Jill re-backed her in November 2024. She’s been tricky, but she’s really thrived jumping the working show horse classes.”

Though just lightly campaigned last term, Vega and Jill notched up a third here, qualified for Hickstead, and took a win in the working show horse Grand Prix at the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) championships.

The pair have been showjumping through the winter, managing to collect almost £500 in British Showjumping winnings and qualifying for the Discovery second rounds.

“We haven’t pushed her because she’s meant to be a show horse. Showjumping was for education but it’s been the making of her,” said Nicolina, adding, “she’s got manners to burn now.”

It was just as well, because the heavy traffic meant that she had very little time for any working in.

“Jill was running to get her ready and she just had to go in and get on with it.”

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