‘He’s push button’: horse of a lifetime lands ladies’ hunter spoils at Royal Windsor 2026

The reserve hunter champion at 2026 Royal Windsor Horse Show, Harbour Master II, continued his winning ways by landing the ladies hunter title later in the day.

“Marley” carried his owner Charlotte Clark sideways to the title, having been piloted astride to the lightweight hunter class and reserve honours just hours earlier by his producer Jayne Ross.

“We’ve had him since he was four and he is quite a character at home,” said Charlotte. “He definitely likes to have attention, but he’s just been a horse of a lifetime really.”

The Harlequin Du Carel 10-year-old was purchased by Charlotte and her mother Elizabeth Trembath after Jayne had broken him in for another owner.

“He’s just been an absolute superstar for me,” Charlotte said.

“He is just a dream and the most comfortable sideways I’ve ever had really. Lots of the judges describe him as sublime. He’s just perfect really.

“He knows his job, so he’s push button for me.”

Marley is a two-time consecutive winner of the ladies hunter championship at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).

Charlotte said it is “extra special” to ride side saddle in the grounds of Windsor Castle, adding: “I loved being in the Castle Ring and I love it in the Frogmore, too. It’s quite an atmosphere.”

To polish up her skills riding the side saddle while Marley is at Jayne’s, Charlotte explained she has been allowed to practice on a 21-year-old ex-racehorse local to her.

“I live quite far from Jane; I can’t always get up to the yard being an hour and a half away,” she added,

Team Ross had more to celebrate when Jayne piloted Diane Stennett’s KBF Lucia to a win in the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) ladies show horse class less than 24 hours after the pair lifted the ridden coloured championship.

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