Fell stallion claims Royal Windsor in-hand M&M crown

A Fell stallion was the winner of the mountain and moorland in-hand overall championships on the third day of Royal Windsor Horse Show, while a Dales mare stood reserve.

Llancloudy Gabriel, an eight-year-old stallion owned by Jules Jordan from Hampshire, stood above Suzanne Hobday’s Dales mare Sunglow Black Pearl, in what was a remarkable victory for some of the less popular native breeds.

Jules Jordan, who describes herself as a ‘total outsider amateur’, has owned the stallion since he was seven months old and produced him herself. He combines showing with covering duties and a busy ridden career — he takes part in cross-country and fun rides, and is going to start doing ridden M&Ms this season.

Eighteen ponies went through to the championships in the main arena, where judge Jo Custerson narrowed her selection down to five, including Llanarth Fiery Jack (Welsh Section D), Iona of Conway (Highland) and Llanarth Da Vinci (Welsh section B), before giving the nod to the Fell and Dales.

The mountain and moorland classes that morning attracted larger than normal crowds when Her Majesty the Queen arrived to watch her own ponies competing in the Fell and Highland classes.

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