Gill will be judging the 2026 championship and she shares what she’ll be looking for in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers
Gill Cowell has been given the task of judging this year’s in-hand mountain and moorland championship at Royal Windsor. This championship takes place on the Friday in the Castle Arena and is a real must-see for anyone with an interest in native breeds – it’s a rare treat to see so many excellent examples of our splendid natives all in the ring together.
To progress to the in-hand mountain and moorland championship, each pony will have had to have won and/or stood champion of their own breed – this depends on the breed and the numbers forward – having been judged by a breed expert. The job of choosing a champion, however, falls to just one person – Gill Cowell gives us an insight into what she’ll be looking for to help you prepare for in-hand showing classes.
Who is Gill Cowell?
Gill is this year’s in-hand M&M judge at Royal Windsor and she has been “horse and pony mad” for as long as she can remember. As a child she taught herself to ride and would read to learn as much as possible.
As she grew older, her passion continued and when she left school, Gill enrolled as a working student at an equestrian centre and riding school where training was given for BHS exams. She worked with a variety of different types of horse and pony, including riding school ponies, hunters, dressage and event horses, and naturally gleaned a wealth of knowledge.
Native ponies became Gill’s main interest after purchasing a black Standard Shetland pony stallion named Salterswall Spartan. He was initially purchased as a companion, but Gill soon found herself showing him, and “caught the showing bug”.
It’s a bug she has never shaken off, and she’s since bred, owned and shown a variety of the native breeds. Gill continues to enjoy looking after and showing her Shetland ponies, and continues to breed under the Checkleybank prefix.
As well as tending to her own ponies, Gill has worked part-time for the past eleven years for a family who own a “variety of large breeds and they have had great success with many of their ponies”.
Gill Cowell’s judging experience
Gill has been judging for thirty years and is on a number of panels. She sits on the Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society’s panel and the Highland and Fell breed societies’ panels, as well as the mixed M&M panels for the the National Pony Society (NPS) and British Show Pony Society (BSPS).
Her judging has taken her far and wide, including judging Shetland ponies in Finland. Previous judging highlights include officiating at the Shetland Stud-Book Society Breed Show, the Great Yorkshire Show, and Royal Bath and West, as well as several Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers.
In 2025, Gill had the pleasure of judging the Highland pony HOYS qualifier and the NPS finals at the inaugural running of Scotland’s famous event and show held at the stunning Scone Palace.
This won’t be Gill’s first trip to Windsor to judge. She previously judged the Shetlands and the M&M working hunter ponies there in 2024.
Nevertheless, Gill says that she is “honoured to be asked to judge the M&M in-hand championship” there.
Last year’s champion was Clover Hill Magic, owned by Cathy Wood and shown by Jamie Frost.
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Boots And Hooves)
What will Gill be looking for in the M&M in-hand championship?
“The ponies trot into the arena for this championship. It’s important to remember that each of the native breeds have their own correct movement, so right away I’ll be looking for a pony that shows outstanding movement for its type and breed, and that is covering the ground appropriately.
“When I get a closer look at the ponies, I’ll be looking again for a pony that is both correct in conformation, and that stands out as an outstanding example of its breed.
“I’m a stickler for feet and limb, too, as they are so important to the soundness of a pony and their ability to do the job they were intended to do.
“Finally, it’s a show championship and a prestigious one at that, so I’ll want a pony to really sparkle in the arena and have that crucial presence to attract my eye.”
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Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.
