‘He pulled Santa’s sleigh’: Meet the RIHS Supreme Pony Champion *Video*
A pony who was once dressed up as Rudolph and pulled a sleigh triumphed in the Underwood Supreme Pony Championship at the Longines Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) today (2 August).
Beat The Boss is just the second working hunter pony to win the overall supreme title. The chestnut is ridden by 13-year-old Susie Eddis. Find out more about his unusual background and funny habits in the following video:
Beat The Boss is 13hh and 16 years old. By Clap Your Hands out of Jingle Bells, he is owned by Susie’s parents, Johnny and Polly Eddis.
Susie, how long have you had Beat The Boss?
“I got him last Easter from Ireland.”
What’s his background?
“He used to pull a sleigh for Father Christmas and then he was a top-class showjumper. When he decided he didn’t want to jump anymore he went to a dealer and they telephoned us. We bought him and he’s just got better and better.”
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Has Beat The Boss got any funny habits?
“He doesn’t drink like a horse — he laps like a dog, which is quite funny to watch.”
What do you like best about him?
“He’s got such an incredible jump and he is great fun to ride. He’s a really lovely pony to own — I love him.”
Beat The Boss won the 133cm working hunter pony class — what was the course like?
“It was a technical course which asked quite a few questions but he jumped the best he ever has.”
How did it feel riding in Hickstead’s main arena for the first time?
“I was quite nervous and I worried he might be naughty, but he floated round and was very good. This is my last year riding ponies — I need to find a bigger version of Beat The Boss!”
The BSPS first ridden pony champion, Barkway Precocious, finished reserve supreme with Ella Georgakis.
Golden Tasset and Olivia Bowen, the BSPS intermediate show hunter champions, slotted into third in the supreme.
In the BSPS supreme show pony championship, Ellis Taverner-Burns piloted the John Harvey-produced Crafton Blythe Spirit, the 148cm class winner who is owned by Mr Jago and Mrs Carvosso, to victory.
The 128cm class runner-up, Rotherwood Rainmaker ridden by Poppy Carter, finished reserve supreme.
Don’t miss the full RIHS report in the next issue of Horse & Hound (6 August).
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Aimi was responsible for Horse & Hound’s showing, pointing and veterinary pages, as well as assisting with eventing content. Aimi also edited Horse & Hound’s popular occasional magazines, Ask The Vet and Ask The Trainer. She is the former deputy editor of Eventing magazine. She left Horse & Hound at the end of 2017 to take on new challenges in the publishing industry and is now editor at Your Horse.