Hoods take riding horse title

Riding Horse of the Year

Woodfield Alf and Oliver Hood impressed judges to become reserve champions in the Riding Horse of the Year Championship. But it was Oliver’s father Allister Hood who took the prestigious championship aboard Captain Hastings. The 15hh nine-year-old brown gelding won the Small Riding Horse of the Year contest earlier today, after qualifying for HOYS at Lincoln Horse Show. Woodfield Alf, a grey gelding who is also nine, won this morning’s Large Riding Horse of the Year contest.

Working Hunter Pony of the Year

A 14hh roan gelding became the 2006 Working Hunter Pony of the Year at the Horse of the Year Show this afternoon. Ridden by Emmie Collier, the 12-year old pony was selected from a line-up of the country’s best working hunter ponies. Defaelog Rhiannon and Victoria Leavesley took the reserve champions prize. Event rider Tiny Clapham, a former winner of the class, presented the prizes.

As Collier and Leavesley gave each other a congratulatory hug in the collecting ring afterwards, the ponies looked none too pleased to be standing side-by-side. Defaelog Rhiannon has been owned by the Leavesley family for the last two years and the 15-year-old bay mare was formerly ridden by Victoria’s brother. “He’s wonderful,” said Collier, who is in her first year of open working hunter classes. “The more attention you give him the better.”

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