Horse of the Year Show: Cuddy, hacks, ladies’ hunter, M&M WHP, Racehorse to Show Horse

Jack Cochrane and Mountain Firefly rounded off the season in style when lifting the Cuddy Supreme in-hand championship at the Horse of the Year Show on Thursday 4 October.

Home-bred by the late Ann Vos, the lovely eight-year-old broodmare is by Primitive Rising out of Fire Mountain. Standing reserve was the Pearce Family’s Welsh Section A mare Glyncoch Hyfryd.

Robert Walker and Shelley Perham, who claimed the HOYS supreme titles in 2005 and 2006 with Bournebrook Golden Law & So Smart, booked their places in this year’s supreme final when Silent Words II and Tommy III clinched the hack and ladies’ hunter titles.

Unbroken this time last year, Carmen Gridley’s small hack Silent Words has gone from strength to strength in his debut season. The five-year-old bay was champion for Robert at the recent British Show Horse Championships. “He is an amazing young horse – nothing fazes him at all,” said the Cheshire rider and producer.

Having only her second ride on Michelle Underwood’s Tommy III, Shelley Perham headed the ladies’ hunter championship. “He is a true ladies’ horse,” said Shelley. Qualifying on their debut at Moreton-in-the-Marsh, the pair remained foot perfect to get the nod over another new pairing, Jan Darwin riding Avril Blundell’s recent acquisition Advance Party.

Halnaker Marten went one better this year to clinch the M&M working hunter title. Having stood reserve here last year, the Churchwood Prophet sired nine year old pushed last year’s champion Moortown Honeyman (Rachel Barton) into the reserve slot. Well ridden by Lucy Loughton, Halnaker Marten jumped a super round to win the 122cm class.

Lynn Russell took the honours in the SEIB Racehorse to Show Horse championship riding Baileys Horse Feeds Lin P’Estruval. By Cadoudal, the eight-year-old raced 10 times over fences and is in his first season showing. “This is a lovely series, and he was a star,” said Lynn.

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