‘Even more special’: Exmoor regains HOYS working hunter title – with daughter of his previous winning rider

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Moonpenny Delphius and Molly Barker jump to victory in the 122cm M&M working hunter pony class
Moonpenny Delphius and Molly Barker
(Image credit: 1st Class Images)

Debbie Barker-Runiewicz watched proudly as her daughter Molly Barker won the Jacksons of Yorkshire M&M 122cm working hunter pony title at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) with their own Exmoor Moonpenny Delphinus (Finn) – with whom Debbie won this title three years ago.

Finn, a 14-year-old gelding, was making his fifth consecutive appearance in this final and his impressive record now includes two wins, and second place in 2023. This is Molly’s first-ever time qualifying for and riding at HOYS; she has won two HOYS qualifiers this season, and the pair were M&M 122cm working hunter pony winners at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).

Celeste Gall
Celeste Gall
Freelance reporter

Celeste is an experienced equestrian journalist based in Cornwall, specialising in native breeds and carriage driving. She has been reporting showing for Horse & Hound since 2012. Celeste brings a lifelong passion for ponies to her reporting. She competed both plaited and native working hunter ponies up to her teenage years, then taught herself to carriage drive in 2018 and has successfully competed and won at county and national level.