‘It’s taken me a long time, but it’s all worth it’: runaway success for teenage rider at Windsor

A 16-year-old rider netted the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Pretty Polly mountain and moorland (M&M) championship at the 2026 Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Home-produced Welsh section C stallion Thistledown Runaway and his teenage rider Beau Belle Crossley first won a hotly contested Pretty Polly mixed M&M breed class, before going against the Pretty Polly home-produced lead reins and first ridden ponies to claim the Pretty Polly M&M champion title.

Although the pair have triumphed here, Beau says it has not been smooth sailing to get the stallion where he is.

“I’ve had him for about two years now,” she said. “He’s been a bit of a handful. He loves an atmosphere; it’s only since the beginning of this year that he’s really found himself. It’s taken me a long time to get where I am now, but it’s all worth it.”

The 10-year-old is out of Thistledown Isabella and by Donys Gwrda, and is owned by Beau’s mum Stevie.

This was both pony and rider’s first time riding in the castle grounds.

Beau said: “I came here with no expectations. I just wanted him to be happy and have a good experience, and he’s taken it all in his stride.

“He’s a little bit of a fidget pants; he’s got a little bit of a baby brain, so to come here in this atmosphere, he’s just handled it really well.”

The stallion has also qualified for the Royal International Horse Show in the UK Ponies and Horses intermediate M&M class.

The pair pipped another Welsh pony to the class; Bo Sampson and Hillgarth The Matador finished in second place.

Joining them in the championship was the winner of the first ridden class, eight-year-old Constance Matthews riding Welsh section A Ellstone China Rose, who stood reserve Pretty Polly M&M champion. Second to Constance was Mari Anthony with Heniarth Teacake.

The winner of the Pretty Polly lead rein class was Everly Richards riding seven-year-old grey section A Gwyrddparc Tangfastic, and second went to the Dartmoor, Hisley Caliph, ridden by Penelope Rae Dale.

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