The 2023 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) has come to a close, but we’re not quite ready to let the magic die down just yet. The well-attended showing classes saw many young riders come to the fore as well as a selection of novice ponies and horses who were attending the fixture for the very first time. Check out these Royal International Horse Show winners from the 2023 show, and see if you agree with the judges’ choices…
Royal International Horse Show winners
1. Kilcarna Brilliant
Sarah-Ann Gunn’s lightweight hunter claims both the hunter championship and the overall supreme horse accolade under his producer Will Morton.
2. Beech Hall Ryan
at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 30th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
The legendary working hunter pony, 16, gives Izzy Hartswood-Collier a dream first Royal International pony supreme ride to clinch the overall title.
3. Mulberry Lane
at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 30th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch)
Susan Tennant’s supreme working hunter champion delights the judges and the crowds with Craig Kiddier to finish reserve horse supreme in the list of Royal International Horse Show winners.
4. Hightopps Black Magic
at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 30th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
The first-season show pony lead rein is mini champion and reserve supreme for owner Naomi Bradwell, rider Scarlett Smith and handler/producer Adam Forster.
5. Red Rock III
Champion. Janay Atherden riding Lisha Leemman’s Red Rock in class 122 The Oyster Wealth Planning Skewbald & Piebald Indian Trail Ridden Championship at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 25th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
The coloured cob advances on the reserve supreme title he achieved in last year’s coloured championship to win the overall title with his owner/rider Janay Leeman in the saddle.
6. Bellflower
Georgina Rees riding BELLFLOWER in The Arab Championship at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 26th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
Georgina Ree’s mare captured the ridden Arab sash on her Hickstead debut.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
7. Lowlandview James Bond
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The Dartmoor gelding tops a competitive Heritage Pretty Polly championship for his Blackpool-based connections, including rider Harriet Lomas and handler Lynsey Lomas.
8. Star Smokey
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
RIHS open worker debutante Florrie Duncalf and Laura Wheelwright’s Star Smokey finish second in the 143cm working hunter pony class before posting section reserve.
9. Times Square III
at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 28th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
For the second time in a row, Danielle Heath and the Mears’ small riding horse capture top spot in the riding horse championship.
10. Parkgate Royal Visit William
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The small hack heads the supreme hack championship for his owner Nick Brookes and producer Robert Walker.
11. Hortons Cut Above
(Image credit: Alex Roebuck)
Hayley Erner’s home-produced lightweight is crowned supreme amateur cob, with Hayley in the saddle.
12. New Illusion
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The amateur riding horse spoils are presented to the winning small, ridden by Sophie Openshaw.
13. Coppinshill Commemoration
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Harlow White, 11, heads the M&M first ridden class with her mother Chelsea White’s Dartmoor en route to the section title.
14. Castra
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Stephanie Fitt’s home-bred mare achieved coloured pony supreme victory before finishing reserve in the overall coloured championship.
15. Laburnum Richard
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
For the second time in his career, Amy Smith’s Connemara lands the overall M&M working hunter pony supreme honour.
16. The Boss
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Loren Gaskin rides her 15-year-old coloured stallion to win the senior ridden sash.
17. Copenhagen
at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 30th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
Simon Reynolds is victorious in the cob championship aboard Rowena Stevenson’s lightweight gelding.
18. Briarhill Buddy Bolden
Meg Edmondson riding BRIARHILL BUDDY BOLDEN in The Culford Lodge Commodities Small Hunter Sponsored by Culford Lodge Commodities at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 29th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
Meg Edmondson is crowned small hunter winner with her own gelding, who also was crowned supreme intermediate under Harriet Dennison.
19. Amblynn Tiramisu
(Image credit: Alex Roebuck)
Charlotte Leonard does a one-two in the miniature supreme, including taking the top title with her home-produced stallion.
20. Bloomfield Eloquence
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Liz Prowting’s middleweight contender scores the ladies’ hunter tricolour for the second time in his career partnered by Alice Homer.
21. Emlaughmore Lightening
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The amateur M&M accolade is lifted by Casey Ormrod riding her home-produced Connemara pony.
22. Brookdale Limited Edition
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Issy Mears and her gelding lift the maxi cob accolade for the second time.
23. Dolphins Lawyer
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The Pretty Polly supreme championship is won by Isabella Worthington, 20, and her home-produced intermediate show riding type.
24. Springwater Tactician
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Craig Elenor leads Finlay Clay and the Dartmoor gelding to finish reserve in the mini M&M championship for the second time on the bounce.
25. Seabourne Silent Valley
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The lightweight hunter wins his amateur class and the home-produced hunter sash with Francoise Babington in the saddle.
26. San Miguel
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Reserve for the home-produced hunter crown is Jane Collins and her second placed lightweight.
27. Gwerniago Gethin
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Ashley Bird’s Welsh section D stallion wins the 143cm M&M working hunter pony class before claiming reserve in the section championship.
28. Pumphill Rasputin
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Poppy Gresty wins the Pretty Polly Heritage first ridden class on the Dartmoor gelding.
29. Roseberry Fascinator
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Alice Binks repeats her 2022 result with Jane Bennison’s small show riding type, who wins her class and stands reserve intermediate supreme.
30. Danwood Llewellyn
Hannah Atkinson riding DANWOOD LLEWELLYN in The Corroconsult BSPS Heritage Mountain & Moorland Supreme Ridden Championship at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 27th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676 at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 27th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
Hannah Atkinson rides her own and her mother Linda’s home-bred Welsh section C to finish as M&M supreme champion.
31. Merrycorner Mister Bui
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The 153cm contender wins a fourth show hunter pony supreme with Zara Brookes.
32. Monivea Black Magic
at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 25th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
Pippa Kirby’s home-bred traditional stallion tops his class and is reserve for the coloured pony supreme title.
33. Roseberry Picture Perfect
at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 30th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
The 143cm show pony, a Hickstead debutant, is supreme show pony with Chloe Heathcote riding.
34. Rowfantina Orlando-Bloom
at The Longines Royal International Horse Show, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Sussex, GBR. July 26th 2023 ~ MANDATORY Credit Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves - NO UNAUTHORISED USE - 07745 909676
(Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)
James Burchell gallops his grandmother Mandy Burchell Small’s home-bred on their lap of honour after they win the M&M young rider spoils.
35. St Giles Devole
(Image credit: Alex Roebuck)
Phoebe Price is crowned amateur hack champion with her own small campaigner.
36. Show Team George
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The part-bred championship is secured by Reise Shakespeare and his large class winner.
37. Bens Twelve
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The 20-year-old former hunt horse nets the senior in-hand title, handled by Zara Thain.
38. Tiger Eye
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
After winning the small division, Liberty Taylor-Hopkins and her 11-year-old step up to land the overall amateur hunter field.
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
