‘She’s got serious attitude’: Young mare — a Royal International first timer — secures miniature horse glory
A four-year-old making her Royal International Horse Show debut trotted away with the British Miniature Horse Society (BMHS) supreme miniature horse championship.
The bay pinto mare — who lit up during her performance in the Longines International Arena — was Model Farm UK Midnight Meadow, handled to perfection by her producer Harriet Miller, for breeder Lisa Taylor.
Midnight Meadow finished her 2019 season with a third at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and seemed to thoroughly enjoy her chance to stand in the spotlight here at Hickstead.
“We’ve had a phenomenal season; she’s been champion or reserve every time out this year,” said miniature specialist Harriet, who works for the Environment Agency and is a regular face at Hickstead.
Harriet has produced miniatures since 2014 and has had CMD Blaze Of Glory-sired Midnight Meadow on her team for two seasons.
“She’s a bit fresh and she’s super chatty today, “ said Somerset-based Harriet, who led her to be champion at both BMHS and breed shows as well as NPS Area 13. “She’s full of herself, has a serious attitude and she thinks she’s quite important. She’s only four so she’ll continue showing her for a few years. She seems to love her job.”
“I have a full team of miniatures for Lisa; today, we also won with our two-year-old Model Farm UK Eliana.”
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Both mares are off to HOYS this year.
Taking reserve was Harriet Wood leading her own eight-year-old gelding Summerrose Little Hawk.
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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.