The judge shares her advice for competitors in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers
Victoria Mullen is the 2026 Royal Windsor novice hunter judge. The hunter classes are a big deal at Royal Windsor. If you watch the open weight classes, you’re guaranteed to catch a glimpse of some of the biggest names – human and equine – in the hunter ranks.
The real aficionados will know that watching the novice classes here is likely to get you a look at some of the future stars of these classes, with producers turning out some of their most exciting young horses in a bid to secure the novice spoils. This year, the job of sorting these young hopefuls falls to Jenny Thomas and Victoria Mullen, who will assess their ride.
Victoria Mullen’s background in showing
Victoria got her first pony when she was two years old.
“I was that pony-mad child all through my school years; I rarely went to other kids’ houses because I was riding or going to shows at weekends,” she says.
It was showjumping, not showing, that first captivated her.
“I started off as a through-and-through showjumper, but when I reached my late teens I was lucky enough that my mum and dad bought me a beautiful coloured pony who had looks to die for. Somehow, a friend convinced me that it would be a great idea to do the workers class at Balmoral, despite the fact I didn’t own anything that resembled proper hunter attire.
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“After competing in the 148AB as it was at the time, I trotted off across the show ground in my full showjumping gear and jumped a clear round in the workers and was pulled second. After that, I got the bug. Mum bought me a nice jacket and we picked some workers shows to go to on weekends when we weren’t showjumping.”
There was more showing success to follow.
“We bought a four-year-old mare and later we went on to win the young riders at the Dublin Horse Show two years consecutively.”
Once she had finished studying for her A Levels and left school, Victoria went straight into working with horses, and was led into eventing.
“Eventing is predominantly what I do now,” she explains. “It was at the Eventing Ireland ball about 10 years ago that Richard Iggulden and I got chatting and he asked if I’d have any interest in coming to ride his show horses. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity and started working at his yard not long after. I’ve enjoyed great success riding for Richard, including winning at Dublin, Balmoral and at the Royal Highland.”
“I love to see a good looking horse who walks into the ring like they own it,” she says. “They must be mannerly, carry themselves naturally, and ride in a nice, relaxed manner.
“A good mover is essential – I want to see something that is athletic and something I would enjoy taking out for a days hunting.”
Once on board, Victoria wants a horse who is “soft in the hand and reactive to the aids”.
“I don’t like to see a horse that is stressy or a horse that looks like it’s been pulled into shape and isn’t going from behind.
“I hate to see horses that are too fat.”
A turnout tip, too: “I don’t like to see excessive make up on horses or hoof paint. I much prefer old fashioned hoof oil.”
Victoria’s advice for first-timers
“If I could give any advice to somebody coming to a big show like Windsor for the first time it would be not to stress; what’s in the brain goes down the rein. Enjoy the experience. Also, prepare and do your homework and hopefully it will pay off.”
Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.
