An Arab, a Shetland and a rescue pony — take a look at our selection of in-hand winners so far this season.
Mystical Dream
This three-year-old filly collected the overall in-hand hunter title at Lincolnshire County (22-23 June) for Yorkshire-based breeder Kath Barley. The home-bred bay received the same trophy won by her grand-dam, Drummer, in 1989.
Frozti
Pippa Windle- Baker’s lovely grey Arab gelding contested the Cuddy qualifier at Royal Norfolk (29-30 June) and secured The Queen’s prize. This award is given to the best animal that is owner-bred by an exhibitor living in Norfolk, and it rotates through seven sections of the show. It came to the light horse section in 2016.
WHW Little Lion
Inaugural rescue classes at Royal Norfolk saw judges Jayne Ross and international vet Fred Barrelet crown this lovely 28-year-old their overall champion. Little Lion has been with World Horse Welfare since 1994 and currently lives with one of the charity’s supervisors, Viki Cooper, as a companion.
Chilham Celestial
Vanessa Clark’s home-bred Connemara won her mixed breeds class en route to lifting the overall in-hand native title at Lincolnshire County, with handler Jack Cochrane.
Benbreac Of Croila
This beautiful grey belonging to Melanie Stanford took the Highland title at Great Yorkshire Show (12-14 July).
Kerlock Rupert
Another Great Yorkshire Show victor, this black pony stood Shetland champion after winning his colt/stallion Shetland class for John Watson.
Townend Believer
Contesting the fourth show of his short career, this four-year-old Fell stood overall non-Welsh champion at Hertfordshire County (28-29 May) with producer/handler Philip Ward-Burton.
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Idyllic Guinevere
This Welsh section A mare stood M&M in-hand champion at Herts County for breeders Mark and Liz Kilbey. Guinevere, who had a five-week-old foal at foot at the time of the show, is a five-year-old and this was her first time back in the ring after being shown as a youngster.
It’s been a good season for the Kilbeys, whose Idyllic Perdita qualified for Horse of the Year Show when winning the Cuddy qualifier at Great Yorkshire Show.
