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‘He’s a dream’: show pony lead-rein is mini champion at HOYS with tiny rider

Alex Robinson Alex Robinson

    • A lead-rein hailed as a “dream mini pony” by his show team took home the Annabel’s Deliciously British HOYS 2024 mini show pony of the year title at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

    At HOYS in 2022, the Westgrove Dark Secret gelding Derw Dream Boy (Dave) won the same title with his previous owners, the Knipe Family.

    On this occasion, he was shown by Craig Elenor and ridden by five-year-old Sienna Clay, for whom this was her first HOYS appearance.

    Judge Gregory Gerry said: “He was such a charming and quality pony who did his job looking after his tiny rider.”

    Sara Parrott co-produces the pony alongside Craig: “We’ve had him for a year. We watched him win HOYS the year before last and over a few drinks at a ball a few weeks later we said he was the one we’d like for Sienna. We bought him after HOYS in 2023.”

    The pair have enjoyed minimal outings, but stood mini champions at Three Counties, booking their HOYS place, and winning the tiny-tots title at the BSPS summer championships.

    “He’s a dream to produce and while he’s full of personality he’s so easy,” Sara added.

    Craig has quite the record in plaited mini ranks at HOYS; he’s led in the show pony lead-rein class three times and he was mini champion in 2017 and reserve last year.

    Sienna has watched her big brother, Finlay, ride at HOYS several times. In 2023, he won here on a lead-rein Dartmoor pony.

    “She’s following in his footsteps,” said Mum Heather. “The pair have totally exceeded our expectations; as Sienna is so tiny we thought maybe next year might be their time, but they’ve blown us away.”

    Lara-Rae Jones and David Jinks’ Archwood Finley lifted the first-ridden honours and finished reserve in the HOYS 2024 mini show pony of the year championship.

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    Alex Robinson
    Alex Robinson

    H&H showing 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 since when she has cemented its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK.
    Alex Robinson

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