The horse who may not be a superstar in the eyes of the world, but who has changed a life and deserves to be recognised for the magic he or she has produced for the good of his or her owner
Horse of a Lifetime shortlist
Nirvana Morroko
“He became my eyes and my ears” – the 21-year-old KWPN owned by Caitlyn Saddington
“Roko” came to Caitlyn Saddington at the age of 15 to take up a new career as a grade I para dressage horse, having competed up to medium level previously. In the past six years, he has won a national title, competed at CPEDI3* and been longlisted for the Tokyo Paralympics. But Caitlyn says “his ability to compete at that level is not his greatest achievement”.
“Roko truly is my horse of a lifetime as when I lost my sight – I was already deaf – he stepped up and became my eyes and ears,” she says. “He is such a special horse that he has reduced many in the gallery to tears watching us compete – so I have been told.
“That said, he is not a push-button, and it is well known that Roko only does what Roko wants to. Negotiation is key! He is the cheekiest horse on the yard, especially now he is retired and is a lord of leisure.
“I haven’t had a horse like him before and it is unlikely that I ever will again,” says Caitlyn.
Waltham Scorpio
“A humble pony from humble beginnings” – Emma Barrow’s Welsh section D, who died this year, aged 31
“‘Harry’ is the horse of two lifetimes,” says Waltham Scorpio’s owner, Emma Barrow. Her mother Faye bought him as a yearling for £350 and when she was pregnant, loaned him to the local riding school.
“He was a humble pony from humble beginnings and turned into an amazing character, well loved by all who met him,” says Faye. “Harry was all I had ever wanted since I was a young girl, and he made all my dreams come true right up until the day he died.”
When Emma was barely into her teens, her first horse died, at which point she took on Harry, qualifying for the Royal International (RIHS) and London International, as well as winning at Royal Windsor and many county shows. He was still competing at the RIHS this season.
“He’s given so much in his lifetime and has left a huge hole in our hearts. We owe him everything,” says Emma.
Spencer
“No horse will ever be able to fill his shoes” – Tamara Cassells-Carp’s ex-racer, who died this year, aged 22
Spencer raced unsuccessfully over hurdles and fences but found his niche once retired from the track, aged eight. He won many showing championships, but even more impressive was his effect on his owner, Tamara Cassells-Carp.
“He looked after me after I had extensive surgery to reconstruct my pelvis and spine after a fall in 2013; he got me back in the show ring even after I never regained feeling in my legs, and even after I was told I would never walk again let alone ride,” says Tamara.
Spencer also beat the odds himself – he fractured his knees, had a rotational fall and survived several colic episodes until the final one that claimed his life.
“No horse, anywhere, ever, will be able to fill those shoes he’s left behind,” Tamara adds of the Alderbrook gelding. “He was never a world-beater, he never got under the spotlight, but he was a horse of a lifetime, not just for me but for everyone who met him in his fabulous 22 years.”
Dartdale Joanne
“I bought her with my waitressing wages”– the 30-year-old Dales pony owned by Emma Hanselman
Emma Hanselman was just 14 when she bought “Dart” from Southall Market in London as a just-broken four-year-old for £850. The pair have done everything from nannying youngsters to working an open farm, pony rides for the public and even collecting Emma’s GCSE results together. This year, the mare celebrated her 30th birthday.
“I’d saved my waitressing wages to buy a pony,” says Emma. “Just broken was a stretch. She reared daily for months and was tricky to tack up – but I was so happy to have my own pony, she could have done anything!”
Although Emma sold Dart in 2002, when the mare went on to showjump and attend hunt marches in London, she bought her back three years later and competed her in working hunter pony, native and puissance classes, as well as breeding from her.
“Some soulmates have four legs,” says Emma. “It is without a doubt that Dart is the pony of my lifetime.”
Previous Agria Horse of a Lifetime winners
This award is now in its third year at the Horse & Hound Awards, with the previous winners being:
- 2023: Cashel Bay JJ, a top working hunter pony
- 2022: Carltonlima Emma, The late Queen’s beloved hack
About the Horse & Hound Awards 2024
The Horse & Hound Awards are back for a ninth year in a row, in partnership with NAF and Agria.
As ever, the H&H Awards winners will be nominated and voted for by you, with the exception of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award, which will be decided by a Horse & Hound panel. We will recognise both the big names who have made 2024 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at whatever level.
This year we will be returning to Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire, where some 300 people, including Olympic and Paralympic superstars, can look forward to a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, Oscar-style speeches and dancing on Wednesday 27 November. If you’d like to join us, you can book an individual ticket or a platinum table for 10 people at www.hhawardsuk.com
