Elegant and graceful — just two of the attributes the following hacks displayed in order to catch the judge’s eye in the show ring
1. Whittakers Baroness
This home-bred six-year-old earned her Royal International (RIHS) ticket at Cheshire Premier (1 May), piloted by Adele Hanson for her mother Margaret Atkinson. The mare is by Kilvington Scoundrel and Baroness is a full sister to the 2012 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) riding horse champion Whittakers Prince, and a half-sister to the 2013 riding pony of the year Whittakers Princess Royal.
2. Becconsall Regal Ruby
This home-bred and home-produced mare headed her small class at Stoneleigh Horse Show (12-14 August), ridden by Jean Walsh Wright. The pair collected their first HOYS ticket and landed the tricolour.
3. Sandhills Scallyway
This part-bred 11-year-old Arab secured the home-produced and amateur hack titles for Jade Hawker at South Of England (9-11 June).
4. Elusive
Suzanna Welby’s six-year-old carried Jo Bates — only recently returned to the saddle after a heavy fall from a youngster — to stand hack champion at the BSHA national championships (9-11 September). The pair went on to stand reserve Classic Supreme.
5. Royal Enchantment
Jordan Cook piloted Paul Mortimer’s novice to victory in a strong large class at Three Counties (17-19 June), collecting the mare’s first HOYS ticket and going on to stand section champion.
6. Devil Or Angel
This daughter of Devil’s Jump won her large class en route to standing champion at Bucks County (1 September), ridden by Sara Parrott.
7. Anton Little Astaire
Fiona Farquharson was in the saddle of this smart chestnut at Bucks County, where the pair headed their small line-up before standing reserve champion to Devil Or Angel (above).
8. Pendley Majestic
This HOYS-bound hack claimed the Blue Riband intermediate title at the BSPS championships (23-27 August), ridden by Matt Cooper for his girlfriend Lizzie Smith. Lizzie is also pictured on Rathnaleen Gothic, who stood reserve. Pendley Majestic later stood overall supreme.
9. Saatchi
This home-produced horse stood hack champion at the Scottish Horse Show (19 July) with Sports Direct employee Kimberley Minchin. Earlier in the year the duo won their RIHS ticket at BSHA Southern Spring (30 April), where they endured a 2.30am start to travel to the venue from Nottingham.
10. Kingsford Final Command
This lovely bay belonging to Amy and Jack Downey was ridden in the ring at Herts County (28-29 May) by James Smyth, where the pair duly took the hack title.
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11. Whalton Forgery
This nine-year-old was making his third appearance of the season at the BSHA national championships, where he was crowned Edgar supreme with Vicky Hesford. The Clare Twiston-Davies-owned horse is the reigning HOYS champion hack.
