What does it take to have a winner at Royal Windsor Horse Show? Here is a selection of this year’s showing champions for you to review.
1. Carnsdale Vanity Fair
This mare belied her 18 years when making easy work of a tricky jumping course en route to taking the working hunter pony title. Owned by Jen Skillman, Vanity Fair is produced and ridden by 15-year-old Sophie Lawes.
2. Broughton Morwenna
This Welsh section D mare is owned by Lesley Evans and stood champion in-hand M&M over The Queen’s Murthwaite Dawn Chorus.
3. Lingswood Lad
This elegant six-year-old took the hack title for Angharad Charlesworth.
4. Kellythorpes Spot The Difference
This two-year-old filly by Stormhill Mink, owned and produced by Janay Leeman and Frazer Atherden, was one of three champions for Kellythorpe Stud. Spot The Difference topped her youngstock class before landing the overall coloured section title.
5. Laburnum Richard
Amy Smith piloted this Connemara to victory in the M&M working hunter pony championship.
6. Barbers Shop
For the second year running Barbers Shop took the Tattersalls/RoR show horse title for The Queen, ridden by Katie Jerram.
7. Lindeth Talisman
This pony provided 13-year-old Holly Hobson with a fairytale Windsor debut by standing show hunter pony champion. Lindeth Talisman is produced by Chloe Ravenscroft, Karl Morris and Liam Glynn.
8. Mokum
Just 12 weeks after giving birth, Jenny Cowen was back in the saddle to pilot former chaser Mokum to victory in the RoR retrained racehorse challenge final.
9. Broadshard Simplicity
Despite having never worn a side-saddle before he went into the ring at Windsor, Rosettes Direct’s reigning Horse of the Year Show supreme Broadshard Simplicity won a strong ladies’ show horse class for Jayne Ross.
10. Randalstown Musketeer
Randalstown Musketeer, owned by Clare Twiston-Davies and ridden by Vicky Hesford, claims the cob championship.
11. Rathnaleen Gothic
Rathnaleen Gothic, ridden by university student Lizzie Smith and produced by Adam Winbourne, took the intermediate title.
12. Rhos Elodie
This four-year-old owned by Mandy Godden secured the novice show pony title, ridden by Charlotte Tuck.
13. Runnon Ruby Tuesday
This home-produced five-year-old mare headed the amateur hacks for Swansea-based Abbie Dark, a business management student at the University of Wales.
14. Slieve Bloom Jill
This lovely Connemara owned by Lady Huntingdon is bound for Olympia after winning the BSPS Heritage championship, ridden by Hannah Horton.
15. Vulcanite
This daughter of prolific eventing stallion Jumbo scored a first Windsor working hunter title for rider Rory Gilsenan. This was only the fourth time that Rory had sat on the Katy Green-owned six-year-old mare.
16. Wilderness Early Bird
The Holmes family enjoyed two championship wins — 12-year-old Georgina took the show pony title on the 148cm victor Wilderness Early Bird…
17. Hollybush Enchantment
…While Georgina’s younger sister Matilda, five, claimed the mini title riding Hollybush Enchantment.
Wilderness Early Bird is produced by Kirsty Pickles, while Sharn Linney produces Hollybush Enchantment.
Continued below…
Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:
The Queen’s £50 Tesco voucher — and other golden moments from Royal Windsor 2016
Set lines and four-wheel drive ponies: discover the thinking behind Royal Windsor’s M&M working hunter course
9 reasons Royal Windsor reminds you that summer is here
18. Aidensfield Rupert
Carol Bardo’s eye-catching coloured took the overall ridden coloured title for the second year running, ridden by Jayne Ross.
Don’t miss the full Royal Windsor Horse Show report in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound, on sale 19 May.