Barbers Shop and Katie Jerram gave The Queen another reason to celebrate on the week of her 90th birthday extravaganza at Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Her Majesty looked delighted as her ex-racehorse won the overall title in the Tattersalls and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Ridden Show Horse Championship minutes after winning the national hunt section.
The 14-year-old bay gelding, by Sadlers Hall, has enjoyed success in RoR classes here on a number of occasions in recent years.
Before swapping to a glittering showing career, Barbers Shop was in training with Nicky Henderson. He ran 24 times under Rules and had eight wins.
Katie told H&H that the win today was “the icing on the cake”.
“I was more apprehensive than I have ever been,” she said. “I adore the horse so much – he tries his hardest.”
She added she was not sure how he would cope as he has been here since Monday and has had a few late nights with rehearsals for the birthday celebrations, which they are taking part in.
“He was absolutely superb, as he always is,” she said. “He is just such a lovely gent.”
Change of career
More ex-racehorses were in action later in the afternoon in the RoR and Thoroughbred Breeders Association Retrained Racehorse Challenge Championship.
Combinations are asked to jump a course of eight fences (between 2’6” and 3’6” in height) before performing an individual show.
It is judged 50% on jumping, 20% for style while jumping and performance, and 30% for show, manners and suitability to be retrained.
Winner Jenny Cowen, with her own Mokum, shared some tips on how she prepared her 15-year-old bay gelding for the competition.
“Patience, lots of lesson and schooling religiously,” she said.
“I make sure he hacks twice a week so he stays nice and relaxed, and he has a friend out in the field.
“I have really worked on my flat work to get him going correctly, which then just paid dividends for the jumping.”
