If you could ride any horse, past or present, who would it be?
That was the question H&H posed to readers last week, and the response was vast.
The resounding winner, however, was John Whitaker’s legendary partner Milton.
In a survey on Twitter 30% of H&H’s responding followers chose the mighty grey as their dream ride.
John Whitaker secured the ride on Milton in 1985 and the pair became a stellar combination. They were mainstays of British Nations Cup teams, and when the grey retired in 1994 he’d amassed more than £1.25m in prize money, the first in the sport to cross the million-pound mark.
Dual Olympic gold medal-winning dressage star Valegro was the runner up with 24%.
Diminutive showjumper Stroller scored 12%, while Charisma, Mark Todd’s gold medal-winning Olympic eventer, took 7% of votes.
Arkle, Desert Orchid, Istabraq, King William, Classic II, Big Ben, Frankel, Imperial Cavalier and Murphy Himself all received 3% of votes.
Meanwhile on Facebook fans were also championing Milton, Valegro and Stroller.
“Definitely Milton — my bedroom walls were plastered in posters of him as a child. Saw him at Olympia in his retirement parade and cried my eyes out,” said Facebook fan Emma Featherstone.
While Sophie Ray added: “Milton, didn’t even have to think.”
Ryan’s Son, Red Rum, Aldaniti and Secretariat also got several favourable mentions, alongside H&H’s very own equine blogger Hovis.
In this week’s issue top riders including Lucinda Green, William Whitaker, Jennie Lorriston-Clarke and Richard Dunwoody, reveal which horse they wish they’d had the chance to ride.
Find out who the stars would pick in the new issue of H&H magazine, on sale tomorrow (Thursday 11 June)
