Good Luck to all of the New Forest Ponies which are heading off to the Horse of the Year Show at The Birmingham NEC next week. This year there are 7 new forest ponies through to the prestigious show which is the highest number for several years. Burley Showman owned by Gill Wright and ridden by Nicky Stephens will be flying the flag for the smaller new forest ponies having qualified for the Balanced Horse Feeds 122cms Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony of the Year.

The forest bred pony Rushmoor Sunrise owned by Anne Bebbington and ridden by her daughter Samantha are through to not only the Mountain and Moorland 138cms working Hunter Pony Class but also the plaited Underwood 133cms Working Hunter Pony final.

In the New Forest & Connemara section of the Carrs BMW Mountain and Moorland ridden pony of the year there are three New Forest contenders all bred by the Willoway Stud, a great achievement for the Mr & Mrs Large, owners of the stud. Lets hope that Willoway Minstral, Willoway Free Spirit and Willoway Lord of the Rings give the connemaras a run their money, who have dominated the class in recent years.

Full report to follow next week.

Burley Showman Owned and bred by Gill Wright. Ridden by Nicky Stephens.

The ponies through to HOYS are:

122cms Working Hunter Pony of the Year
Burley Showman - owned and bred by Gill Wright & Ridden by Nicky Stephens
Sire Peveril Peter Piper, Dam Mallins Princess

Under 138cms Working Hunter Pony of the Year
Ladybrook Ammeretti - bred by Angela Jones owned & Ridden  by Sammy-Jo Grantham
Sire Merrie Marmalade, Dam Rowlands Charlene

Rushmoor Sunrise – bred by R & J Stride, owned by A Bebbington and ridden by Samantha Bebbington
Sire Faircross Sunrise, Dam Rushmoor Rose Bay

Exceeding 138cms Working Hunter Pony of the Year
Wayland Loganberry – owned and bred by Mary Bryant & ridden by Caroline Saker
Sire Wayland Cranberry, Dam Luckington Vintage

New Forest & Connemara Carrs BMW Mountain & Moorland Pony of the year
Willoway Free Spirit owned and bred by Mr & Mrs Large – ridden by Samantha Roberts
Sire Peveril Peter Piper, Dam Mercury Amy

Willoway Minstral – owned and bred by Mr & Mrs Large and ridden by Andrei Neale
Sire Peveril Peter Piper, Dam Obermill Clover

Willoway Lord of the Rings – bred by Mr & Mrs Large owned by S Carpenter, Ridden by Charlotte Harlow
Sire Woodrow Prince Harry, Dam Rodlease Golden Rhapsody

Report by Kerry Humble