Willoway Lord of the Rings leapt to victory in the M&M WHP at Horse of the Year Show on Thursday 8th October. The 8-year-old bay gelding is by Woodrow Prince Harry out of Rodlease Golden Rhapsody and bred by Mr & Mrs Large. He is owned by Sally Carpenter and ridden by Charlotte Harlow. Lord of the Rings jumped a fluent and polished clear round, over a tight, spooky track to head the exceeding 138 cm class, one of only 4 clears out of a starting list of 17. Later in the electric atmosphere of the international arena Lord of the Rings pulled off a tremendous gallop to take the overall Polly Products Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony of the Year Championship, awarded by judges Matthew Lawrence (jump) and Jo Custerson (show & conformation). Congratulations to all of Lord of the Rings connections on this tremendous achievement.

Willoway Lord of the Rings and Charlotte Harlow

Samantha Bebbington had a busy couple of days with two ponies through to the M&M WHP Final and the plaited WHP Final. Rushmoor Sunrise, the consistent campaigner owned by Samantha’s mother Anne, was placed a credible 4th in the ponies exceeding 122cms and not 138cms in the Polly Products M&M WHP Class and 6th in the Underwood 133cms Working Hunter Pony of the Year. Samantha’s other ride Willoway Court Jester came 7th in the Underwood 143cm Working Hunter Pony of the Year. Court Jester is only in his first season of open WHPs and has already qualified for next year’s M&M WHP final at the Royal International Show at Hickstead. Samantha is hoping that Court Jester will take over from Rushmoor Sunrise when he is outgrown. Foresters proved their versatility with the winner of the 133cms WHP class going to a part-bred New Forest pony Crabbswood Nutmeg, a dun mare by Monkshorn Minstrel out of the first-cross Crabbswood Tara, and bred by Mrs M Rayner. Congratulations to Nutmeg’s owner Mrs Meyrick and rider Beatrice Meyrick.

Well done to all the New Forests at the HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW, where it is an achievement just qualifying for the prestigious occasion.

Report by Kerry Humble