The NPS/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain & Moorland Supreme Ridden Championship moved to The Horse of the Year Show for the first time this year and the Natives were given a bonus title of M & M Pony of the Year too!
In a whole day of Mountain & Moorland classes, 172 Native ponies contested breed and combined breed classes, which resulted in winners/best of breeds going forward to the main arena on the Wednesday evening of HOYS. Judges, Gail Chapman (conformation) and John James (show), were pleased with the quality of all the ponies forward and also with the ultimate Supreme Ridden Champion, the "typey" black Welsh Section D, Sydenham King George.
Sydenham King George
Seven-year-old "George", bred by Ann Wheatcroft and owned and ridden by Laura Rowe, was taking part at HOYS for the first time, having qualified at the Ponies Association (UK) Summer Championship Show, at the Newark & Notts showground, in August. The 148cm gelding by Llanarth Lloyd George, was unfortunate not to be able to contest the Friday evening Pony of the Year title as amateur producer, Laura, was also riding Ladies Hunter, Millrowes Say No More, and the timing of their championship meant that George had to miss out.
Reserve Supreme Ridden was another Welsh pony, the Section A gelding, Brynrodyn Savannah, ridden by Lucy Morris, who was able to compete in the new HOYS title of Supreme Ridden Mountain & Moorland Pony of the Year on the Friday evening. This championship was contested by Champion and Reserves of the Supreme Ridden, Mini (M & M lead rein and first ridden) and Working Hunter M & M Championships and saw dual 2010 HOYS and NPS/Baileys Olympia Champion, Pumphill Buckthorn, triumph.
Pumphill Buckthorn
The eight-year-old Dartmoor stallion had won the "not exceeding 122cm" working hunter class the day before and finished Reserve Champion M & M Working Hunter. Rider, Sarah Parker from Shropshire, who owns the pony with Sue Hughes, was more than a little delighted with the popular champion.