The annual New Forest show at Brockenhurst in the heart of the New Forest as always had huge entries in the New Forest Pony Classes with Mrs J Price Judging the Youngstock and Geldings and Miss Helen Duffield the Stallions and Mares.

The first class of the day was the yearling colts which was won in style by Knaveash Alchemist, owned and bred by Kate Robb. This smart colt, son of the late Willoway Pipers Gold has had an exceptional Season and was still fresh from his win at this years Royal Show. The 2 & 3 yo colt class was won by Susan Shaw’s Merrie Motivator, a mature Dun 3yo by Merrie Marmalade.

The yearling filly class had huge entries forward with 25 entries and most forward. Miss Price’s winner was a well grown bay filly Maytree Carina owned and bred by Mrs A Adams and by the late Beechwood Comet.

Emma Collis from Fordingbridge had a good day after winning the 2 year old New Forest filly class with Dorridge May Queen and later the Small Brood mare Class with her own free moving mare Dorridge Finniella by Peveril Peterborough ahead of Mr & Mrs Maton’s Mallards Wood Goddess who went on to take the prestigious Forest Bred Championship later in the day.

Dorridge Finniella Winner of the Small Brood Mare Class

In the foal class for the small brood mares Robert Maton’s bay colt foal Mallards Wood Saint Daniel took first place and collect the foal cup for the 4th year running for his happy owners.

Mallards Wood Saint Daniel Winner of the Foal Class for the Small Brood Mares

In the large Broodmare class June Witham’s very successful Woodrow Delights Double took the red rosette as did her filly foal by Farriers Field of Dreams.

The Barren Mare class for ponies exceeding 13.2 was won by Alan and Kay Baileys Applewitch Roan Fantasia. This 4 year old mare by Applewitch a Touch of Magic proved that the New Forest Show was her happy hunting grown having won her as a yearling, 3 year old and now 4 year old.

Applewitch Roan Fantasia Winner of the Barren Mare Class for ponies exceeding 13.2

As always the gelding classes were huge in numbers and Miss price chose Mrs Hannah Roddis’s grey gelding Backley Charmer as her winner of the 1,2 or 3 year old class much to the delight of his owner who arrived late to the show. Last years winner of the 4 year old and over gelding class came back to collect first place again for Mrs M Dewdney who also took second place with her bay gelding Priory Sherbert.

Backley Charmer Winner of the 1, 2 or 3 year old Gelding Class

The day really belonged to the Willoway Stud from Dorset who’s Willoway Memory won the barren small mare class and Willoway Madeline (owned by Mr P Armitage) won the 2 year old class leaving their own stallion Willoway Minstral to take not only the stallion class, the overall New Forest In Hand Class but also the ridden Championship in the afternoon showing the versatility of the dark brown stallion who has this year qualified for the ridden final at Horse of the Year Show.

Willoway Minstral Winner of the Stallion Class, Overall New Forest In Hand Class and the Ridden Championship.

In Hand New Forest Champion: Willoway Minstral Owned and Bred by Mr & Mrs Large

Reserve: Knavesash Alchemist owned and bred by Kate Robb

Forest Bred Champion : Mallards Wood Goddess owned and bred by Mr and Mrs Robert Maton

Reserve Rushmoor Bay Rose, owned by June Witham and Lucy Booth and bred by John and Richard Stride

Ridden & Performance

On the Tuesday Jennie Lorriston Clarke had over 35 entries to judge in the New Forest & Connemara section of the Olympia Qualifier. Sabina’s Gold Sovereign, a chestnut Stallion by Peveril Peterborough was Jennie’s choice from start to finish.

In the Horse of the Year Show WHP classes Nicky Stephens was delighted to win the not exceeding 128cms section on Gill Wright’s bay Stallion Burley Showman, securing his ticket to the prestigious show.

The New Forest Ridden Classes held on Wednesday afternoon in the show ring which usually has an electric atmosphere due to the adjacent pony walkway, Heavy Horse teams, spectators stray dogs and lose balloons!  Good  entries were forward for Gill Evans to judge, with competitors no doubt sweltering in the afternoon sun. The ridden classes are split into 5 sections, 13.2 and under and 13.2 and over open ponies and split heights for the novice mares and geldings as well as a stallion class. It would be nice if the show could put on a novice stallion class as some of the younger stallions have no choice but to compete against more senior ponies.

Willoway Memory won the open class with a delighted Lyn Hughes and her own Rushmoor Peter Pod in second. The large open section was won by Farriers True Print, owned and bred by Mr & Mrs Simon Young and ridden by Rachel Capper ahead of Bunny McGrath’s Vernons Valeta. The small Novices was won by James and Trudy Youngs Brock Baccarat, a lovely forest bred 9 year old mare, beating Teresa Russell’s Vicarshill Jack the Lad, a nice black 5 yo gelding who gave a very polished show.

The ridden Stallion Class was won by Willoway Minstral fresh from his win in hand in the morning and went on to stand Champion Ridden Pony ahead of Farriers True Print in Reserve Spot.

The New Forest Show along with the Breed show remains the most spectacular sight of New Forest Ponies showing the full spectrum and diversity of the breed. Thanks must go to Richard Cuzens (Chief Executive) who along with his staff organised a wonderful show and had restored the show rings and parking into excellent condition for competitors after last years quagmire.

Report by Kerry Humble