Team Walker sweeps the board in hack championship

There was a Walker whitewash today at the Prenetics Royal International Horse Show, when Robert and Sarah Walker claimed the champion and reserve spots in the Brereton Supreme Hack Championship.

Robert rode small hack victor Parkgate Royal Visit William to take the tricolour, with wife Sarah standing reserve with the large hack Forgeland Hyde Park.

Robert shares the ride on Parkgate Royal Visit William with the owner’s daughter, Zara Brookes.  Zara had also qualified the horse for both the anglo/part-bred arab and the intermediate championships at this show, but because the intermediates clashed with the hacks, Zara stepped back to let Robert show him in the hacks instead.

“He has such cadence and rhythm that you can’t teach, you have to have it naturally,” said Robert. “He’s just a one-off. He’s a really straightforward horse to train – my dad always taught me that if they can do it well in a headcollar, they’ll do it well in a bridle, and he does."

Parkgate Royal Visit William joined the Walkers’ stable a couple of seasons ago, after Robert had admired the horse for some time. “One of his owners got pregnant and he had to be sold to make time for the baby, and we were lucky enough to buy him,” said Robert.

In the BMHS Supreme Miniature Horse Championship, a four-year-old mare making her Hickstead debut ended up taking the title. Model Farm UK Midnight Meadow was shown by Harriet Miller, who balances producing minis with working full-time for the Environment Agency.

“She just loves the atmosphere and the occasion,” said Harriet. "She wants to be here, and she wants to show off. She’s full of herself and very, very bubbly, and she thinks she’s quite important!”

Jayne Ross picked up another Hickstead sash today when winning the Culford Lodge Commodities Small Hunter Championship with Ellie Just’s six-year-old Wall Street 2. “This is a real youngster, and he’s only done half a dozen shows in his life, so this was a real ask for him," said Jayne. "So it was nice not to have a capacity crowd! And I did have one or two moments when I did wonder if I was going to go over the Irish bank rather than around it, but on the whole he was outstandingly good.”

It's been a steep learning curve for Wall Street 2, having stepped up to the big stage at Royal Windsor and now Hickstead. “At one point he had a slightly warped sense of humour, but I’m glad to say that it’s coming along to just a very amusing one now,” Jayne added. “He tested our reserves once or twice in the beginning because he’s quite a lad; but while you want him to be mannerly, you don’t want to lose the character and personality.”

For all showing results, click here. 

Tickets for the Prenetics Royal International Horse Show (21-25 July) are on sale now, costing £15 per adult, £10 concessions and under-16s going free. Visit the Box Office.