Royal Windsor Horse Show opened in spectacular fashion, setting an exciting tone for the four-day celebration of equestrian sport. Today marked the beginning of the national competition – including several hotly contested Show Jumping classes – with some of Britain’s top national riders returning to the iconic showground.
A standout and emotional moment occurred with the arrival of Tom March, who completed his remarkable Pedal3Peaks Challenge in support of Spinal Research, the Show’s official charity. This inspiring tribute was in memory of his sister, Caroline – a talented Event rider who tragically died by assisted suicide just over a year ago, two years after being paralysed in a cross-country fall. She was only 31 years old.
Over the course of just over 100 hours, Tom March cycled an astonishing 800 miles to the Show from Balmoral Castle, scaling the UK’s three highest peaks – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon – along the way. His journey, undertaken to raise vital funds for Spinal Research, the UK’s leading medical charity focused on the repair and restoration of the spinal cord, pushed him to his physical and emotional limits.
On arrival, Tom reflected: “Day one was tough but enjoyable. Day two was not fun in any way, shape or form. The days kept getting longer and harder, especially with no sleep, but what kept me going was remembering why I was doing it, to raise money and awareness for Spinal Research, and in the darkest moments, that gave me the strength to dig deep and keep moving.”
Today also marked the start of the ever-popular Showing classes, with several championships taking place, including the Coloured Ridden Championship sponsored by the Leeman Family and the fiercely competitive RoR Tattersalls Thoroughbred Ridden Show Horse Championship supported by Royal Windsor Racecourse.
NEW NAMES TO THE FORE IN NATIONAL CLASSES
The Redpost Equestrian Senior Foxhunter – First Round opened proceedings in the famous Castle Arena. The two-phase competition was a tightly fought contest, with 32 combinations jumping double clear, however it was Bruno Freire riding the eight-year-old Drewmain Meira who came out on top, ahead of Emma Jo Slater with Kimba Luidun in second.
The 12 highest placed six-year-old horses from this class qualified for the Walwyn Novice Championship later in the day, with Slater in pole position, starting last to go as the best qualifier. Taking place over two rounds, six of the 12 starters went through to a jump-off. First into the arena to go against the clock was Tom Pritchard riding Orovito – the first of two horses in the jump-off for Pritchard – who set a high standard, jumping clear in a time of 34.34 seconds. Those who followed were unable to match Pritchard’s pace, and it was his second ride – Princess SW – who took over the lead as penultimate to go. Last to go, Emma Jo Slater, came close, finishing second and splitting Pritchard’s two rides.
Speaking after the class, Pritchard commented: “Orovito is still quite green, so at the moment it is about showing him what’s what and seeing what he can do. Princess SW has done quite a bit, so I knew she had the potential to win the class, which she did – I am thrilled with her.”
The LeMieux National 1.40m Open Jumping Competition – Single Phase saw some of the country’s best national riders take centre stage. William Rekert took an early lead, however in a field of 45, which included several British team riders, Rekert faced a tense wait to see if he could maintain the top position. With six left to go, Emma Manton riding Vanilla Fusion took over the lead, just 0.09 seconds faster than Rekert, who finished in eventual second. Third place went to Lucy Struthers, with FEI World Championship team bronze medalist Joe Stockdale back in fifth.
Speaking on her win, Manton stated: “This is my first time at the Show, and we’re back on Sunday for The Defender Under 25 Jumping Competition, so today was meant to be more of a prep run – but Annie [Vanilla Fusion] had other ideas! I still can’t believe she actually won the class. I was a bit nervous coming in as she has had a quiet winter, and this is only her second proper show back this year. However, she was absolutely fantastic. Annie is such a special horse – she’s taken me from jumping 1.30m classes to my first ranking classes and even Grands Prix.”
AN EMOTION FILLED DAY
Local campaigner Hannah Horton from Newbury enjoyed a magical start to her Royal Windsor Horse Show with a remarkable winning double. She began by topping the opening class of the day – the Working Show Horse sponsored by Mr and Mrs Michael Rider in the all-weather Frogmore Arena – riding Lady Lloyd-Webber’s home-bred sport horse mare, Sixties Icon. She then raced across to the Adelaide Ring to partner the Andrews family’s handsome Migration to victory in the RoR Retraining of Racehorses Ridden Show Series Qualifier (Flat) supported by Royal Windsor Racecourse, going on to be crowned Champion. HM The King narrowly missed out on a second consecutive RoR title, with last year’s Champion First Receiver finishing runner-up under producer Katie Jerram-Hunnable.
Migration’s success was a significant milestone for Hannah, who previously rode out for local racehorse trainers and now focuses on producing show horses. The eight-year-old gelding only left racing in March 2024, having famously won the Lincoln Handicap in 2023. “He was gifted to me when he retired and is now run by Anthony and Georgina Andrews,” said a thrilled Hannah. “He’s qualified for the RoR championships at Hickstead and Aintree, and also for the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse final at Horse of the Year Show in October – I’m delighted with how far he’s come.”
Elsewhere, the Working Hunter classes tested both horse and rider over challenging tracks built by regular course designer Lisa Kelly. Katy Green, a Royal Windsor regular, expertly guided her consistent Lightweight mare, Vulcanite (Aoife) to victory and Championship glory, echoing a poignant win from eight years ago when the late Rory Gilsenan took the same title with the mare. “I could hear Rory in my ear, cheering me on. He was my mentor and I owe a lot to him,” said an emotional Katy.
In the Heavyweight section, only Alice Homer managed a clear round, riding her mother Loraine’s striking liver chestnut, Golden Glove. Rose Bailey once again topped the Amateur Hunter Championship sponsored by Rosettes Direct with Bloomfield Greystones – taking both the overall and Middle and Heavyweight titles. In the Castle Arena, Vicky Smith brought the day to a thrilling close by piloting Leisa Woodward’s traditional stallion, Chynas Top Deck, to victory in the Coloured Ridden Championship sponsored by the Leeman Family.
A MASTERCLASS FROM THE WORLD’S BEST
The excitement in the Castle Arena continued with the highly anticipated Defender Dressage Masterclass, where audiences were treated to a captivating display of harmony and horsemanship at the highest level. Olympic Dressage riders, including Paris 2024 Olympic Games team bronze medallists Becky Moody and Carl Hester, along with World No. 6 Dinja van Liere, performed their Olympic Freestyle tests. The session was presented by fellow Team GB Olympian and FEI World Championship team silver medallist Richard Davison, who guided the audience through the artistic intricacies of Freestyle Dressage.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
