King Charles Upholds Royal Tradition at Royal Windsor Horse Show
His Majesty The King joined Their Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh for the third day of Royal Windsor Horse Show 2025, which took place today in the private grounds of Windsor Castle.
The Show was bathed in May sunshine on an action-packed day, where the international CSI5* Show Jumping once again delivered world-class sport, with impressive wins from Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and last year’s Rolex Grand Prix winner, Martin Fuchs.
Elsewhere in the Great Park, Boyd Exell continued his dominance in the CAIO4* Driving World Cup™ with a masterful performance in the Marathon phase of the competition.
It was also a significant day for the military, as the Kingdom of Bahrain Services Team Jumping took centre stage in the Castle Arena this afternoon. Additionally, the Household Cavalry Best Trooper was awarded to Tpr Corallini from The Blues and Royals and The C Sub-Section Gun Team claimed the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery Best Gun Team supported by Defender.
Following a packed schedule that featured several Showing highlights, the day concluded with an international exhibition arena polo match, featuring teams from the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan and Guards Polo Club.
IN FORM FUCHS WINS AGAIN
In a thrilling first round of The CSI5* Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for The King’s Cup, it took eight combinations before the first clear was posted by none other than World No. 6 Martin Fuchs, riding his long-time partner, Commissar Pezi. At the halfway mark, the Swiss star remained the only rider with a clean scorecard, despite several getting agonisingly close. Among them were Show Ambassador Jack Whitaker, winner of The CSI5* Defender Stakes which took place on Friday, who finished fourth, and his uncle John Whitaker who eventually placed third. Both left all the fences standing but picked up a single time fault.
The 13-obstacle course proved to be a test of accuracy and scope and featured multiple demanding treble combinations and technical related distances. Even the most accomplished names in the sport, including triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher and World Top 10 rider Richard Vogel, couldn’t find a way through to the jump-off.
It was not until the third-last rider, Kim Emmen, entered the arena aboard 10-year-old mare Keavanta-C, that the crowd saw another clear – setting up a jump-off between the Dutch rider and Fuchs.
First to go, Fuchs laid down a typical masterclass in jump-off riding. With a daring sixpence turn back to the Rolex vertical and a stride out to the final fence, he stopped the clock on an impressive time of 35.19 seconds and left all the poles in place. Emmen followed with a strong effort but picked up four faults, handing Fuchs his second CSI5* victory of the week following yesterday’s win in The Pearl Stakes.
A delighted Fuchs reflected on the performance: “I’m very pleased with this win, Commissar Pezi jumped brilliantly – he is so fast – I took some tight turns and a stride out to the last, which helped put the pressure on and secure the win. Both my horses and I love coming to my Show. Every time my horses enter the Castle Arena, they feel very special, and we always have great support from the British crowd, which is why I love coming back every year.”
The opening CSI5* class of the day – The Defender Challenge Stakes – saw the 10 best placed athletes from the first round go through to a jump-off in reverse order of merit. With four faults in the first round, Ben Maher was first into the arena to go against the clock, jumping clear to finish on a total of four. Ireland’s Michael Duffy was the first to post a double clear, however it was Laura Kraut who really put the pressure on those to follow, taking over three seconds off Duffy’s time.
The penultimate rider into the arena, Daniel Deusser riding Bingo Ste Hermelle, briefly took over the lead, however it was Lorenzo de Luca who claimed the victory as last to go, knocking another 0.18 seconds off the time.
Speaking after the class, the Italian said: “I’m really happy with how he jumped, I know he’s really fast and careful, and being last to go I was able to watch a few, so I tried my best and it all worked out. This win means a lot, it’s such a good show, it’s always an amazing atmosphere and I love coming back year after year. I love the English crowd, thank you so much everyone.”
A MARATHON MASTERCLASS
The Marathon phase of the CAIO4* World Cup™ Qualifier took place today in Home Park Private, watched by the Show’s Patron, His Majesty The King, and the Show’s President, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
Jérôme Voutaz finished first in the Marathon. Driving his team of Swiss horses around with precision and flair, the Swiss clocked the fastest times through obstacles three and six to finish on a score of 96.19, with World No.1 and crowd favourite, Boyd Exell of Australia, finishing on a score of 97.71.
Renowned for his speed in the Marathon, Koos de Ronde of the Netherlands lived up to expectations, delivering a stellar round to finish third in the phase with a score of 100.34. His performance helped him recover ground after a slightly disappointing result in yesterday’s Driven Dressage. British fans had reason to cheer as home driver Robert Wilkinson impressed with a smooth and stylish round, and heads into the final phase of the Driving as the best placed Brit.
As the competition heads into the final phase tomorrow – Competition C – Obstacle Driving – Boyd Exell holds the overall lead. Belgium’s Glenn Geerts sits in second after two days of consistent performances, while Germany’s Anna Mareike Meier is close behind in third.
SUPERB SHOWING ON DAY THREE AT ROYAL WINDSOR
Britain’s unique native breeds featured prominently today, with ponies of all shapes and sizes showcasing their vast variety of talents.
After fierce competition in the New Horizon Plastics Copper Horse Arena, 12 combinations proceeded to the Castle Arena to strut their stuff one final time in The BSPS Mountain & Moorland Ridden Championship sponsored by New Horizon Plastics. The final was decided by judges Stephanie Turner and Lizzie Finlayson-Briant, who won many titles here herself in the past with native ponies belonging to Her Majesty The Late Queen Elizabeth.
After deliberation, the lovely home-produced Welsh Section C Gems Malt Whiskey was called forward as Champion, ridden by proud owner April Gilmartin who has owned the now-17-year-old since he was just two. “He’s a real character and gave me a fabulous ride in here today,” said a tearful April, who also won with him at Horse of the Year show last season.
Reserve Champion went to producer Aimee Devane with another prolific winner, Jane and Paul Steeples’ Fell mare, Greenholme Katie.
Native breeds were tested over fences too, and the Frogmore Arena saw spectacular action this morning. The ponies were given a testing, technical track to negotiate and clear rounds proved difficult to achieve. The Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony Championship was eventually headed by Angela Hunt’s flying Connemara mare, Lady Dublin of Corderry, beautifully ridden by worker specialist Ruby Ward who won the plaited equivalent class on her here last year.
“This was Ruby’s first time in the native workers but as she’s now over the age limit for plaited 143cm classes, we kept the pony on specially for her to ride here,” said an ecstatic Angela.
Ruby was not to be denied in Working Hunter Pony ranks either, where she triumphed in the Intermediate class and stood Champion with her in-form seven-year-old Noble Banksy, recently Champion in the prestigious British Show Pony Society Burghley Gold Cup section at the Winter Championship Show, and 153cm class winner here last year.
Ruby’s Championship double is believed to have set a new record. “I’m so lucky to have two such classy, genuinely talented ponies to ride,” said Ruby. “This is the best day ever!”
After a few near-misses through the week, Royal Windsor regular Jayne Ross finally got her victory spin when Danni Radford’s classy Small Riding horse, Ladies Man, owned the Castle Arena to give Jayne a sixth Riding Horse Championship sponsored by Mr and Mrs Phil Swallow.
Judge Cindy Sims commented: “A Riding Horse – like any show animal – has to have pizazz, move well, plus be elegant and mannerly. Our winner was all those things today.” Ladies Man was previously shown as a Hack but, now nine-years-old, has matured into his new class. “He’s tailor-made for this class now,” said Jayne.
Reserve went to an in-form Vicky Smith with the equally classy Tremarl Timpani, a past in-hand Champion at Horse of the Year Show and now owned by Vicky and her mother Angela.
ENDURANCE SPECIALISTS IN ACTION
The annual FEI Endurance classes, along with a national Endurance ride, took place yesterday in Windsor Great Park, with a record field of 99 horse-and-rider combinations from 11 countries starting the Royal Windsor Endurance supported by the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The distance specialists competed across four categories, ranging from an 80km national ride to a CEI3* 160 km international class, in all of which horses completed a series of loops, each followed by a veterinary check and a compulsory rest period before continuing.
In the CEI3* 160km, Saif Ahmed Mohammed Ali Almazrouei (UAE) won the ride on Bullio Quasillo, finishing in a total time of 7:19:34. The CEI2* 120km was won by Saud Mubarak Salem Sabt (BRN) riding Geronimo Du Sauveterr in 4:55:20. The highest-placed British rider in this class was Sophie Moorhouse, who finished an excellent fifth on Henham Silver Dixie. In the CEI1* 100km, Lea Vandekerckhove (FRA) claimed victory on Balkan Biliska AA, completing the ride in 4:10:01. The top British finisher in this class was Nikki Malcolm Sweeney, who came fifth riding Oso Spiralling Wind. In the EGB national 80km ride, where placings are determined using a performance-based formula, Carri Ann Dark secured first place on Bey Sahli.
