Sky

The “ugly duckling” with a huge jump who turned into a superb hunter and a top show horse

- Octavia Pollock

SKY was well named, as every time he took off, he got closer to the firmament than most horses.

“He jumped so big you had to watch out,” remembers Gary Barber, joint-master and huntsman of the Pembrokeshire. “There was one awkward place where we jumped a stile on to a footpath. We got away with it, but he jumped so big that I ended up in the trees above. He must have given it 3ft!”

When Sky arrived, bought by senior master Ruth Rees as a three-year-old from Roly Miles of Gelligaer, huntsman of the Ystrad (since disbanded), he didn’t inspire confidence.