Mayflower's time to bloom

A home-produced mare gives her connections the shock of their lives when she stands at the top of the HOYS in-hand supreme championship

- ALEX ROBINSON

Royal Highland, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh

A FAMILY from the north coast of Scotland celebrated a first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) supreme in-hand championship victory with their home-produced mare.

Mechanical design engineer Emma Gunn was at the bridle of her and her mother Vanessa’s 13-year-old Penskyber Mayflower (Maisie) who was judge Vivienne Appell’s choice for the supreme accolade.

“She was a quality mare with lovely conformation and good movement,” said Vivienne, who selected Claire Bell’s Rotherwood Coppelia as reserve. “Both mares were outstanding and they stood out from the off. They both showed themselves off, too, whereas some animals were a bit flat.”

It was no surprise to Maisie’s connections, though, that she rose to the occasion in the atmospheric main ring; the Small-land Maytino daughter was successfully shown as a 153cm hunter pony and as a hack when based with the Jinks Show Team prior to the Gunns’ acquisition of her in 2017. As a three-year-old, she was also Welsh part-bred champion at the Royal Welsh.

“I took her to the Royal International (RIHS) as an intermediate, but when Covid hit I was so busy studying for my masters and working that we put her in foal to Cosford Criminal Affair,” said Emma.

Not only did this mark the family’s first Price Family win, but it was also their debut appearance in a qualifier.