Oliver Hood

Born into showing royalty, Oliver Hood would make his late father proud as he continues the family legacy. Bethan Simons finds out how he unearths superstars and his likely future champions

- Bethan Simons

OLIVER and Amelia Hood packed a lot into 2024. They got married, took over the reins of Oliver's family business, and converted a smallholding on Amelia's family farm. They also established their new home as a base for their production yard, and currently have 25 horses in.

"It's been a bit of an adventure," says Oliver. "We packed as much into a year as lots of couples do in five. It was a farm at one time, so the cattle barns were converted to stables. We're just in our second season from here now."

Of course, while setting up a production yard might be new to the couple, running one is far from alien to Oliver. After all, he is one of the late, great showman Allister Hood's four children - he has two brothers and a sister - and so grew up on one of the most successful yards in the country.

"For us, it was very normal but it probably wasn't. I reckon I had been to most shows by the time I was five," he says. "Summer holidays were spent at shows, but it was no hardship. You look forward to what you know as a child. A week at Hickstead was a great time and the Ponies UK championships was the highlight of the year - not necessarily for the horses, it was more the social side and we're still friends with the other children now."

Oliver and his siblings weren't pushed into showing, however.

"Our parents encouraged going and doing other things. Showing was their passion, but if it's not your passion, then it's a lot of hard work and a tough job."

Now, he's the only one of the four who still rides, although they all keep a keen eye on the yard.

"They're all really supportive and come to all the shows," Oliver says. "We call Harry the chef d'equipe - he's not sat on a pony since he was eight but he tells us where we are going wrong! And while Louenna doesn't own horses anymore, her daughter is just learning to ride, so I'm sure there will be ponies on the way."