Karl Morris and Liam Glynn

The passionate showing producers are enjoying their best season yet, thanks to an adoration of the sport and a string of top-drawer ponies. Alex Robinson learns about their journey

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IN 2014, a hunter pony produced by a pair of first-season professionals came to the fore to win and finish as champion at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). The 143cm contender Lindeth Talisman and his rider Holly Hobson were guided every step of the way by their then novice producers Karl Morris and Liam Glynn of Team Morris, and you didn’t need a crystal ball to predict that the Lancashire-based show pony specialists were set for a long and fruitful career in the sport.

The duo’s tally over the next decade has only extended and 2023 has arguably been their most consistent season, with their combinations achieving multiple wins and championship victories at Royal Windsor, the Royal International (RIHS), Royal Highland and Royal Cheshire County, among others.

Karl and Liam are currently in the throes of gearing up to take their team to HOYS, where they won for a second time last term with Harriett Storey and novice Copybush Time Lord, who was bought from Ron and Debbie Thomas as a four-year-old.

KARL, 35, and Liam, 33, became acquainted on the show circuit more than 10 years ago. While Liam has worked with horses since he left school, Karl dabbled in several industries, from retail to window cleaning, before finding his feet in showing.

“I did so many jobs but I would always come back to horses,” explains Karl, who first rode in the ring aboard a friend’s traditional coloured pony. “Soon after Liam and I met, a friend asked if we would find them a pony for their daughter. We found Lindeth Talisman for Holly ahead of the 2014 season, and at the end of that year they were champions at HOYS.