From donkey to dux

Your Horse Live attendees were treated to some stellar showing, with amateur combinations of all breeds, types and shapes turning out polished to perfection for their finals

- BETHAN SIMONS

SELLE FRANÇAIS four-year-old We Ride At Dawn (Hector) exceeded all expectations when he landed the overall in hand and supreme championships for owner and handler Hannah Brown, having graduated from the in-hand horse final.

“I bought him as a hairy, five-month-old foal. He looked like a little donkey, and I just bought him as a companion for my warmblood at the time; no one thought he’d be anything back then,” Hannah said.

But when her other horse was kicked earlier this year, Hannah – a manager working in the NHS – began riding and showing Hector.

“He’s quiet but when he goes in the ring, he is a real showman,” said Hannah.

Hannah has “promised” her “best friend” Rachel Swift that she’ll be allowed a turn at eventing him, while Hannah will aim for novice hunter classes with him next year.

“A million pounds couldn’t buy him from me,” Hannah added. “He’s everything I wished for as a little girl.”

Impressing the judges for the overall reserve in-hand spot was Lincolnshire’s Emily Masters showing her mother Kathryn Masters’ Broadtown Make A Wish (Paris), despite the pair being in just their first season showing together.

Five-year-old Paris is a “dream pony” according to Emily, who explained that her mother had purchased Paris as Emily’s “next size up” pony after the pair drove to Cornwall to see her and fell in love with her on Valentine’s Day 2024.