A star is found in Belhaven Boy

The next generation of ponies comes to the fore, rewarding breeders and owners with bucket-list successes

- By ALEX ROBINSON

Royal Highland, The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh

THE connections of a two-year-old Highland colt enjoyed a day to remember when he secured both the male and overall in-hand Highland pony supreme titles.

Leading the way was Emma Hamilton's home-bred Aikengall Belhaven Boy (Finn), a two-year-old by Orion O' The Glens out of Moss-Side Zafira Lady, Emma's first Highland pony. He was shown by Lewis Fuller, with the typey dun catching male judge Victoria Fletcher's eye from the outset.

“He stood out from the moment he entered the ring,” said Victoria. “He had so much presence and, above all, is well put together, true to type, compact and with a quality pony head. He has a very promising future.”

Finn is produced by Craig McKinnon, who is currently sidelined from handling duties following a serious accident earlier this year.

“I've always known he had this sort of win in him, but thought it would come further down the line,” said Craig. “While he's still a baby, I've never met such a laid-back pony.”

In a notable achievement, Emma's home-bred four-year-old Aikengall John Boy, a half-brother to Finn by Marksman Of Mendick, stood male reserve, handled by Heather Hodge.

Emma credits her husband James's late father, John Hamilton, for playing a key role in the story.

“About eight years ago I pestered my husband for a Highland pony, but he said no as we had too many horses already,” she said. “I went over his head to John, who agreed to buy me one. We viewed several ponies before buying Zafira Lady from her breeders, Willie and Jean Ralston. John picked her out of the field - he was such a stockman.”

John, a much-respected director of the Royal Highland from 2005, tragically died in a farm accident in 2019.