Royale effort from Lobo

A working hunter nets a first HOYS ticket, while a prolific middleweight hunter reigns sideways

- REBECCA HAYWOOD

Devon County, Westpoint Showground, Devon

EMILY PROUD and her own upstanding grey gelding, HSF Lobo Royale, made their first attempt at a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) working hunter qualifier a winning one, despite the spongy ground and testing conditions producing no clear rounds.

Emily, a full-time physiotherapist from Somerset, was delighted to be called forward as the winner after just tapping the fourth fence of the course. The pair were one of five combinations on four faults to go back in for final judging.

Lobo is an Irish-bred six-year-old by HSF Cardento Royale and Emily bought him as a three-year-old.

“I backed him myself, but I can’t say that he was the easiest,” said Emily, who trains with Dani Evans and Alice Peternell. “He wouldn’t walk over a pole on the ground at first, but now he’s an amazing horse and he relishes a big track. He’s found a lot of confidence.”

“I haven’t evented him yet, but I think these courses are good grounding for them,” she added. “Today was very hard work because it was so sticky and Lobo has never jumped on ground like this before.”

A TOP-DRAWER HUNTER FIELD 

CHESHIRE showman Robert Walker claimed a double championship win, lifting both the HOYS hunter and Royal International (RIHS) cob titles.

Eventual hunter victor Crystal Cove, owned by Jill Day, began his day by winning the HOYS middleweight hunter division. The seven-year-old son of Rehy High Society won HOYS last year as a novice and he stood champion on his debut outing this term.

Jayne Ross and Twinshock Warrior took the reserve spot after winning the heavyweights.