Showman proves fifth time's a charm

Forty finalists, four judges and one overall supreme title scored by a seasoned Welsh section C stallion conclude the M&M pony showing scene’s 2021 season

- ALEX ROBINSON

BSPS LeMieux supreme Heritage M&M ridden championship, London International Horse Show, ExCeL London

LIKE a fine wine, Lynn Scott’s Welsh section C stallion Lynuck The Showman proved he has only improved with age, as he lifted the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) LeMieux supreme Heritage mountain and moorland (M&M) ridden championship on his fifth appearance.

Ridden by his usual partner Rebecca Penny, “Peanut” – best Welsh section C for the fifth time – impressed ride judges Pat Pattinson and Natalie Middlemas to win solid, but not leading, show scores of 44 and 41, putting him into fourth position after the performance section.

It was the stellar type and conformation points of 48 and 45 awarded by judges James Munro and Vanessa Clarke respectively that put Peanut and “Becki” into the top spot on a total of 178/200.

Becki last won in London in 2015 aboard her own Fell stallion Townend Schubert. This year, she had a dilemma ahead of the show as she had two rides qualified.

“I picked the right one,” said Becki, who rode Peanut to reserve in 2017. “He’s the most special pony. He’s home-bred and is done completely from home.”

Peanut’s show was characteristically charismatic and obedient, and Becki made full use of the 11-year-old’s paces, including his show-stopping walk.

“He has the most phenomenal walk I’ve ever sat on,” she added. “He does about 10 laps of the ring on that initial walk round.”