Legends of the big city

Of the 12 native breeds, 11 have secured the London M&M title since its beginning in 1978. Alex Robinson hears about each of the representatives who became the first of their breeds to reign

- Alex Robinson

EXACTLY 13 years after she steered an Exmoor mare to become the first of her breed to take the mountain and moorland (M&M) supreme in London, Katy Marriott-Payne piloted Tonwen Hughes’ Welsh section A stallion Uphill James Fox to land the 2016 crown.

The result catapulted Katy into the record books as she became the first – and only – rider to have broken more than one M&M supreme breed record.

James Fox, an eight-year-old at the time, had enjoyed an illustrious in-hand career and had fetched a high price at the Fayre Oakes Welsh pony sales prior to being started under saddle by Katy.

“He was delivered to my yard while I was at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in 2014,” says Katy, of the typey grey who was by Crumpwell Fox Wild out of Trefaes Silver Saphire. “He’d already done well inhand, including winning the Royal Welsh, and he was the most beautiful pony to look at, so we intentionally didn’t rush him.”

James Fox debuted in the show ring in 2015 and he qualified for HOYS in his first season. He booked a first ticket to London in 2016 at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Heritage championships.

“By the time we got to the final, he was looking the fittest he’d ever looked and he was confident in his ridden work,” Katy continues. “I always knew that he was good enough, and he went so well; it all came together on the day.”

In another historical moment, Katy reclaimed the championship title the following year in 2017 riding Kathleen Scott’s hero Cadlanvalley Sandpiper. The Welsh section B gelding, who still resides at Katy’s yard, was making his seventh appearance at the final.

“He was like putting on a pair of slippers, and I had so much faith in him. I could always pull something special out of the bag,” Katy says.