Royal Windsor Horse Show

reports

Since its creation in 1959, levels of player interest in participating in the Polo Pony show class at the Royal

Windsor Horse Show have waxed and waned over the years, but the number of class entrants stood at a healthy 19 when the show was last held in 2019. This year’s Polo Pony Sponsored by Guards Polo Club class was no longer divided into ROR and purpose-bred polo ponies as it was in recent years and just seven of the nine entries listed in the programme made the trip on the day. Following last year’s cancellation of the entire RWHS, the whole showground felt somewhat different in the Covid era, despite a surprising lack of face masks in evidence. The postponement of the RWHS from its May slot to July this year provided a welcome break from classes held in sheeting rain and lorries towed into, as well as out of the horsebox parking area. The grandstands surrounding the main Castle Arena were limited to 900 seated spectators rather than the usual 2,500. Just 3,000 entry tickets were made available to the general public in advance of the show, all of which sold out at unprecedented speed. The number of stallholders in the normally endless shopping arcades looked to have been reduced by roughly two thirds, but those vendors who had gained access this year were pleased by the resultant increased footfall.

2021 Polo Pony class results

Rosemary, a volunteer on the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund charity stall said “The atmosphere of the show is fabulous this year and having less stands than normal benefits us considerably, because more people come to spend their money with us. Every penny we make is so welcome. The Mark Davis Injured Riders Fund has in the past helped several injured polo players back towards recovery and the Polo Charity Trust always make a generous annual donation to the MDIR Fund.”

However, a number of would-be spectators at some of the most popular show jumping classes expressed their disappointment at having to queue for up to 45 minutes to try to unsuccessfully to gain entry to the main arena grandstands. They were quick to opine that the blame lay not with the organisers of the RWHS, but with other spectators adopting a “beach towels on the deckchairs” approach and not occupying seats to which they had laid claim by leaving coats and bags on them.

No such issues beset the Polo Pony Sponsored by Guards Polo Club class, which was once again in the Frogmore Arena and surrounded by a decent crowd of onlookers who were free to sit wherever they liked.

The class was very much a local affair this year, with the six out of the seven ponies and their riders based in the Berkshire area. Judge Antony Fanshawe returned to his duties for the sixth time. He was this year joined for the first time by Lord Charles Beresford, whose late uncle Lord Patrick Beresford was both the creator and subsequently the most successful competitor in the history of the class. Lord Patrick later judged the class himself for 12 years and his great presence in the ring was still very much missed.

Several competitors entered the ring without mallets, in a change from the usual rules for the class, so judges Beresford and Fanshawe announced that all the competitors might now show their ponies without holding a mallet, should they wish. Each player was then asked to demonstrate their mounts abilities in an individual show of no longer than three minutes’ duration.

Jaime Roberts got the class underway on Machitos Fiorella, one of four ponies owned by Siri Evjemo-Nysveen, co-patron of the Monterosso high goal team. The powerful bay caught the eye and members of the crowd appreciated the degree of obedience and agility she displayed under the guidance of a skilled, professional rider.

Claire Campbell went next on Elf, an extremely pretty 10-year-old dark bay gelding, bred by Oli Hipwood. This was Elf’s third appearance in the class, his last being in 2019 and the pony found his return to the showring quite exciting. Despite Elf’s nerves, Claire produced a skilful show which allowed onlookers to appreciate the horse’s lovely movement.

Next to go was Louise Saul, riding Major Jamie Hayward’s black New Zealand Thoroughbred mare, Chloe. In previous years, when the polo pony class comprised separate RoR and polo pony sections, Chloe won her section once and the supreme championship twice.

It was a shame that the commentator only joined in after the first three shows had taken place. He introduced the two judges to the crowd and provided an insight into their respective expertise and considerable experience and ability as players but, as in previous years, the almost exclusively nonpolo crowd were not told anything about the horses nor the players in the ring.

It would have been interesting for the onlookers to have learned that the polo pony Louise was riding was aged 25 and still playing, as a result of excellent management throughout her polo career and probably therefore the oldest horse competing during the whole four day show. Chloe’s excellent movement as demonstrated by Louise in the course of her show would have been impressive in a horse ten years younger. One polo aficionado remarked afterwards that Major Hayward’s Chloe “could probably have judged the class herself!”

Louise and Chloe were succeeded by the legendary Pepe Araya on another Monterosso pony, the gorgeous chestnut Machitos Vanessa. Again, it would have been nice for the crowd to know that such a renowned senior player was in the ring, but his riding and the horse’s performance spoke for themselves.

Claire Campbell’s Elf received the Best Turned Out prize

Photography by Caroline Stern

Major Jamie Hayward was next to exhibit his sixteen year old mare Novalgina. By far the class’s most experienced competitor, Jamie produced a creative show, making good use of the space in the arena and allowing spectators on two sides of the arena to have a good look at another well ridden and beautifully kept older pony.

Monterosso’s Siri Evjemo-Nysveen came in next and demonstrated what the lovely Riba Roja could do, impressing the judges with her mare’s calm and elegant performance whilst ridden on a loose rein.

The last slot went to the star player, as Sebastian Merlos propelled the powerful bay mare Machitos Barcelona around the ring in a style befitting a ten goal player. Again, the newcomers to polo would no doubt have loved to know that they were watching one of the sport’s true greats.

Judge Fanshawe elected to ride Riba Roja first, followed by Machitos Barcelona and Machitos Fiorella. Having ridden Riba Roja in a similar controlled and calm style to her owner, Antony pushed harder on the latter two horses and thoroughly tested their acceleration and deceleration and turning skills. As in previous years, the riding judge impressed the crowd both with his own performance and with what he got out of the horses.

“Not much slower than racehorses and nippier than our ponies!” was the awed verdict of several Pony Club Mounted Games competitors after the class.

Antony’s rides led to Riba Roja being awarded first place, followed by Machitos Fiorella in second and Machitos Barcelona in third. Claire Campbell and Elf received the Best Turned Out prize, sponsored by the Millwheel Tack Shop and GG Feeds. Proud owner Siri Evjemo-Nysveen said afterwards “My mare took a long time to make from her ROR beginnings, but I am very pleased with her now. Riba Roja was placed second to another of my horses, Luciana, in the same class two years ago, so Machitos Barcelona, ridden by Sebastian Merlos, later awarded third place it is nice to have won the class on her today.” “We must build the class up again” commentated Antony Fanshawe as the competitors filed out. “It would be great if more high-goal teams came to show their horses next year and of course more amateurs too.”