Mackness celebrates Hickstead win after 30-year wait

Amateur owner-rider Caroline Mackness made a spectacular return to the International Arena after a lengthy absence to claim the Cob Championship with her seven-year-old lightweight winner, Redy Steady Eddie.

“I won the hack championship here about 30 years ago and I’ve literally not been in that ring since, so I am thrilled,” said the Gloucestershire-based rider, who has been sharing the ride with producer Katie Jerram this season.

“I’ve had him since he was three and unbroken. He was very late to mature, so we left him for a while and then only last year Katie took him on. I’ve just started taking over the reins.”

The grey gelding was Novice Lightweight Supreme at the British Show Horse Association Championships with Katie last year, but is still relatively new to the game.

“It was funny because he’s a baby who has never been in that ring. When I took him further down to the end of the arena he was thinking ‘Where am I going? There’s no one to follow’. He’s so lovely, he’d never think of bucking or misbehaving, he couldn’t put a foot wrong. “

Helen Baker and Boston Black Tie ranked themselves among the most prolific hack winners in Hickstead history when they won the Hack Championship for the third year. They’ve also won the title twice at the Agria Royal International Horse Show.

“I felt the pressure,” said Helen, who will be returning for the Royal International next month. “He was just a little bit squealy and I said ‘No DJ’ and I sung him a song. It got his attention back on me rather than the excitement all round.”

Helen believes his success in the huge International Arena is down to it matching his lifestyle. “I’ve got an arena but I very rarely school him at home, we hack out and go round the fields,” she said. “He lives on a farm and goes out at night in a huge field with his friends, so a big grass ring is like home for him. He’s big, floating horse and I think he also needs a big space for his big head!”

For full results click here