Shanaghan Horses Celebrate Double Championship Success at the Great Yorkshire Show
Katesbridge, County Down — Shanaghan Horses is celebrating a remarkable return to the Great Yorkshire Show after homebred Irish Sport Horse Shanaghan Ricochet won the Novice Hunter Championship, two years after being crowned Hunter Youngstock Champion at the same prestigious show.
The five-year-old bay gelding, known as “Chips”, won the Novice Lightweight Hunter class before being selected as the overall Novice Hunter Champion.
Owned by Jill Day and produced by Robert Walker, Ricochet first made his mark at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2024, when he won the Hunter Youngstock Championship as a three-year- old.
His return to claim the Novice Hunter Championship as a five-year-old represents an important progression from successful in-hand youngstock to a leading ridden show hunter.
The Great Yorkshire Show result adds to an unbeaten novice season for Ricochet, which has also included winning the Novice Hunter Championship at the North of England Spring Show.
Bred by Dr Esther Skelly-Smith at Shanaghan Hill Farm, near Katesbridge in County Down, Ricochet is by Lagan’s OBOS Quality and out of the homebred mare Shanaghan Charlotte, by Clerkenwell and out of Tully’s Eagles Wings.
From youngstock champion to novice hunter champion Ricochet’s two championships at the Great Yorkshire Show demonstrate his successful
development from a promising three-year-old into a mature ridden hunter.
Dr Esther Skelly-Smith said:
“To see Ricochet return to the Great Yorkshire Show two years after winning the Hunter Youngstock Championship and now be crowned Novice Hunter Champion is particularly special.
“As breeders, we hope that the qualities we see in a young horse will translate into success under saddle. Ricochet’s progression is immensely rewarding and reflects the considerable skill, care and dedication of Jill Day, Robert Walker and the entire team responsible for his production.
“His success also continues an exceptional period for Shanaghan Charlotte’s progeny. We are extremely proud to see our homebred performing so consistently at major shows.”
A consistently successful dam line Ricochet’s achievements further underline the consistency of Shanaghan Charlotte as aproducer of high-quality show hunters.
Her progeny have demonstrated the conformation, movement, temperament and athletic ability required to compete successfully at major shows throughout the United Kingdom.
Ricochet is one of three Shanaghan Charlotte offspring currently achieving notable results on the British showing circuit.
Shanaghan Velvet
Shanaghan Velvet, Ricochet’s full brother by Lagan’s OBOS Quality, has already established himself as one of the leading show hunters of his generation.
Owned by Amanda French and ridden by Will Morton, Velvet is the reigning Horse of the Year Show Supreme Hunter Champion.
He has continued his successful form this season, securing further major results, including Working Hunter and Open Hunter Championship titles at the British Show Horse Association Spring Show.
Velvet’s achievements further demonstrate the quality, versatility and consistency of the Shanaghan Charlotte dam line.
Shanaghan Maestro
The youngest member of the family currently competing is three-year-old Shanaghan Maestro, by Centre Stage and out of Shanaghan Charlotte.
Owned and produced by Ann Drabble and handled by Tom Moore, Maestro won the Three-Year- Old In-Hand Hunter class before being named In-Hand Hunter Champion at the Nottinghamshire County Show.
He subsequently finished third in a strong three-year-old hunter class at the Great Yorkshire Show, gaining valuable experience on one of the largest stages in British showing.
A proud achievement for Northern Ireland breeding
The success of Ricochet, Velvet and Maestro highlights the contribution Northern Ireland breeders and Irish Sport Horse bloodlines continue to make to the modern show hunter.
Dr Skelly-Smith added:
“These results reflect breeding decisions made over many years, but also the dedication and expertise of the owners, producers, riders and handlers who have developed each horse.
“Shanaghan Charlotte first three progeny have shown the quality and athletic ability required to succeed at a high level. Their achievements have exceeded our expectations, and we areincredibly proud to have bred them here at Shanaghan Hill Farm.”
As the showing season progresses, Shanaghan Horses looks forward to following the continued development of these three homebred siblings.
