Jo Bates Wins Top Honors at Royal Windsor Horse Show Hack Championship

At this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show, Jo Bates secured a major victory in the Count Robert Orssich 2024 Royal Windsor hack championship.

Jo partnered with Shildons Plan B (Bart), a 10-year-old bay gelding, filling in for the usual rider Ami Blundell who was on her honeymoon in South Africa.

Bart, son of Kilvington Scoundrel, showcased his talent and charisma, earning his first-class win at Windsor. Bred by Vicki Rudd out of Colbeach Regal Model, Bart also has past accolades such as reserve classic hack champion at the British Show Horse Association and section champion at the New Forest Show.

In this year’s competition, Jo Bates rode Bart to victory in the hack championship, impressing the judges with Bart’s performance and showmanship.

Another notable horse, Forgeland Hyde Park, a large contender and three-time Windsor hack champion, clinched the reserve champion title with owner Isabella Mears Wood, who is new to the hack ranks this season.

Judges Julie Templeton and Zara Owen, assessed the horses based on conformation and ride, looking for hacks that were forward in movement and in control in all paces. They noted the high standard of competition and awarded the top honors to Jo Bates and Bart at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.