Whoop Whoop - we came 2nd at Royal Windsor International Horse Show

What an amazing day HB&L RDA had at Windsor on Friday 16th May 2025. Windsor is a truly prestigious event, as one of the largest horse shows in the UK, spanning 4 days full of show jumping, mounted games, showing which attracts some of the biggest names and best riders in the country to attend. It also happens in the King's back garden, with the castle a fantastic setting behind the show ground. We were invited to join the RDA Fancy Dress class this year - the theme was countries of the world. We decided to go with France and came up with a number of ideas to be a stand out entry in the show! Please read our blog and enjoy the video at the bottom to get a real flavour of the day.

We chose two of our brilliant riders, Joe Riley and Harriet Williams, to ride Shamrock and Bonnie. They were fantastic in their roles as Napoleon Bonaparte and Marie Antoinette - waving to the crowds, encouraging them to clap and cheer as we went past. The ponies were dressed as traditional French garlic sellers, sporting stripey rugs, red neckerchiefs, strings of garlics around their necks and of course a red beret! Adding to the occasion were some of our trustees dressed up as some of our most favourite French things: Sheri, as the Eiffel Tower, Fiona as a very large Brie and Barry as a bottle of Champagne.

To create even more va-va-voom, Sheri carried a huge French flag, she also had Can-Can music and La Marseillaise blasting out of the speaker in her basket of baguettes carried on her arm. We were so proud of our wonderful RDA ponies who coped so well with all of the fancy dress, the cheering crowds and the big occasion of a top class show! That's exactly why they are so good at their jobs!

Thanks to coaches Murphy and Dominque, and trustees Jonathan and Joanna, who led and side-walked the ponies - dressed in our corporate uniform (you know we love the blue tee-shirts).

As a group, we really impressed the judge, who was famous actress Alex Kingston (of Moll Flanders, ER, Dr Who fame...) who particularly complimented the children on their get up and likeness to their chosen characters.

This was our first show, and we had no idea what to expect - so it was really pleasing to have hit the right level of accomplishment in a very strong class of other RDA charities who represented various different countries including: Australia (with sharks, coral reefs and some crocodiles), India (ponies as amazing Elephants), Scotland (ponies as highland cows) and Mexico. In the end, we were beaten by our friends at Park Lane Stables who had a very impressive turn out representing Holland - including stacks of tulips, windmills (of Amsterdam), lots of cheese and traditional dress - but we think what won it for them was all the ponies wearing clogs!

We'd love to have another go next year - so please let us know if your child would be interested in taking part, or if you are a dab hand with a sewing machine!