Tributes have been paid to Rose Bailey’s prolific heavyweight hunter Twinshock Warrior, who was put to sleep aged 13 on Wednesday, 21 Might, after an intense and sophisticated colic.
By Ricardo Z, Bernard was bred to leap, however destined as a substitute to take the displaying world by storm.
His potential was first noticed by his earlier proprietor Jill Marsden. “He was fairly actually in a neighbour’s discipline on the backside of her backyard,” his long-term producer Jayne Ross advised H&H.
“He belonged to the neighbouring farmer, who had purchased him to hunt. Jill watched him develop and develop till she lastly approached his proprietor to ask to purchase him, then swiftly sealed the deal.”
Bernard was began by Steve Pitt and Simon Charlesworth, then moved to Jayne’s yard as a five-year-old.
“I used to be simply so fortunate that we simply hit it off,” stated Jayne. “He was a horse you needed to ask, not inform, however we had been on the identical wavelength. I used to be his companion in crime, primarily.”
Twinshock Warrior rose shortly by the ranks, profitable and standing reserve champion at Horse of the 12 months Present (HOYS) in 2018 as a six-year-old. The next yr, he did the double, taking the Royal Worldwide Horse Present (RIHS) hunter tricolour and sweeping by the cardboard at HOYS, touchdown the general supreme horse title.
Shortly afterwards, he modified possession. Rose Bailey and her mother and father visited the yard to view a driving horse, however Rose enquired about Bernard, setting in movement a distinct flip of occasions.
Bernard went on to win each these main fixtures once more, in addition to Royal Windsor and he was twice supreme on the Nationwide Hunter championships. Tub and West Present, which opens this week, was one his favourites, and he boasted three championships there.
“He was like a System One automobile to journey; he had an engine to die for. And he was so gentle on his toes,” stated Jayne. Remarkably, for a horse of his stature, Bernard coped admirably in an indoor house. “He simply tailored, however misplaced none of his pizzazz and dazzle.”
In his downtime Bernard was everybody’s favorite at house. He loved searching amd leaping – “although he favored to be up entrance and wasn’t a social hunter,” – and he beloved his time in his paddock each night time.
“I’ve been unbelievably fortunate in my profession to have some great horses and he was one among them. We’ll by no means, ever get one other Bernard. He was the present that stored on giving,” stated Jayne.
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H&H displaying editor
Bethan joined Horse & Hound as displaying editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Displaying World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she began displaying as a youngster and has loved wins at main reveals up and down the nation, together with Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, in addition to HOYS, RIHS and London. She is especially enthusiastic about Welsh breeds and can also be a Welsh language commentator.
