The qualifiers for the colored lessons on the Royal Worldwide Horse Present (RIHS) are among the many hottest and the finals are at all times properly supported on the present’s opening day (21 July). 4 judges have been appointed to kind by way of rivals. Lauren Brill and Jo Jefferson will preside over the horse lessons, and Lesley Bradfield and Nathan Arnold will kind by way of the ponies.
Later within the day, Jo and Nathan would be the ones placing the fortunate few by way of their paces to determine the championships. Right here, Nathan provides us perception into his background, his judging expertise, and – crucially for rivals and onlookers – what he’s searching for within the ring.
Meet the choose: Nathan Arnold
Nathan began driving on the age of 12.
“My dad was a lighthouse keeper stationed on the time on the Isles of Scilly so I began driving at a neighborhood driving college close by,” says Nathan.
The household moved again to Kent then to Cornwall the place pals stored horses and his ardour for them grew.
As soon as he left college, Nathan labored in hunt yards and for pals then started driving competitively at across the age of 21.
“It simply occurred. Some pals requested me to trip and compete their horses and that’s the place it started,” he says.
He then produced present horses in his personal proper on a yard in Cornwall, based mostly on the outskirts of Truro.
From there he and Brett McKinnon proved a aggressive power, as with horses produced by Brett and ridden by Nathan had been positioned at premier exhibits together with Horse of the Yr Present (HOYS) and RIHS, and thrice light-weight hunter champion at Devon County and Royal Cornwall.
Nathan started working completely for Polly Coles eight years in the past, so he’s now based mostly on outskirts of Doncaster in Yorkshire.
“We’ve bought a variety of horses right here – hunters, cobs, heavy horses and a hack this 12 months,” he says.
Since working for Polly, crew highlights embrace the champion hunter on the Hickstead Derby Assembly, the 2022 Maxi Cob of the Yr and the 2023 Heavyweight Cob of the Yr.
Nathan Arnold’s judging expertise
Nathan sits on the British Present Horse Affiliation (BSHA), the Sport Horse Breeding (GB) (SHB (GB)), the British Skewbald and Piebald Affiliation (BSPA) and the British Present Pony Society (BSPS) panels.
Nathan has judged at an entire host of the UK’s main fixtures, together with on the Royal Welsh twice, one thing he describes as “nice enjoyable”.
“I rode the Welsh part Ds there the primary time in 2016. I’ve no involvement in mountain and moorland ponies so it was a completely totally different expertise,” he admits.
Extra just lately, Nathan totally loved his second appointment at Royal Windsor the place The King watched on as he presided over the driving horses.
“That was completely wonderful,” stated Nathan. “What an expertise to trip choose there – and with The King watching.”
Nathan additionally judged in Australia in 2018 and the South African HOYS in 2023.
“South Africa was one other spotlight for me,” he says. “I simply didn’t anticipate how excessive the usual could be on the market.”
This shall be Nathan’s second appointment on the RIHS. He has beforehand judged the the maxi cobs and novice hacks.
What Nathan Arnold shall be searching for at Hickstead?
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H&H exhibiting editor
Bethan joined Horse & Hound as exhibiting editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Displaying World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she began exhibiting as a teen and has loved wins at main exhibits 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 captivated with Welsh breeds and can also be a Welsh language commentator.
