Parade of the horse 2026 / summer show at rjs showground
To celebrate the Chinese Year of the Horse 2026, the Jersey Horse Association held a 'Parade of The Horse' at the Summer Show in June 2026, kindly hosted by the Royal Jersey Society.
The parade featured fourteen horse breeds that live in Jersey and appear at horse shows throughout the year. The horse first evolved in North America some 50 million years ago, it was small and had toes, they became very fast to escape predators, and roamed in small herds. They developed over the years into some of the breeds showcased at the parade - pictures and details about each horse/pony that took part follow below.
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The Horse
by Ronald Duncan
Where in this wide world can man find nobility without pride,
friendship without envy or beauty without vanity?
Here, where grace is laced with muscle, and strength by gentleness confined.
He serves without servility; he has fought without enmity.
There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent, there is nothing so quick, nothing more patient.
England’s past has been borne on his back. All our history is his industry;
We are his heirs; he our inheritance.
The Horse.
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'Bailey': A purebred Clydesdale (Full horse name - Westbank Bailey). Owned and led by John Hamilton.
The Clydesdale breed originated in Scotland in the 18thCentury where local horses were crossed with Flemish stallions imported by the 6th Duke of Hamilton, the aim was to breed a heavy horse suitable for farming and industrial work.
Clydesdales were sent to France during the first world war and were used for pulling guns and supplies, sadly they were among many who died due to combat.
Bailey who is now 15 years old has only been used for riding and has competed successfully at Dressage and Showing, has been hunting, and enjoys the life in Jersey with a gallop on St Ouens beach and a splash in the sea.
This gentle giant is adorned in traditional Clydedale show regalier, which takes many hours to prepare.
'Peach': An 18 year old chesnut mare and is a registered Irish Draught, being led by Rose Dawson.
The Irish Draught is the National horse breed of Ireland, which was developed primarily for farm use, today the breed is often crossed with thoroughbreds and warmbloods to provide the Irish Sport horse which excels at the highest levels of showjumping and eventing.
The breed has an easygoing temperament which is suitable for riders of all levels and is frequently seen in the hunting field.
Peach has helped one or two adults learn to ride and she is frequently seen out with the Jersey Drag Hunt.
One of Peach’s claim to fame is being taken into the lounge of a local Care Home and being introduced to the residents.
'Rueben': A Friesian horse owned and led by Bronya Arthur.
Ruben is 21 years old, lives outside all year round and is very happy.
This breed is mostly known for being all black in colour with a flowing mane and tail with feathered legs and having a high head carriage and high stepping action.
The breed originated in the Netherlands and as far back as the 4th century mention was made of the Friesian horse being used by mounted troops and ancestors of the modern Friesian were used in medieval times to carry troops into battle, they were also used in harness for farming work.
Today the Friesian is used for dressage, carriage driving events and sometimes seen pulling a vintage conveyance at ceremonial events and parades.
They are known to be calm and elegant and Rueben competes at local events, and is often seen locally enjoying himself with the Jersey Drag Hunt.
'Encantador': (Enzo to his friends) is a 12 year old Spanish Andalusian, owned and led by Hannah Foley.
Enzo was born in Seville, Spain, and moved to Madrid then to Hannah in Jersey where she has been looking after him and he has developed into the lovely horse he is today.
The Andalusian breed is known for its intelligence, sensitivity and docility, they were originally used for bullfighting, classical dressage and working livestock. These days they excel in modern dressage, showjumping and driving.
The breed is known as the Pura Raza Espanola originating from the Iberian Peninsular where their ancestors have lived for thousands of years and were revered as the horse of kings.
'Froggie': A Thoroughbred, owned and led by India Pallot Minister. (Full horse name - Navarra Eclipse).
Froggie was bred in France where he raced as a two year old.
Froggie came to Jersey in 2023, was rested and retrained to become a general purpose riding horse becoming experienced in showing, showjumping, hunt rides and general hacking.
The Thoroughbred horse is used mainly for racing but have also excelled in showjumping, eventing, dressage, hunting and general purpose use. they are commonly crossbred with coldbloods to introduce speed, stamina and quality into their progeny.
Froggie who is barefoot today has an exceptionally laid back temperament and India is in charge of his future development.
'Kilone Lad': A Connemara, owned and led by Jill Ruby.
The Connemara pony is a breed originating in Ireland and is known for being very hardy and strong, it is thought that they were brought to Ireland by the Vikings, it is likely that the breed developed over the centuries by being crossed with Spanish horses and thoroughbreds.
The breed is normally no more than 14.2 hands high and very muscular, they are sure footed, happy to live outside all year and can be ridden by both adults and children.
Kilone Lad loves hacking around the country lanes and performing at the local shows where he does very well.
'Diddy': A traditional Gypsy Cob or Vanner. Owned and led by Sharon Barette. (Full horse name - Royal Candyman).
This Gypsy Cob is a piebald and has won many breed championships and today takes part in showing, dressage and showjumping.
The breed was developed by the Romany and Irish travellers and were used to pull their Gypsy caravans or living wagons, being known for their strength, reliability and calm nature.
They were created by crossing Shires and Clydesdales with hardy ponies such as the Fell and admired worldwide for their striking appearance with their thick long mane and tail and their hairy legs.
'Ali': a Caspian Horse, owned and led by Freya Gallichan.
The Caspian is an Ancient breed of Oriental type originating in Iran and is one of the rarest horse breeds, they are critically endangered.
The breed was used in Ancient times as a work horse and used to pull chariots as they were fast and furious, they were also used by Persian Aristocrats when hunting lions.
The Caspian is extremely hardy with very strong hooves and rarely needs shoeing, they are most often black or brown and occasionally grey although they are small they are known as a horse not pony.
The Caspian originates from the oldest known breed of the domestic horse and remains have been discovered dating back to 3400BC, and was rediscovered in Tehran by an American lady in 1965 who has developed a breeding programme to preserve the breed.
'Pie': (Full horse name - Dunkery Magpie), A 22 year old Exmoor pony who came to the Jersey Donkey Home in Jersey in 2015.
The Exmoor pony was first recorded in the Doomsday Book in 1088 and because they roamed about on Exmoor they were owned by the king and managed by the wardens of the Royal Forest.
They are still seen in small herds on Exmoor and are a very hardy breed, withstanding the hot summers and bitterly cold winters on the Moor simply foraging for grass as their main feed.
Many now have been domesticated and are seen in the hunting field and the Showground ridden by children and sometimes small adults.
'Woody': Welsh section C, (Full horse name - Glanteifi Teithiwr). Owned and led by Rachael Troy.
This Welsh section C is just 8 years old and very well bred, his breeding line going back to Welsh ponies who come from top Welsh studs.
This breed is sometimes known as the Welsh Cob in a small package as they have the stamina of the Welsh mountain pony with the substance of the larger Welsh Cob.
They are known for their intelligence, kind temperament and courage and because of their size serve as excellent mounts for children and small adults.
Woody loves walking around the Trinity lanes and appearing at local shows.
'Pepper': A 15 year old Standard Shetland Pony, owned by Posy Biles. (Full show name - Heysmoor Invisible Touch).
The Shetland is a small hardy breed of pony originating from the Shetland Islands of Scotland and is known for its strength, dense coat and ability to thrive in harsh climates.
The breed has been present on the islands since the bronze ages and was used for farm work carrying seaweed and peat to the fields, and as the Industrial Revolution increased the need for coal, many Shetlands were shipped to England and used as pit ponies, today they are used as driving ponies and for carrying small children.
Pepper was shown at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and was judged to be best Shetland mare.
'TC': A Falabella (Full show name - Equibelle Takota), led by Jane Burlington.
The Falabella is an Argentine breed of a small horse and was brought into the western hemisphere by the Spanish in the mid nineteenth century.
They are considered small horses not ponies and are normally no higher than 34 inches, they have the proportions of a thoroughbred or Arab.
The breed are mostly kept as pets or for showing and can be used to pull a small cart or ridden by a very small child, they are sweet natured and enjoy being with children and are sometimes used as therapy horses.
T.C. is 18 years old and was rehomed by the Jersey Donkey Home due to his previous owner’s ill health.
'Gary': Welsh Section A (Full show name - Winton Starlight Express), owned by Posy Biles.
Gary is a Grey Welsh Section A and is a native breed of Wales, they are one of the smallest and oldest breeds, being very hardy, intelligent and versatile.
They are believed to be descended from the Celtic Pony who have existed in the Welsh mountains for over a thousand years. This breed is known as the Welsh Mountain pony and is used to carry small children and also excels in all areas of driving. In the past they were used by Welsh farmers to help move livestock and carrying goods over the mountainous terrain of rural Wales.
Gary has been shown and won classes in Jersey and came to Posy at the Jersey Donkey Home in 2022.
'Absolute Cracker': American Miniature (Full show name - Caluka Nicos Firework), owned and led by Sacha Butlin.
Absolute Cracker is a 3-year-old American Miniature and he stands just 26 inches tall.
The breed was developed in the twentieth century and appears to derive at least in part from animals brought to the USA from the UK. They were bred to display the character and physical appearance of a full size horse.
In 1972 a stud book was created for the miniatures and was called The American Miniature Horse Registry and by 2005 the register held over 160000 miniatures distributed in the USA, Germany, the UK and of course Jersey.
Sacha has had Cracker for 6 months now and he takes great delight in having a roll on her mother’s carpet and watching the racing on TV.