Her Majesty The Queen’s ex-racehorse qualifies for major showing championship

Five-year-old First Receiver, owned by Her Majesty The Queen, won the final Horse of the Year Show qualifier earlier this month ridden by showing producer, Katie Jerram-Hunnable

Katie Jerram-Hunnable won her first ever Burghley title – and her final win for Her Majesty The Queen – when she took top spot with ex-racehorse, First Receiver, in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse class in the main arena on the final day (Sunday 4 September) of the Burghley Horse Trials.

With just one final Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket remaining in the 2022 SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse series, the atmosphere in the class at Burghley was buzzing. 15 retrained Thoroughbred ex-racehorses came forward to vie for the one qualifying spot.

“I can’t quite believe it, I’ve been placed second several times in this class, with Barbers Shop – also owned by Her Majesty – but to have done it with this beautiful young horse, is simply brilliant,” A delighted Katie said afterwards. At just five-years-old, First Receiver was one of the youngest horses in the class. “He’s had five wins this year in just six outings, he is very much a horse for the future, he’s not going to be put under pressure and when deciding about coming here today, Terry Pendry told me if he feels ready then bring him.”

First Receiver was bred by HM The Queen at Sandringham, and when Katie was given a phone call two years ago to ask if she’d like another racehorse to add to her string, she jumped at the chance.

“We went to visit him and just fell in love with him,” Katie said of the gelding, who will compete under saddle as a riding horse as well as a racehorse, too. “He’d only just been cut, and only been off the track a short period of time. He was very lean and looking very racehorse-y but I’m a believer that condition comes in time.

“He’s only just moved up into open company. I was holding him off but then we went to Hartpury and he behaved beautifully. He then went to the ROR Championships last week and he was supreme novice. So I thought we’d just go one step further and bring him here today.

“I was worried about him going in the main ring after quite a hectic week last week but actually he takes everything in his stride. He’s just a kind, lovely boy. I’m so flattered to have something after Barbers Shop.”

The class judges, Michaela Bowling (ride) and David Ingle (conformation) enjoyed their time in the main Burghley arena. Michaela described the horse as “a joyful, free young horse”, exclaiming that the horse went “brilliantly” and that she would “very much look forward to seeing his journey”. David, echoed Michaela’s comments, adding that “he took my eye” on first impression.

Katie Jerram-Hunnable enjoyed a long-standing partnership riding horses for The Queen, earlier this season claiming victory on another of her horses, Sunbeam, at the Hickstead Derby Meeting in the supreme coloured horse ridden championship. The Queen’s prolific homebred ex-racehorse, Barbers Shop, was another. The last to be bred by The Queen, he qualified for the Royal International and HOYS, and stood supreme at Royal Windsor Horse Show, where he also bowed out from the show ring.

Photo credit: Katie Jerram-Hunnable and HM The Queen’s First Receiver © Trevor Meeks