IN THE fifth and final part of our series following young horses being produced by Richard Telford this year, we hear that Diamond and Kiki have had a succesful show season.

Eyke Diamond, the five-year-old Suffolk Punch mare, owned by Bill Ireland, has proved a natural in the show ring. She was unbeaten under saddle this year, winning at Millfield Heavy Horse Show in Northumbria, Suffolk Show and the Suffolk Spectacular as well as in-hand champion at Millfield.

"She's been great fun. There's not many shows with an open heavy horse classes, but by riding her a number of shows have said they will introduce a heavy horse class into their schedule next year," said Richard.

Bill has some Suffolk Punches at home and he was keen for his own to be ridden as well as promote the recognised rare breed.

"Diamond has been very easy, she's very laid back," said Richard. "Hacking made such a different and she became more forward. The ridden classes are judged like a hunter class with the judge riding the horses and each horse being striped."

Instead of sharing a saddle with Bill's Dales ponies, Diamond now has her own saddle, she will probably be shown next year and may have a foal in 2015. Richard also adds that it'll be good for Diamond to get out hunting at some point over the winter.

"There has been so much interest inthem being ridden, but they are no different to any other horse, they need trained to go," points out Richard, adding that they ideal for the whole family to share.

His own novice riding horse, the dun mare, Kiki Dee, is by a Polish palomino Warmblood stallion and out of a Kingsford show pony mare. The five-year-old mare was second at the Grand Slam Spring Show, sixth in the novice riding horse class at the Royal Highland and first at Equifest.

"She's for sale and, hopefully, I'll keep the ride," said Richard. "She's still eligble for novice classes next year."

The Highland stallion Orkneyinga Gunnar, has had a summer off work. He will shortly be gelded and Richard plans to show him over the winter in-hand to let him see the sights.

With the Horse of the Year Show now over, Richard had time to reflect on a busy year. Bill's Dales stallion, Kilmannan Robert the Bruce, was seventh at HOYS in both the ridden and Cuddy in-hand final, Kilmannan Black Magic was 10th and the Highland stallion Dunedin Duncan was sixth for Anne Mitchell, also Stuart Ashton's cob De Monkey Business was fifth - all in all a succesful trip for the yard to the show.