THERE wasn’t a dry eye around the Andrews Bowen International Arena at last Sunday’s Horse of the Year Show when the wonderful Irish Sport Horse View Point was retired from the show ring after winning his second consecutive Supreme horse of the year title at the prestigious show (See cover photo page 85).

Jill Day’s prolific winning lightweight hunter has won nearly every title going, including being Royal Windsor champion four times and winning the supreme title at the Royal International Horse Show in August. Bred in Co Clare by Sean Jones, the Loughehoe Guy-sired 11-year-old is out of Quality Dam (OBOS Quality) who is still breeding for Jones. He was bought by Jill Day as a foal and spent his entire career with Walker.

Jones was over the moon to see the gelding win again. He told The Irish Field: “It is a once in a lifetime thing to happen to any breeder to bred a horse like View Point that won so much in his career.”

‘Sean’, as he is known at home in a nod to his breeder, almost didn’t make it to Birmingham. “We just didn’t think we could improve on last year. I was worried it might have been an anticlimax so we were considering bringing one of his younger understudies. But Jill said we should bring him as he’s our horse of a lifetime,” said Walker after his win.

“He’s been a formidable horse for us. He’s given us some great days and he never gives less than 120%. But they can’t do it forever. At some point we have to call it a day, and why not go out on the top. He’s the most amazing show horse I have had, we were lucky to have him, he’ll never leave us. He will go hunting on Tuesday morning!” Walker added after the emotional supreme win when he dismounted and crossed over his stirrups, walking the champion out of the ring for one last time.

See full HOYS report on page 88.