IT has been sad to see the number of Clydesdale horses exhibited at Balmoral Show dwindle away year on year and this section’s comparison to 2004 is very worrying.

Then, as now, Ulster Bank were the very loyal sponsors but, 20 years ago, there were 38 yearlings and upwards entered. There were only 12 horses listed in last week’s catalogue, of whom just half appeared in the P&O Arena on Friday morning and half of those were in the opening ridden class.

This was won by Campsie’s Jannine Dunlop on her own five-year-old Hillview Braveheart mare Donnybrewer Maclara, while judge Robert Morton’s champion was Macfin Clydesdales’ home-bred Macfin Highland Queen, the only one forward from three entries in the yearling fillies’ class. The reserve champion, Boat Clydesdales’ Boat Crystal Lady (by Dillars Ollie), was the only entry in the yeld mares’ class.

By Muirton Sabre out of Macfin Crystal Gail (by Glebeview Sir Charles), Macfin Highland Queen is a full-sister of Macfin Delta Dawn, who was overall champion (Cawdor Cup) and winner of the Queen’s Cup at last year’s Royal Highland Show. The 2024 Balmoral champion won’t be making the journey across to the Ingliston showgrounds next month, as Graffin Hanna is judging the Clydesdale females at this year’s show.