Emma Manton Makes A Dream Debut at the Royal Windsor Horse Show
Friday 16 May 2025
Royal Windsor Horse Show opened in spectacular fashion yesterday, setting an exciting tone for the four-day celebration of equestrian sport. Today marked the beginning of the national competition – including several hotly contested Show Jumping classes – with some of Britain’s top national riders returning to the iconic showground.
The LeMieux National 1.40m Open Jumping Competition - Single Phase saw some of the country’s best national riders take centre stage. William Rekert took an early lead, however in a field of 45, which included several British team riders, Rekert faced a tense wait to see if he could maintain the top position. With six left to go, Emma Manton riding Vanilla Fusion took over the lead, just 0.09 seconds faster than Rekert, who finished in eventual second. Third place went to Lucy Struthers, with FEI World Championship team bronze medalist Joe Stockdale back in fifth.
Speaking on her win, Manton stated: “This is my first time at the Show, and we’re back on Sunday for The Defender Under 25 Jumping Competition, so today was meant to be more of a prep run - but Annie [Vanilla Fusion] had other ideas! I still can’t believe she actually won the class. I was a bit nervous coming in as she has had a quiet winter, and this is only her second proper show back this year. However, she was absolutely fantastic. Annie is such a special horse - she’s taken me from jumping 1.30m classes to my first ranking classes and even Grands Prix.”
The Redpost Equestrian Senior Foxhunter - First Round opened proceedings in the famous Castle Arena. The two-phase competition was a tightly fought contest, with 32 combinations jumping double clear, however it was Bruno Freire riding the eight-year-old Drewmain Meira who came out on top, ahead of Emma Jo Slater with Kimba Luidun in second.
The 12 highest placed six-year-old horses from this class qualified for the Walwyn Novice Championship later in the day, with Slater in pole position, starting last to go as the best qualifier. Taking place over two rounds, six of the 12 starters went through to a jump-off. First into the arena to go against the clock was Tom Pritchard riding Orovito – the first of two horses in the jump-off for Pritchard – who set a high standard, jumping clear in a time of 34.34 seconds. Those who followed were unable to match Pritchard’s pace, and it was his second ride - Princess SW - who took over the lead as penultimate to go. Last to go, Emma Jo Slater, came close, finishing second and splitting Pritchard’s two rides.
Speaking after the class, Pritchard commented: “Orovito is still quite green, so at the moment it is about showing him what’s what and seeing what he can do. Princess SW has done quite a bit, so I knew she had the potential to win the class, which she did - I am thrilled with her.”
Royal Windsor Horse Show – 15 May, 2025
Lemieux National 1.40m
1st - Emma Manton & Vanilla Fusion – 0/0 - 33.93 seconds
2nd - WIlliam Rekert & Fifty Shades Of Grey – 0/0 - 34.01 seconds
3rd - Lucy Struthers & History – 0/0 - 34.22 seconds
Redpost Equestrian Foxhunter First Round
1st - Bruno Freire & Drewmain Meira – 0/0 - 29.15 seconds
2nd - Emma-Jo Slater & Kimba Luidun – 0/0 - 29.54 seconds
3rd - Jack Stirling & Crunchie OS – 0/0 - 30.49 seconds
Walwyn Novice Jumping Championship
1st - Thomas Pritchard & Princess SW – 0/0 - 32.56 seconds
2nd - Emma-Jo Slater & Kimba Luidun – 0/0 - 33.78 seconds
3rd - Thomas Pritchard & Orovito – 0/0 34.34 seconds
Image: Emma Manton & Vanilla Fusion. Credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show
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