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‘It’s all about confidence and harmony’: tips for success from Royal International judge Polly Eddis

Bethan Simons Bethan Simons

    • Polly Eddis and Judy Bradwell will be sorting through the plaited working hunter pony contenders at this year’s Royal International Horse Show (RIHS). The tracks these contenders face at Hickstead are arguably the toughest of the season. Polly will assess each combination as they negotiate the jump phase, and Judy will cast a careful eye over their shows and conformation phases.

    For many working hunter buffs, Hickstead is the ultimate place to win! That’s because the meaty courses are built in a ring that has an incline, with the kinds of natural obstacles that most ponies won’t encounter in their qualifying rounds. To help you prepare, Polly has given us some insight into what she’ll be looking for on the day.

    What is Polly Eddis’s background in horses?

    “I’ve been obsessed with horses since I was about three,” says Polly. “I can still remember the first time I sat on a pony as if it was today. He was a little pony called Ali Baba. And growing up, I just adored working hunter ponies. I used to read magazines and look at the ponies, then Mary Rimell said she would take me to a competition.

    “I had an ordinary pony, but he went very nicely, and Mrs Rimell took us to the NPS championships at Malvern, which was near where we lived.

    “I did the working hunter pony and I won it. And I just couldn’t believe it,” she recalls.

    Polly later evented, but her affiliation with the working hunter ponies remained strong.

    “My eldest daughter Lucy wanted to have a go, and I just loved watching my girls coming through the workers. We had some gorgeous ponies and some lovely times.”

    Polly’s showing highlight

    As well as lots of fun on the circuit, the Eddis family enjoyed some extremely successful days showing, with high-profile wins and championships including in the tough Desert Orchid ranks, and seven wins at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

    Yard stars include Kyregate Peter Pan, Nobel Sir Prize and the inimitable Cashel Bay JJ, who was champion worker RIHS. Polly’s younger daughter Susie was supreme at the Royal International having claimed the working hunter pony championship aboard Beat The Boss, so Polly will understand just how combinations are feeling as they negotiate a day’s competition at Hickstead in these classes.

    Polly Eddis' Beat The Boss is supreme champion at the Royal International Horse Show ridden by Susie Eddis

    Susie Eddis and Beat The Boss were crowned supreme pony at the Royal International. Credit: Peter Nixon

    “We also had some fantastic days at Burghley for the sports pony competition – a fabulous competition; everyone loves the atmosphere there,” adds Polly.

    “And we had some brilliant days when the girls were on the working hunter pony teams, too. That was great fun.”

    Polly is a member of the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) council, and sits on their working hunter pony panel.

    “My business – Parasol UK – is extremely busy and time consuming, but I wanted to give something back, so I only sit on the workers panel,” she explains.

    What will Polly be looking for at Hickstead?

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    Bethan Simons
    Bethan Simons

    H&H showing editor
    Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.
    Bethan Simons

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