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‘I judge how I like my daughters to be judged’: meet the 2025 Royal International mini ride judge Sharron Kivlochlan

In the latest of our exclusive articles for H&H subscribers on what the judges will be looking for in specific classes at the Agria Royal International Horse Show, we speak to mini ride judge Sharron Kivlochlan about how she got involved in showing, and what she’ll be prioritising when assessing the mini ponies at Hickstead
Bethan Simons Bethan Simons

    • The mini classes lay the foundations for many a generation of show-ring and equestrian personalities, and make for super-cute viewing to boot. The 2025 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) mini ride judge, Sharron Kivlochlan, will be putting each combination through their paces alongside conformation judge Mathew Lawrence.

    Meet Sharron Kivlochlan, the 2025 Royal International mini ride judge

    It may surprise some to learn that Sharron’s own competitive efforts were actually in the showjumping arena. It was only when she purchased a pony for her eldest daughter Elle — now a mother herself — that Sharron became involved in showing.

    Both Elle and her younger sister Maisie progressed through the mini ranks, and both girls had a variety of ponies, from show ponies to mountain and moorlands and working hunter ponies. Most recently, we’ve seen Maisie enjoy success with the multi-garlanded Cashelbay JJ in the mountain and moorland working hunter pony classes.

    As the sisters grew up, Sharron decided to pursue judging as a way to give back to a sport and discipline that they’d enjoyed as a family. She sits on the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) panel.

    This will be Sharron’s third time judging at the RIHS and she says she feels “very honoured” to be appointed.

    What will Sharron be looking for?

    “I judge how I like my girls to be judged,” she says, adding, “I always judge as I see on the day and like to reward good performances.”

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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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