Meet the Horses

Flannon Vision aka Red

Flannon Vision
Born: 2004
Sire: Classic Vision
Dam: Rhynne Dolly
Owned by Louise Bell

Red has been hunted all season with the Warwickshire and to say he is excellent to ride to hounds is an understatement – he is just so level-headed and relaxed. He has had a phenomenal start to his showing career winning both Novice Restricted and Open Working Hunter qualifiers, including qualification for the RIHS. Red is the epitome of a classic working hunter model.

Into the Blue

Born: 2006
Sire: Ublesco
Dam: Viva
Owned by Louise Bell
Bred by John and Clare Whitaker

Dynamo really is the ‘new kid on the block’. “He is amazing and most definitely my best buddy! To me, Dynamo is a combination of both my beloved Out of Sight and Man on Fire,” says Louise.

In just his first outing in 2011, he qualified for the RIHS in both the flat and lightweight hunters. He has also won novice working hunter and Sports Horse classes, including Royal Windsor. Such an exciting prospect!

Cracker

Bay gelding  Born: 2003
Sire: Temple Croesus
Dam: Vera’s Girl
Owned by Mrs Barbara Hester
Bred by John Whitaker

The beautiful Cracker is a very talented and ‘precious’ horse often liked by Louise to a catwalk model! He has impeccable manners and has been part of Louise’s team since 2007. He has won and competed in many lightweight flat and working hunter classes, and has recently ‘diversified’ his talents to enjoy a very successful side-saddle career. In fact, he was judged as Ladies Side-Saddle Champion at The Royal Windsor Horse Show 2011, in just his second attempt in a side-saddle class.

Cracker followed this on by claiming the Ladies Hunter Champion and Lightweight Hunter Champion titles at the East of England Show, and sealed it with the Reserve Supreme Hunter Champion honours.

GET SMART aka “Watson”

Bay gelding – Born 2003
Sire: Pythagoras
Dam: Hester (Thoroughbred)
Owner: Mrs Louise Bell
Bred by: Yans Greeve

Get Smart is the sort of horse that wants to please all the time. He is a big baby but equally is a real trier. A very powerful and elevated type, it’s rather like sitting in an armchair to ride him. Louise says of Get Smart, “He is a lovely kind person with fabulously big ears and he is on course to be my next superstar.” At just his second show last year, he won the Open Qualifier and was Champion at Three Counties – not bad for a baby!

2011 has seen him mature and he has been immensely successful. This has been underlined by his many wins in Open working hunter classes. Some of his highlights in 2011 include his Supreme Champion of Show win at Midland Counties and becoming Working Hunter Champion at Royal Windsor and of course, Reserve Supreme Working Hunter Champion at The Royal International Horse Show.

WORKING GIRL aka “Jessica”

Chestnut mare – Born 2003 (16.1hh)
Sire: Renkum Englishman
Dam: Dangan Ruby
Bred & Owned by Mrs Louise Bell

WESTIDE RONNIE aka “The Pug Pony”

Dun Gelding – Born 2004 (148 cms)
Sire: Westside Mirah
Dam: Grange Sandy
Bred by The Walsh Family in Ireland, Co Meath at The Westside Studl
Ridden by Eleri Guy
Owned by Jules Guy

Westside Ronnie is a very special Connemara pony that Louise has produced very successfully “from nothing” for Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter and 153 & Under Working Hunter Pony classes. Nicknamed “The Pug Pony” by Louise because of his three wrinkles on his forehead that have always reminder Louise of her own pugs, this super little character is already doing great things for rider Eleri Guy.

Ronnie now has a phenomenal record in 15hh Working Hunter Pony classes and qualified for the RIHS as an Intermediate Working Hunter as well as the Desert Orchid Final in both the Intermediate and 15hh categories. He has also qualified for Horse of the Year Show in just his first attempt.

He is now based at the Guy’s farm where apparently he has developed quite a liking for jumping out of his field!! Ronnie is definitely a character with heaps of talent.

The Late ‘OUT OF SIGHT’ aka “Rupert”

Bay Gelding – Born 1995 (16.3 hh)
Sire:  Rakish Paddy (Irish Draught Grade A Jumping Stallion)
Dam: Windlass (TB)
Owner: Mrs Sarah Gallagher

Rupert was one of the superstars of Louise and Robert Bell’s stables. He was one of the most successful working hunter horses of his time having won the highest accolades. “Rupert came to me as four year old and we produced him from there. He had been hand-reared and has always been the kindest natured of horses. He constantly thought of his stomach but when he wasn’t eating, he just adored galloping,” says Louise. Sadly Out of Sight died in August 2009. See Louise’s tribute to her working hunter legend on the news page.

MAN ON FIRE aka “Alfie”

Bay gelding – Born: 2001 (16.1hh)
Sire: Utah Van Eperkom
Dam: Caroline
Owned by Mrs: Louise Bell
Bred by: Mr and Mrs John Whitaker

Deceased 2010

Alfie was a stunner and in his short three year competitive career, won over £8000 with Louise. The horse Louise described as ‘Pure Prada’ sadly died in June 2010 at just 9 years old. An absolute superstar who will never be forgotten for his numerous achievements and working hunter titles – so sad, because his career had hardly started.

CRUISE CONTROL aka “Rusty”

Chestnut gelding – Born 1996 (16.2hh)
Sire: Cruising
Dam: Purple Splash (Grade A) show jumper
Owner: Mrs Louise Bell

Deceased: 2011

Rusty was yet another of Louise’s most prolific winners and regarded as one of her most famous working hunter horses who sadly died in surgery while operating on a strangulating lymphoma on 2 January 2011 at the age of 14.

“He was loved and respected, and was the most consistent horse I have ever had,” said Louise. “He lived like a king.”

He was without doubt a superb horse, who had won all the major working hunter titles including Hickstead and Royal Windsor titles, and whose loss will leave Louise with a huge void.

ROCK STAR aka “Little Rock”

Grey Gelding
Sire: Grey Macha
Dam: Dangan Ruby
Owned and bred by: Mrs Louise Bell

Deceased: 2010

Little Rock really was a true star not least because he was Reserve Champion at HOYS in 2005. Although his stable manners sometimes left a lot to be desired, he was the most wonderful ride. He had a phenomenal jump and in just his short career, still managed to notch up a healthy list of Supreme titles to his credit. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury in the summer of 2010 forcing Louise to make the difficult decision to put him to sleep.