A horse that was a “real delight”, with the scope and potential to progress to do any job, reigned supreme at the Scottish Coloured Show.
Taking the overall win from judges Nicky Marshall and Jill Gunn was Carolyn Robertson with her five-year-old skewbald gelding Machiatto, only lightly shown this season.
She has competed Mac, which she co-owns with her mother Jacqueline Forsyth, at the Scottish Coloured Show for the last three years since purchasing him as a two-year-old from Cheltenham.
“It’s one of my favourite shows as it’s so relaxed and offers everyone so many classes to do.
“It’s a great show for young and inexperienced horses, too.
“I’ll definitely be back to compete next year,” she said.
They travel north to the show, which is held annually at Wellbank, outside Dundee, from Edinburgh.
On their only other recent show outing, Mac was second in the non-native in-hand class at the Royal Highland Show.
Fresh from standing champion coloured and reserve ridden pony in the main ring at Fettercairn Show the day before, Follywood Diamonte took reserve supreme for rider Shonah Wood, from Forfar.
The 13-year-old part-bred Welsh mare, sired by Pentrepoid Welsh Flyer, stood reserve overall and reserve ridden coloured at Alyth Show.
Prior to this they had won the reserve overall pony championship at Brechin Spring, stood as supreme at New Aberdour and were reserve supremes at the Rhinns Point Native Pony Show.
Judge Jill Gunn said she was “particularly pleased to see horses that were obviously novice being ridden in snaffle bridles”.
She also noted the quality of the “hairy ponies”. A highlight was “seeing so many children come forward with their ponies for judging”.
Focusing on the supreme winner, Mrs Gunn said: “It is a lovely horse, with super limbs, and it is a beautiful mover as well.”