Tisshaws saddles up for success as sponsors of Vickie & Charles on the equestrian circuit

We are delighted to announce a new sponsorship agreement with local equestrian competitor, Victoria Halford and her three-year old pony, Charles.

Charles recently started his showing career and is proving to be quite the showman, placing in several local competitions. Over the following months, Charles will be gradually introduced to carriage driving and we look forward to following his and Vickie’s progress with regular updates.

Vicky has kindly written a wonderful account of how Charles came into her life and her plans for his future, which you can read below.

Meet Vickie, Charles & Mouse

My equestrian journey took an unexpected turn in January 2025 when I lost my beloved pony of 28 years. He had been a huge part of my life, and losing him left a space I never thought could be filled.

At the time, I wasn’t looking for another riding pony. I simply needed a companion for my youngster, Mouse. A friend persuaded me to come and look at some available ponies, but although they were all lovely, none felt quite right.

As we were leaving, I noticed a little black-and-white pony in a nearby paddock. That pony was Charles, a 14hh Welsh Part-Bred gelding who would soon change my life. He wandered over to say hello and immediately stole my heart. Friendly and affectionate, he nudged me for attention, gave kisses, and charmed everyone around him. When I asked about him, I was told he wasn’t for sale. As we chatted, I learned something remarkable, he was related to the pony I had recently lost.

I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

A week later, his owner was sadly made redundant and contacted me to ask if I was still interested. I jumped at the chance, and a few weeks later Charles came home.

It felt like fate from the start. My mother-in-law, who helped me buy him, is a huge fan of King Charles, making his name especially fitting. Charles arrived at exactly the right time and has brought so much joy to our family ever since.

He’s a cheeky character with a huge personality. Alongside Mouse, he has become quite the escape artist, regularly finding ways to keep us entertained and on our toes. Despite his mischievous streak, he has the kindest nature and loves being the centre of attention.

Since joining us, Charles has started his showing career in hand and has already proven himself to be an outstanding little showman. He has enjoyed great success in the ring and clearly thrives on performing in front of a crowd.

Looking ahead, Charles has an exciting future. Now three years old, he is beginning his education and will gradually be introduced to carriage driving, something particularly special to me. I enjoyed carriage driving with my late father and had always hoped to return to the sport. Sharing that journey with Charles feels incredibly meaningful.

Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing updates as Charles continues his education in harness and under saddle. We’re excited to see where our partnership takes us and are incredibly grateful to Tisshaws Family Law Solicitors for supporting us on this journey. We look forward to sharing our progress, successes and adventures along the way.