The Team here at Glaze & Gordon were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Brigadier Warrior.
As many of you may know, Callie Coles is a writer, mother and hunting enthusiast who shares riveting insights into family life from her home in Devon through her social media diary accounts. Callie shared a deep and special connection with her horse of a lifetime, Woz. Together, Callie and Woz have helped showcase the beauty of a traditional rural lifestyle in modern society. Our heartfelt condolences are with Callie and the entire Coles family as they endure what is with no doubt the hardest experience for any horse lover.
At 16.3 and a half hands high, a striking flea bitten grey and every inch agility and character, Warrior was a sight to behold on the hunting field. It follows as no surprise that Callie’s partnership with Woz started when she observed him under the charge of her husband, Toby Coles. Convincing Toby to let her have the ride on “England’s greatest hunter”, few could have imagined the partnership that would thereafter unfold. One heart-in-the-mouth, end-of-the-buckle ride later and Woz’s heart belonged to Callie. His keenness (and sometimes quirkiness!) was just one of his many loveable qualities under Callie’s accomplished hands, carrying her like precious cargo when the hounds were running.
When we first partnered with Callie in 2020, sending her our needlepoint fox and hound belt to try, we were delighted to see the infamous Woz also featuring in the pictures shared to Callie’s social media. Since then, Woz has become a true G&G icon, modelling some of the latest and greatest additions to our collection always with remarkable style and presence. He even starred alongside Callie in our iconic shoot by Georgina Preston which featured some of our cornerstone best-selling G&G items. Today, Woz features throughout our G&G website and social accounts, as we love to see this remarkable pair enjoying their G&G goodies. The bond between Callie and Woz was magnetic and we’re grateful to have this electric partnership eternalised in some beautiful portraits in the G&G archives.
Woz will surely be missed by those at home and fans worldwide, with heartfelt condolences and touching tributes having been shared to Callie’s posts featuring Woz’s journey. Indeed, Warrior will be eternally glorified in the halls of hunting fame for his legendary hedge-hopping abilities. Callie has shared some awesome images of her “flying llama” as the pair effortlessly soar over hedges as fierce in height as seven feet. Some of these daunting leaps even made side-saddle, with Woz taking comfortably to this style of riding when Callie introduced it to him.
Though a force to be reckoned with even at 20, Woz was truly a kind and gentle soul. Playing an integral part in family life, from daily hacks with the younger horses to beach rides along the Devonshire coast, Woz was even reliable enough to lead an eager and daring Merlin from aboard sidekick Sparky. A truly great allrounder, Woz also participated as a founding member of the Coles’ wicker basket saddle venture, Iggywick Willows.
In these early days of loss, it seems that every memory is licked by the sting of grief. Whilst our hearts are broken for Callie, we know that Woz’s uncontainable spirit will live on in the myths and legends whispered by the moors that have rumbled beneath his hooves. You need only listen.
