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13 moments when the bright lights of HOYS proved too much *PICTURES*


  • Excitement levels are building in H&H HQ ahead of next week’s Horse of the Year Show (7-11 October 2015). It’s the culmination of endless toil and preparation — and a showcase of some the equestrian world’s great and good. But sometimes, those bright lights and big crowds at the Birmingham NEC can get too much to handle…

    1. ‘I’ll just slip through this gap here…’

    Horse of the Year show 2008 HOYS 8/10/08
    Yazmin Pinchen has a mishap in the Squibb & Davies National Junior Foxhunter Chanpionship jump off in 2008.

    2. Don’t look behind you…

    HOYS 11 10 2014THE TAGG PUISSANCE
    Things seemed to be happening in slow motion for Joe Clayton and Rockim in last year’s Puissance.

    3. Ouch!

    THE IRISH PIXIE thrills and spills Mare  Grey  2005  Emily  Stephen
    Emily Stephen and The Irish Pixie get into trouble in 2005. But the onlookers don’t look too worried…

    Continued below…

    15 riders reach the point of no return

    We’ve all been there — one minute you’re enjoying the ride of your life and the next you experience that

    4. ‘I’m not going anywhere’

    HOYS gallery 10
    Antonia Platt wows the crowds with some acrobatics to stay aboard Blow The Budget.

    5. Getting familiar with the surface…

    Horse of the year show 2013 - HOYS - SUPREME HORSE OF THE YEAR CShowman Simon Charlesworth hits the deck when the saddle slips after a stunning gallop on the hack champion Pearly King in the 2013 supreme.

    6. ‘Let’s pretend that never happened’

    HOYS 13 10 2013 SUPREME HORSE OF THE YEAR CHAMPIONSHIP
    A slightly battered and bruised Simon brushes himself down before excusing himself from the arena.

    7. An almighty pile-up

    Horse of the Year Show 2013 - HOYS - Mounted Games Final.
    The 2013 Prince Philip Cup final gets heated as competitors take a tumble in the sack race.

    8. ‘I don’t like the look of that… at all’

    HOYS 09 10 2013 - YOUNG RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP OF GREAT BRITAIN
    Jake Saywell’s mount Perfect Rouge has spotted something he’s not keen on…

    9. ‘Let’s get out of here — ASAP’

    HOYS PUISSANCE 06 10 2012
    Chateau de Brion Quainton makes a speedy escape from the flying bricks in the 2012 Puissance with Chloe Aston on board.

    10. A dramatic dismount

    Horse of the year show 2011
    Tina Fletcher makes an unintentional dismount from Unique IX in the 2011 Puissance, which puts her out of action for three weeks with whiplash and concussion.

    11. Catching some air

    HORSE OF THE SHOW 10TH OCT 2009 - PUISSANCE
    Ryan Prater and Safaro crash through the Puissance wall in 2009.

    12. Sit tight!

    HORSE OF THE SHOW 10TH OCT 2009 - PUISSANCE
    Ellen Whitaker’s Ladina B demonstrates her characteristic feistiness in the 2009 Puissance.

    13. ‘Yes, thank you very much — that trophy is for me’

    HOYS gallery 14 Billy Twomey’s Fantasia lets the crowds know who’s the champ after claiming The Dick Turping Stakes in 2008.

    Don’t miss our HOYS preview in the 1 October issue of Horse & Hound magazine, and our full report in the 15 October issue

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