I’ve collated your need-to-know information for the 2026 HOYS miniature qualifiers to help fulfil your dreams of qualifying your miniature horse for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Finding out who’s judging which fixture takes a lot of time and effort, so this should make planning your season much easier.
While all the HOYS qualifiers have been announced for 2026, many of the hosts have not revealed their judges yet, so I’m frequently updating this page with all the new details as they are released.
2026 HOYS miniature qualifiers
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<h3><a name="americanmini"></a><br />
UKAMHS American Miniature Horse of the Year sponsored by Pandoras Miniature Farm</h3>
<p><em>If you are viewing this table on a mobile, swipe left for more info</em></p>
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<table style="font-size: 14px;" cellpadding="10">
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<td><strong>Qualifier </strong></td>
<td><strong>Venue</strong></td>
<td><strong>Date</strong></td>
<td><strong>Judges</strong></td>
<td><strong>Entries close</strong></td>
</tr>
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<td><a href="http://www.ukamhs.co.uk/shows.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">UK American Miniature Horse British Open Show</a></td>
<td>Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre, Warwickshire</td>
<td>25 April</td>
<td>TBC</td>
<td>TBC</td>
</tr>
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<td><a href="https://www.mhcgb.co.uk/miniaturehorseshows.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Miniature Horse Club of Great Britain Spring Show</a></td>
<td>Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre, Warwickshire</td>
<td>26 April</td>
<td>Rosemary Keeling<br />
Kevin Blaskeyfield</td>
<td>12 April</td>
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<td><a href="https://devoncountyshow.co.uk/">Devon County Show</a></td>
<td>Westpoint, Exeter</td>
<td>21-23 May</td>
<td>Mrs E Willets</td>
<td>07 April</td>
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<td><a href="https://royalnorfolkshow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Royal Norfolk Show</a></td>
<td>Norfolk Showground, Norfolk</td>
<td>24-25 June</td>
<td>Mr Mark Sheen</td>
<td>6 May, late entries close 10 May</td>
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<td><a href="https://rwas.wales/royal-welsh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">RWAS Royal Welsh Show</a></td>
<td>RWAS Showground, Powys</td>
<td>20-23 July</td>
<td>Mrs Ruth Roberts</td>
<td>20 May</td>
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<td><a href="https://www.newforestshow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">New Forest &amp; Hampshire County Show</a></td>
<td>The Showground, Hampshire</td>
<td>28-30 July</td>
<td>Miss L Willetts</td>
<td>22 June; late entries close 19 July</td>
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<td><a href="http://www.ukamhs.co.uk/shows.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">UK American Miniature AMHA Regional Championship Show</a></td>
<td>Pickering Grange Equestrian, Leicestershire</td>
<td>8-9 Aug</td>
<td>TBC</td>
<td>TBC</td>
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<td><a href="https://www.mhcgb.co.uk/miniaturehorseshows.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Miniature Horse Club of Great Britain Championship Show</a></td>
<td>Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire</td>
<td>15-16 Aug</td>
<td>TBC</td>
<td>TBC</td>
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<td><a href="https://www.imhc.eu/imhc-show-calendar/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">AMHA European Regional Championship Show</a></td>
<td>Torhout, Belgium</td>
<td>23-24 Aug</td>
<td>TBC</td>
<td>TBC</td>
</tr>
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<h3><a name="minihoy"></a><br />
Miniature Horse of the Year Supported by the British Miniature Horse Society</h3>
<p><em>If you are viewing this table on a mobile, swipe left for more info</em></p>
<table style="font-size: 14px;" cellpadding="10">
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<tr>
<td><strong>Qualifier </strong></td>
<td><strong>Venue</strong></td>
<td><strong>Date</strong></td>
<td><strong>Judges</strong></td>
<td><strong>Entries close</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.bmhs.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">BMHS Spring Show</a></td>
<td>Stretcholt Equestrian Centre, Somerset</td>
<td>19 April</td>
<td>Mr Nick True (R)</td>
<td>TBC</td>
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<td><a href="https://devoncountyshow.co.uk/">Devon County Show</a></td>
<td>Westpoint, Exeter</td>
<td>21-23 May</td>
<td>TBC</td>
<td>7 April</td>
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<td><a href="https://hertsshow.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Hertfordshire County Show</a></td>
<td>The Showground, Hertfordshire</td>
<td>23-24 May</td>
<td>Mrs L Rowntree</td>
<td>10 May; late entries accepted until 20 May at increased rate</td>
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<td><a href="https://www.bathandwest.com/royal-bath-and-west-show" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Royal Bath &amp; West Show</a></td>
<td>Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet</td>
<td>28-30 May</td>
<td>Mr R Stone</td>
<td>28 April</td>
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<td><a href="https://derbyshirefestival.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Derbyshire Festival</a></td>
<td>Somerford Park, Congleton, Cheshire</td>
<td>6-7 June</td>
<td>Mr M Jones</td>
<td>19 May</td>
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<td><a href="https://royalthreecounties.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Royal Three Counties</a></td>
<td>Three Counties Showground, Malvern</td>
<td>12-14 June</td>
<td>Mrs J Price</td>
<td>8 May</td>
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<td><a href="https://royalnorfolkshow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Royal Norfolk Show</a></td>
<td>Norfolk Showground, Norfolk</td>
<td>24-25 June</td>
<td>Miss Henrietta Barton</td>
<td>6 May; late entries close 10 May</td>
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<td><a href="https://www.swshs.org.uk/show.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">South Wales Shire Horse Society Annual Show</a></td>
<td>Bailey Park, Monmouthshire</td>
<td>4 July</td>
<td>Mr Simon Somers</td>
<td>TBC</td>
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<td><a href="https://greatyorkshireshow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Great Yorkshire</a></td>
<td>Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire</td>
<td>14-17 July</td>
<td>Mrs Debbie Howarth</td>
<td>5 May</td>
</tr>
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<td><a href="https://rwas.wales/royal-welsh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">RWAS Royal Welsh Show</a></td>
<td>RWAS Showground, Powys</td>
<td>20-23 July</td>
<td>Mrs Beverley Beresford-Batten</td>
<td>20 May</td>
</tr>
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<td><a href="https://www.newforestshow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">New Forest &amp; Hampshire County Show</a></td>
<td>The Showground, Hampshire</td>
<td>28-30 July</td>
<td>Miss L Barrow</td>
<td>22 June; late entries close 19 July</td>
</tr>
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<td><a href="https://garstangshow.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Garstang Show</a></td>
<td>The Show Field, Preston</td>
<td>1 Aug</td>
<td>TBC</td>
<td>TBC</td>
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<td><a href="https://stoneleighhorseshow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Stoneleigh Horse Show August</a></td>
<td>Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire</td>
<td>16-17 Aug</td>
<td>TBC</td>
<td>TBC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://edenbridge-show.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Edenbridge &amp; Oxted Show</a></td>
<td>Ardenrun Showground, Lingfield</td>
<td>30-31 Aug</td>
<td>TBC</td>
<td>TBC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.denbighandflintshow.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Denbigh &amp; Flintshire</a></td>
<td>The Green, Denbigh</td>
<td>20 Aug</td>
<td>TBC</td>
<td>10 July</td>
</tr>
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<td><a href="https://www.bmhs.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">BMHS Breed Show</a></td>
<td>Moreton Morrell College, Warwickshire</td>
<td>5 Sept</td>
<td>TBC</td>
<td>TBC</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

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For all your need-to-know information for other 2026 HOYS qualifiers, plus more expert showing advice from top riders and updates on shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
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H&H showing editor
Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.