Event Horse of the Year 2026

Event Horse of the Year 2026

The event horse who has thrilled the crowds with his or her skill and bravery across the disciplines.

Once again we will crown the best horses in their individual sports based on your votes as part of the annual Horse & Hound Awards.

The shortlist

Chilli Knight was crowned one of the most impressive winners of a five-star in landing Burghley by 13.4 penalties, the largest winning margin at this level since Lordships Graffalo in 2023. “Alfie” had already won the one-off Bicton five-star in 2021, but he boosted that success at Burghley, to put himself in a select group of horses who have won two different five-stars.

“Chilli Knight’s heart is as big as he is, he’s an amazing little animal,” says Gemma Stevens. “He wants to do it, wants to please. He’s a tiger on the cross-country.”

Their triumph validates the importance of partnership. Gemma rode Alfie’s dam Kings Gem at Badminton, and has “known Chilli Knight since he was an embryo”.

“He was very unassuming as a young horse; you would never, ever have picked him out as a five-star winner ,” she says. “He’s a horse who never stops trying. When he gets to a big event, he grows a pair of wings – this whole new little man comes out.”

Zara Tindall and Class Affair are the 2026 British open champions, winning this amalgamated CCI4*-S/British open at Hartpury with a double clear and fastest time of the day. In heading the class, they took the scalps of several top-class five-star combinations in a field of 73.

Zara and “Socks” have been a partnership for 10 seasons, competing eight five-stars together, but this title represents the peak of their career so far.

“He’s super-talented and very capable, but he’s also one of the trickiest horses I’ve ever ridden,” says Zara, who is based at Gatcombe Park where the British open was held until two years ago. “He doesn’t always do the thing you want him to do. He’s a funny soul, but I love him.”

At his seventh championship, in Aachen this summer, London 52 sealed the full set of team gold medals, from the European and World Championships, and the Olympics. He also won individual bronze.

Now 17, Dan is heading towards the twilight of his career, and his rider Laura Collett knows she “will never, ever have a horse like him again”.

“I cherish him every day,” she says. “He’s the horse of a lifetime, even just to go to the places he’s taken me. To come away from Aachen with two more medals – I never dreamt 10 years ago when I bought him he would do half of what he’s achieved.”

The bay now has seven championship medals on top of his three five-star wins. And with the form he’s in, few would bet against him adding more in 2027.

“Walter” had already put his name in the history books in 2025, as the first horse to win Badminton and Burghley twice. This spring, he became the first horse to win Badminton three times. That Ros had given birth to her second daughter in January only emphasised the brilliance of this partnership.

“I feel incredibly grateful to Walter, a horse that allows me to come out at this level, not maybe feeling at my best, but believing I can do it because of him,” says Ros.

They backed up this five-star result by leading Britain
to team gold in Aachen, missing double gold by just
0.4 of a penalty.

“We know Walter is becoming one of the best of all time,” Ros says. “This result’s very special – relief and excitement all wrapped into one.”

What records will they break next season, with the horse still in his physical prime?

Previous Event Horse of the Year Award winners

The previous winners of the Event Horse of the Year Award are:

• 2025: Lordships Graffalo, Ros Canter's ride sealed his legendary status by taking both British five-star titles, becoming the first horse to win both Badminton and Burghley twice
• 2024: London 52, Laura Collett’s three-time five-star-winning ride who led Britain to Olympic team gold and snaffled his own individual bronze in Paris
• 2023: Lordships Graffalo, Ros Canter’s brilliant partner who won Badminton and the Europeans

Prior to 2023, the Horse of the Year Award ran across all equestrian disciplines, and the winners include:

• 2022: Vanir Kamira, the much-loved veteran mare, who added Burghley to her previous Badminton win
• 2021: the world’s best showjumper and Olympic champion Explosion W, ride of Ben Maher
• 2020: the legendary Valegro was crowned the horse of the decade (2011-2020) by H&H readers
• 2019: Piggy French’s ride Vanir Kamira may be “a pain in the arse 352 days a year”, but this true five-star horse “comes into her own at Badminton and Burghley”
• 2018: Arctic Soul, the former racehorse turned elite eventer, ridden by Gemma Tattersall
• 2017: Nip Tuck, Carl Hester’s outstanding equine partner
• 2016: Valegro, the elite dressage star and world record breaker, ridden by Charlotte Dujardin

About the Horse & Hound Awards 2026

The Horse & Hound Awards are celebrating their 11th year, being held in partnership with NAF and Agria.

As ever, the Horse & Hound Awards winners will be nominated and voted for by you, with the exception of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award, which is decided by a Horse & Hound panel. We intend to recognise both the big names who have made 2026 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at every level.

The winners will be revealed at a glittering ceremony at Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire on 25 November, where some 300 people, including heroes of the summer’s World Championships, will gather to enjoy a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, BAFTA-style speeches and dancing.