Cuddy working hunter competitors were once again treated to a sizeable course of fences at the 2018 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). The David Cole-designed championship track saw 31 horses come forward to navigate the 12 rustic fences, which included a horse shoe wall. The course appeared to provide a flowing route with a couple of tricky uprights causing problems for some pairings.
Do you think you and your horse would be up for this ultimate working hunter challenge? Make your mind up when you’ve seen the fences…
1. Hayrack Oxer
hunter fences
(Image credit: Alex Robinson)
For two unlucky combinations, the 2018 Cuddy crown slipped away right at the first fence when they got a bad stride to this oxer and rolled the front pole. Also struggling with this debut fence was Nicky Turriff and her own Lux O’Neill who failed to negotiate the first jump and retired with two refusals.
2. Plank Tower
hunter fences
(Image credit: Alex Robinson)
This proved one of the easier fences to jump as it stayed intact throughout the class.
3. Rabbit Oxer
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hunter fences
(Image credit: Alex Robinson)
This oxer coming across the diagonal, which gave riders the choice of either side, looked inviting but the wobbly top pole proved problematic for some and it was knocked 11 times. The final horse to jump, Kimberley Stanworth’s Evola W hit the fence and pulled up lame afterwards so was withdrawn.
4. Hedge Upright
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
This inviting solid-looking fence saw only one pole rolled throughout the class. This was by Oulart Pasquellino, ridden by Kirsty Aird.
5. Bush Oxer
hunter fences
(Image credit: Alex Robinson)
Another breezy oxer that only one horse rolled.
6. (A & B) Flower Trough Double
hunter fences
(Image credit: Alex Robinson)
The first element of this two-strided combination was hit twice, while the second part also fell a few times.
7. Horse Shoe Wall
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The impressive looking horse shoe wall — where horses were required to ride in through the gap and jump out over the blocks — proved quite uneventful. Only one combination knocked the bricks from the solid wall; Noble Queen Bee and Jasean Spraggett.
8. Castle Oxer
hunter fences
(Image credit: Alex Robinson)
This oxer may appear easy on the eye, but several were caught out by this fence three quarters of the way around the course. It fell nine times and was annoyingly the sole fence down for Libby Cooke and Mousa Kousa.
9. Stone Pillars
hunter fences
(Image credit: Alex Robinson)
A 100 per cent success rate was achieved at this fence.
Fences on the Working Hunter course at Horse of The Year Show 2018 at the NEC near Birmingham in the UK between 2nd- 7th October 2018
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
A few surprising combinations hesitated at this four-pole upright with water try underneath, including Melanie Hennah riding Anchorman and Steph Callwood with Mr Seniority, the latter duo managing to get over and secure a clear. Working hunter superman Rory Gilsenan and Vision Impossible were eliminated at this fence. It certainly got horses to pick their feet up!
11. Green Pheasant Feeder Oxer
hunter fences
(Image credit: Alex Robinson)
This penultimate oxer was heading towards the entrance gate from a corner and was knocked down five times.
12 (A) Stile Castle
hunter fences
(Image credit: Alex Robinson)
The final double saw the first fence fall from the cups eight times. For Katy Green riding Vulcanite and Alice Barnes with OCS Double Vision, it was their only fence down.
12. (B) Rustic Oxer
hunter fences
(Image credit: Alex Robinson)
This fence was knocked just twice during the competition.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
