Reminiscing about HOYS 2019: 26 heavenly winners who relished their centre line moments…
During the week we should have been at the NEC in Birmingham for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), we thought we would take a look back at some of the winning horses and ponies who wowed the judges and the crowds there last year.
Check out these 26 HOYS stars who shone brightly at the 2019 fixture…
1. Frederiksminde Volcano
Home-producer Victoria Casey had her first ever HOYS victory when she rode her own 10-year-old Connemara to win his breed class. The duo also placed eighth in the 143cm M&M working hunter pony final the following day.
2. Melindwr Lady Olwen
The six-year-old Shire mare was crowned ridden heavy horse of the year with Abigail Gresty at the helm.
3. Laburnum Richard
The popular 12-year-old Connemara took the overall M&M working hunter pony accolade for the second time in his career for his owner/rider Amy Smith.
4. Nantfforchog Blue Romance
Stand-in jockey Frankie Currell rode this six-year-old grey Welsh section A mare to glory in the open ridden M&M championship.
5. Casino II
After standing reserve twice, Diane Stennett’s small campaigner took the riding horse of the year championship for producer Jayne Ross.
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6. Fellthorpe Esther Jane
Paul Bedford’s nine-year-old mare trotted to victory in the Shire horse of the year final.
7. Parkgate Royal Visit William
Robert Walker rode Rob Brookes’ nine-year-old small hack to win his class and take the section reserve.
8. Seabourne Silent Valley
Francoise Babington took the ladies’ side saddle honours on her own 10-year-old lightweight gelding.
9. Jackets Destiny
Emmy Parkhouse and her home-produced 143cm contender stood reserve for the riding pony title.
10. Cashel Bay JJ
The Connemara had his seventh HOYS win en-route to standing reserve in the working hunter pony of the year championship with Susie Eddis.
11. Milford Fair Honeybee
A storming clear round secured this 13-year-old mare and her nine-year-old jockey Ila Wingrove the red rosette in the 133cm M&M working hunter pony class.
12. Our Cashel Blue
Allister Hood and Caroline Tyrrell’s legendary lightweight took the cob championship.
13. Del Boy V
The 15-year-old stallion owned by Michelle Cuerden bowed out from coloured showing as he landed the coloured supreme title under Vikki Smith.
14. Heronsmill Tiger Lily
Sally Mcmillan’s three-year-old riding pony filly was crowned Cuddy supreme in-hand champion after winning the pony section on her HOYS debut.
15. Coco Bongo
The 10-year-old 133cm working hunter pony winner went through the card with her rider Chloe Lemieux to take the section title before netting the 2019 supreme pony of the year award.
16. Heads Up
Hayden Hankey and the five-year-old novice gelding secured a win in the horse working hunter ranks.
17. Roquefort Papillion
Sophia Chambers piloted her own seven-year-old stallion to clinch the non-native plaited coloured pony class.
18. Bracklinn Dynamite
The Fell pony stallion landed his breed class on his HOYS debut with owner Brian Williams in the saddle
19. Woodfield Jovial Joker
The seven-year-old Connemara became the new 143cm M&M working hunter pony of the year for Mollie Mae Jeffrey.
20. Lord Alexander
The maxi cob tricolours went to Stephen Norris aboard Elizabeth Bury’s 10-year-old gelding.
21. Noble Queen Bee
The lovely eight-year-old mare won a competitive lightweight hunter class for rider Jasean Spraggett and owner Lucinda White.
22. Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso
Emma Boardman and her own Welsh section D won their class for the second consecutive year and went on to stand reserve M&M pony of the year.
23. Cadlanvalley Bentley
The nine-year-old stallion took the Welsh section B pony of the year title for owner/rider Nicole Wayman.
24. Carnsdale Wise Guy
Sam Walker and Jill Day’s five-year-old scooped the intermediate show hunter championship.
25. Silver Diamond
Magnus Nicholson got a winning tune out of this classy heavyweight cob for the second year running.
26. Stretcholt New Dimension
The five-year-old 138cm show pony — who was only contending his seventh ever show — took the riding pony of the year accolade with Charlotte Caulfield.
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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.