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Competing at HOYS for the first time? Here’s what you really need to know from someone who’s been in your shoes
Horse & Hound’s showing editor has first-hand experience of competing at Horse of the Year Show on multiple occasions and knows how daunting it feels when you’re heading to the NEC for the first time. In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, she shares the insider knowledge to make your visit as smooth and enjoyable as possible...
H&H’s showing editor Bethan Simons, pictured riding Ballynacoy Prince in the M&M championship at Horse of the Year Show, shares her inside knowledge for first-timers.
If you are competing at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) for the first time, it can feel a little daunting, especially if, like us, you’re a home-produced family team. After all, there’s no other show like it, and you may have dreamed of competing there for a lifetime. So with around a week to go, let me try to alleviate some of your worries, and render you with fewer sleepless nights. These are the things I have learnt that you need to know if you’ve never been to HOYS before…
Competing at HOYS for the first time: arriving and stabling
Once you get to the NEC, you’ll need to queue to have your horse’s passport, microchip and vaccinations checked. This is when I get really excited and when my nerves really kick in. Our little lorry isn’t the most ergonomic and is always packed to the rafters. Horses are checked on the lorry, so if you can, plan your packing so that the vet checking your horse can get to them without climbing over your wheelbarrow and abundant haynets, and have the passport at the ready somewhere convenient.
On the subject of passports, double check it’s packed before you set off. You can beg, borrow and buy everything else from tack to breeches to rugs, but you will not be allowed to even unload your horse without its passport. Don’t risk it!
Once checked, you’ll be given a veterinary certificate. Take this with you to get your pack from the stable manager’s office.
Bedding is available at the stable manager’s office, and once purchased, it gets brought to your stable by some gallant gentlemen on buggies.
Whilst you won’t need to lug your bedding, I recommend packing a trolley to carry haynets, tack and so on, as it’s quite a walk from the lorries to the stables.
Wristbands
A common mistake people often make is thinking they can collect wristbands for others — they can’t. Everyone has to collect their own. But, you don’t all need to collect your wristbands together.
Give yourselves plenty of time, too. My advice would be for all of your party to collect theirs the night before your class. The mornings can be busy and you don’t want to be stuck in a queue when you’re against the clock.
Your bridle number
Your horse must be wearing its number at any time it’s ridden in an arena, even the outside one.
I can’t count how many times my sister or I have had to run back to the stable – or worse, the lorry – because the other has forgotten their bridle number. So learn from our breathless mishaps and whatever you do, remember to put it on your bridle and keep it there. If you work-in and show with different bridles, swap the number over and hang it on the throat lash after you’ve worked in for the final time.
The way to the arena
It’s a good 10-15 minute walk from the stables to the arena, and your lorry could also be parked up a fair distance in the other direction. With this in mind, pack comfy shoes. Your feet will thank you by the end of your stay!
If you’re feeling nervous or there for the first time, walk down with a supporter or a competitor you trust who’s done it all before if you can. It will help ease your nerves.
Competing at HOYS for the first time: arena familiarisation
You’ll already have your competitor’s pack by now with your arena familiarisation times, so I don’t need to tell you that your slots are allocated by class, and are likely to be brutally early or could see you late for supper.
The times are also displayed in the stable managers so don’t worry if you forget the sheet. But my tip would be to take a photo of it on your phone so you have it to hand always as each slot is only brief — just 20 minutes in the morning — so you don’t want to miss yours and you need to make sure you’re down there in time.
The evening slot is always much busier than the morning slot. Over the years we have taken ponies who don’t like to be surrounded by lots and lots of others so we’ve deliberately used only the latter half of our evening slots when it’s less busy. We’ve found the best way to make the most of the allocated time for our class and not upset a sensitive pony is to be in the collecting ring ready to enter the arena with the rest of the class, then keep an eye on the arena itself to gauge when it’s best to get amongst the others. That way, we don’t miss out on valuable time familiarising the pony with the environment in general, but don’t over face them in the arena.
At the end, and usually in the morning, it’s much, much quieter and a good opportunity to let your pony have a good look at the pillar in the centre and the flowers in each corner.
Undecided if you can be bothered getting out of bed that early? If you really don’t think you need the morning session inside the arena, there is an outside arena too, but that also has time slots so make sure that you’re not leisurely about your time here, either.
Personally, I’ve always opted to crawl from my bed and do both sessions, even with my absolutely wonderful pony Prince who I rode at HOYS seven years consecutively and I barely worked-in elsewhere. Our reasoning is that it’s an atmosphere like no other, so something could upset even those once-in-a-lifetime ponies like Prince. If something does go wrong, we want to be able to look back and feel we’ve taken every opportunity to prepare. What’s one sleepless night after working so hard for the honour of competing at the season’s pinnacle?
Competing at HOYS for the first time: to plug or not to plug?
The atmosphere at HOYS is super, and the crowd can be very “supportive”, which could also mean “noisy” or “enthusiastic”. This is great if you have a pony like my sister’s old worker who lapped it up and couldn’t give two hoots about a bit of clapping. It’s really not so great if your pony is noise sensitive. Again, referencing old Prince, this was the one show of the year where he wore ear plugs, and I was always grateful for them during prize giving. Obviously you know your pony best, but if in doubt, at least take some with you. You’re better off having to use more leg than sitting on a time bomb.
To help prepare, you can use a radio in your stable, or when you’re working your horse — even out hacking.
I don’t like to admit it, but my little sister won HOYS a few years before I did, but it was a great trip down memory lane to play a recording of her pony’s name being called forwards the winner and their lap of honour to get all the others in the yard used to the noise! Cheering on YouTube would have the same effect, I guess.
I’ve never jumped round the workers here — I’m no jump jockey! — but when we first took Maggie’s novice-at-the-time 122cm, he was still on the quirkier side and we really didn’t know what to do for the best. A workers aficionado warned that if we were considering plugging his ears for the final, we must try jumping him with them a few times before the big day as she had found some can feel disconcerted by them when jumping, almost as if it unbalances them. It was good advice and something we are always mindful of now. If you’re in a similar quandary, take heed.
Will I need a rug down at the arena?
In short, yes. The arena is very warm so take a rug and wear layers yourself. You don’t want to come out into the cold after getting hot under the lights and catch a chill.
What happens if I’m lucky enough to be in a championship?
If you are, congratulations! For some championships, you only need to swap your tie for a stock but for others you’ll need a navy or black jacket. We have never packed one from superstition knowing our wonderful friend Gemma will have packed hers if need be. If you don’t have one and don’t have a Gemma, don’t worry, there’s an annual panicked jacket-scramble so you won’t be the first and certainly won’t be the last!
If your championship is on a later day, such as the M&M championship, the wonderful stable manager’s office will ensure you have a stable for the extra night if you need it, and can often even juggle things around so your pony can stay put where they are.
As with the navy jackets, someone will help you out with feed and so on.
At the risk of sounding like grandma…
It’s important to eat, however nervous you are. The last thing you want is to be off your game because you’re wiped out running on no fuel.
The absolutely wonderful toastie van is at the top of the horse walk day and night with everything from baked beans to pineapple to KitKat as fillings to keep you going. If toasties are not for you, make sure you have something for breakfast.
In the evenings, Resorts World is super for supper and super-easy to access from the stables. And as it’s the destination of choice for so many, don’t worry if you rock up in your breeches after arena familiarisation.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
If you find yourselves in a pickle, don’t stew, ask for help. I promise you, if they are not just about to get into the ring, even those pros who usually make you feel star struck in line will help you. If they don’t there will always be competitors with more experienced willing to share some wisdom. Don’t let the fear of asking for help mar your experience.
Oh! and from experience, someone always has spare breeches should you need them…
Remember to enjoy competing at HOYS for the first time
A few years ago, I was mortified to have my first HOYS wrong leg at the age of 36 and could feel my cheeks burn in line. I felt I’d let myself, my pony, and our team down. But looking back, I should have shrugged off the disappointment and embarrassment much sooner.
After all, it’s hardly an unusual mistake and hardly the end of the world. I should not have let it compromise how much I enjoyed riding my absolutely cracking pony there. And while I can clearly hear my sister’s proclaim “you plonker” on the video, she still greeted me with a broad smile at the end and took me for chips.
The worst that can happen is you fall off or you have to leave the arena. In the highly unlikely event this happens, breathe and smile, because you won’t be the first and you absolutely won’t be the last.
So, try to enjoy every minute of it and spend a fortune on photos. After all, you may never qualify again, so make the most of it.
And finally from me, good luck! I look forward to seeing your there.
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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.
