If you couldn’t make it to this year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), or if you simply want to relive the occasion one more time, take a look at these winning ponies from the HOYS 2023 showing classes.
Supreme of them all was Jerome Harforth’s five-year-old part-bred Swan Lake and Sophie Staveley, but there were a host of other stunning pony class winners and champions crowned across the five days of competition.
Here are 36 winning ponies who reigned at HOYS 2023. Which one would you most like to have in your stables at home?
Winners from the HOYS 2023 showing classes
1. Woodview Iola
Emma Shepherd leads her daughter Lilly-Mae Howard and their home-produced lead rein mare to the mini show pony accolade.
2. Westown Wild Fire
Sarah Parker stays on Sarah Weston’s home-bred Dartmoor stallion to clinch reserve M&M supreme.
3. Vynnes Magical Edition
Andrew Vine’s home-bred New Forest stallion puts his best foot forward with Pip Smith to secure top honours in the overall M&M championship.
3. Thistledown San-Siro
Diana Leeming’s Welsh section A, 12, wins the mini M&M title with Lola Carabine in the saddle.
4. Swan Lake
Jerome Harforth’s Llanarth Top Cat five-year-old is crowned part-bred champion before she scoops the supreme pony sash with Sophie Staveley.
5. Castra
Rhianon Loader gets a tune out of Stephanie Fitt’s seven-year-old plaited pony to take the coloured championship.
6. Barney IX
Sam Laity enjoys his last lap of honour with the 17-year-old 133cm campaigner after they lift the working hunter pony of the year accolade.
7. Ardenhall Blenheim
For the second time in a row, Lola Carabine and Jenny Harker’s 128cm contender storm the children’s riding pony championship.
8. Monivea Black Magic
Pippa Kirby’s home-bred traditional stallion is crowned native/cob/traditional pony of the year.
9. Thistledown Sea Mariner
Katie Parker rejoices as her mother Lesley Parker’s 133cm show hunter pony takes the class win.
10. Morning Sunflower
Isabella O’Donnell is crowned show hunter pony of the year on her last outing with the consistent seven-year-old 143cm mare, with whom she has also won at the Royal International (RIHS).
11. Gwynfaes Seren Wledig
Probably the biggest cheers from across the HOYS 2023 showing classes were heard when the Evans’ Welsh section D stallion won the pony section of the in-hand supreme final.
12. Eastlands Dunedin
Lucinda Leeming, 14, and Susan Pool’s Connemara gelding are foot-perfect to win the junior championship on their first time at HOYS as a combination.
13. Woodfield Hazy
Ruby Ward jumps a clear and takes the 153cm class with her mother Kelly Ward’s gelding, before they are reserve working hunter pony of the year.
14. Nae Limits
Layla Wheelwright and her own mare triumph in the intermediate working hunter final.
15. Dibynn Miss Congeniality
Anne Thornhill’s six-year-old and Scarlett Doswell claim top spot in the 148cm show pony class.
16. SCT Master Of The Hounds
Georgie Kirby-Moore punches the air as she wins her first HOYS sash in the intermediate show hunters aboard Jemma Ellison’s 10-year-old.
17. Delami Bravado
After jumping a flawless clear round in the 122cms, Ollie Rowlands and his home-produced Welsh section A are called forward to take the overall M&M worker spoils.
18. Priestwood Roc Star
Grayson Brady Brooke and the 15-year-old lead rein of hunter type win HOYS for the second time, handled by Sarah Newbould.
19. Broadhurst Jeremy Fisher
The show pony first ridden class is won by Lara-Rae Jones and the eight-year-old gelding, who is produced by Sharn Linney.
20. Ladies Man
Poppy Carter and Danni Radford’s home-bred super-star are triumphant in the intermediate show riding type of the year championship.
21. Colbeach Caprice
Lilly Ahern-Lee, 11, is victorious in the 138cm show ponies riding the 2021 and 2022 runner-up. They also finished reserve in the championship.
22. Rowfantina Orlando Bloom
James Burchell and his reigning RIHS young riders supreme champion continue their run to win the junior small breeds final and post section reserve.
21. Allandy Gold Spark
The 20-year-old skewbald gelding jumps the only clear in the 143cm working hunter pony section to reign with Gracie Aungier.
22. Rushill Diplomat
Sarah Parker’s third win of the show comes aboard her own Welsh section B gelding, who was also second in the 133cm M&M working hunter pony of the year class.
23. Springwater Tactician
Finlay Clay and Craig Elenor enjoy their lap of honour with Heather Clay’s winning M&M lead rein.
24. Lledrith Nemesis
The Welsh section A class is lifted by Sam Roberts and Sue Kernan’s 10-year-old stallion, another dual contender who was highly placed over fences.
25. Somahouse GT
Aaliyah Watson, 14, and the 15-year-old Shetland stallion, who is owned by Nicki Richards, lift the Shetland/Exmoor of the year title on their first NEC visit.
26. Greenrivers Luke
The six-year-old and Sarah Parker score the Fell pony of the year title for owner Sarah Weston.
27. Langrigg Thomas
Emma Hodge and Brooke Harvey’s Dales gelding celebrate after winning their first HOYS tricolour.
28. Marksman Of Mendick
The Highland stallion provides his owner/rider Amber Thorpe with her first-ever HOYS centre line moment.
29. Castle Kestrel
Lucy Glover and Amanda Sharman’s reigning BSPS M&M supreme and Royal Windsor champion tick another title off the bucket list as they win the Connemara breed final.
30. Templedruid Carob
Millie Mortimer, 10, rode her mother Bianca Mortimer’s 13-year-old gelding to victory in the M&M junior worker final on their debut at the NEC.
31. Llanidan Bonheddwr
Caroline Casey’s Welsh section C provides Kirsty Aird with a fourth M&M working hunter win of her career, this time in the 133cms.
32. Gwerniago Gethin
Ashley Bird and his bold stallion win the 143cm M&M working hunter of the year tricolour and finish reserve in the championship for the third time in their partnership.
33. Dycott Welsh King
Ross Keys is victorious in the exceeding 143cm M&M working hunter pony of the year final aboard the Welsh section D stallion.
34. Thorneyside Guardsman
Home-producer Katy Marks leads the Welsh section D line-up on her 11-year-old stallion.
35. Blaencila Rhodri
Vikki Smith steers Kyle McClements and Christopher Tait’s four-year-old stallion to the head of the Welsh section C class.
Enjoyed seeing who won the HOYS 2023 showing classes? You may also be interested to read…
Subscribe to Horse & Hound this spring for great savings
‘This is a breeder’s dream’: young mare lifts supreme pony title at HOYS on her first visit
‘He deserves this so much’: HOYS supreme glory for one of the most consistent show horses of all time
‘HOYS is his show’: perfect pony and 11-year-old jockey retain show pony of the year title
‘He’s a bit of a joker’: home-bred New Forest stallion triumphs in first class of HOYS 2023
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
