Marvel at 23 showing champions crowned at HOYS
All that glitz, glamour and excitement — what better way to round off the showing season than by competing at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS)? Take a look at the following 23 animals who signed off for 2016 with a championship sash in tow.
1. Jack The Giant
The Jackpot syndicate’s 14-year-old thoroughbred netted the SEIB racehorse to riding horse title, a brilliant way to retire from the show ring. Jack was ridden by Allister Hood.
Allister enjoyed a successful week, taking the riding horse title on Annabel Jenks’ Diamonds Are Forever and the cob championship aboard Lady Caroline Tyrrell’s Our Cashel Blue. The latter went on to stand supreme horse champion.
2. Colebourne
This handsome grey headed the maxi cob line-up, piloted by Miranda Wallace, who is the first lady rider to claim this title at HOYS.
3. Cashel Bay JJ
Ridden by H&H blogger Lucy Eddis, Cashel Bay JJ stood mountain and moorland working hunter pony champion after a stylish round. It was a good week for the Eddis family, as Lucy’s younger sister, Susie, won the 122cm worker class aboard Kyregate Peter Pan.
4. Blairfield Excelsior
Receptionist and part-time groom Meg Edmondson home-produces this mare, who stood intermediate show hunter of the year.
5. Cadlanvalley Buzby
Katy Marriott-Payne was in the driving seat of Hayley Grota’s Welsh section B stallion, who lifted the ridden native title.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
6. Elusive
This six-year-old by Kilvington Scoundrel won his large hack class en route to taking the championship for owner Suzannah Welby. He was ridden by producer Jo Bates.
7. Wytchwood Love Potion
Seven-year-old Cate Kerr made it two HOYS victories from two starts when riding this six-year-old in a strong lead-rein class, led by producer Craig Elenor, en route to taking the mini title.
8. Woodhouse Calendar Girl
The Shire horse of the year title went to this lovely mare, who is home-bred by her handler Martin Fountain. This is the second time the six-year-old, by Moorfield Ted, has won this accolade.
9. Spotlights Bo Diddly
Roger and Alison Parsons’ spotted five-year-old topped the miniature stallion line-up.
10. Shaarinah
The German-bred 13-year-old, owned by Isabel Gray, claimed the ridden pure-bred Arab of the year title, piloted by David Froggatt.
11. Gallant Prince
The Olivia Bowen-ridden grey headed his 143cm working hunter pony class before lifting the section title.
12. Hello Dolly
Dianne Stennett’s classy mare successfully defended her ladies side-saddle title, ridden by Jayne Ross.
13. Wycroft New Dimension
Karen Gillott’s home-produced nine-year-old won his 143cm show hunter pony class before taking the section title, ridden by Karen’s daughter Jess Renshaw-Smith.
14. Litton Enterprise
The 148cm show pony stood champion children’s riding pony before clinching the prestigious supreme title on Sunday, ridden by 14-year-old Phoebe Price for producer Julie Templeton.
15. Millwood Kaiser Chief
Another from Julie Templeton’s yard, Millwood Kaiser Chief topped his 133cm show hunter pony class with Charlotte Lister in the saddle.
16. Bloomfield Excelsior
Mark Chesters took the ride on the Shades Of Grey syndicate’s “Rex”, who measures over 18hh and stood hunter champion. The six-year-old won his heavyweight class with Jayne Ross, but she opted to pilot Time 2 Reflect in the championship and stood reserve.
17. Caegarw Cococabana
The plaited coloured pony title went to this seven-year-old, who was contesting only his fifth-ever show and scored a first HOYS title for owner Beverley Hood and rider Harry Moore.
18. Chantilly Bojangles
The small hunter title went to this five-year-old by Kroongraaf. It was a particularly special result for owner Kim Colosso as it was only the horse’s second outing with his new producer, Robert Walker.
19. Gryngallt Picture Frame
Producer Emma Holder was left celebrating when Gryngallt Picture Frame landed the show hunter lead-rein final, ridden by Eugenie Godfrey-Faussett.
20. Kinclune Danny Boy
Virginia Osborne celebrates winning the British ridden heavy horse title, which was introduced this year, aboard her mother Marguerite’s Clydesdale.
Continued below…
Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:
19 HOYS winners enjoying their moment in the spotlight
10 reasons we’re getting HOYS withdrawal symptoms
21. The Life Of Riley
Hayley Sankey’s home-produced 10-year-old stood unplaited ridden coloured horse of the year with PE teacher Vicky Smith.
22. Rathnaleen Gothic
Lizzie Smith and nine-year-old Rathnaleen Gothic, who is produced by Adam Winborne, won their 158cm intermediate of show riding type division before taking the title.
23. Whelpley Watchman
Crowned the 153cm show hunter pony winner for the second year running, Whelpey Watchman is produced by Jessica Prichard and owned/ridden by 19-year-old Imogen Simpson.
Don’t miss the full Horse of the Year Show report in the current issue of Horse & Hound (13 October).
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Aimi was responsible for Horse & Hound’s showing, pointing and veterinary pages, as well as assisting with eventing content. Aimi also edited Horse & Hound’s popular occasional magazines, Ask The Vet and Ask The Trainer. She is the former deputy editor of Eventing magazine. She left Horse & Hound at the end of 2017 to take on new challenges in the publishing industry and is now editor at Your Horse.