Shanbally Legacy, exhibited by Claire Oliver, winners of the Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
The Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) is over for another year and while the majority of the showing fraternity are ready for their winter breaks, we’re not quite ready to let the sparkle of the HOYS 2023 showing classes dull just yet.
A host of deserving champions were crowned over the five days, and the horse sections witnessed a mix of seasoned stars and new faces take to the centre line.
Here are 20 winning show horses from the show that you might not have seen. Which combination gets your top score?
HOYS winners 2023 showing classes: horse victors
1. Red Rock III
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Janay Atherden and her own and her mother Lisha Leeman’s 11-year-old gelding reclaim the native/cob/traditional horse class.
2. Tremarl Timber
TREMARL TIMBER, exhibited by Simon Charlesworth winners of The Price Family Supreme In-Hand Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Angela Smith and Paul Mortimer’s three-year-old gelding, shown by Simon Charlesworth, lifts the Price Family in-hand supreme title on only his second appearance in the show ring.
3. Cotebrook Sgurr Alasdair
COTEBROOK SGURR ALASDAIR exhibited by Katie Dashwood, winners of the Epiony Riding Horse of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Will Morton clinches the British ridden heavy accolade aboard Gemma McClorey’s eight-year-old gelding.
4. Minella Rebellion
MINELLA REBELLION exhibited by Katie Dashwood, winners of the Epiony Riding Horse of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The 2021 SEIB Racehorse To Riding Horse champion returns to the show to secure the overall riding horse honours after heading the large class, with his owner Katie Dashwood in the saddle.
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5. Chantilly Sandman
CHANTILLY SANDMAN, exhibited by Jayne Ross, winners of The Leeman Family Maxi Cob of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Jayne Ross wins her second title of HOYS 2023 riding Jo Baker’s maxi contender, who has been reserve here in previous years.
6. Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN exhibited by Simon Reynolds, winners of The Harrod and Coles Family Cob of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Simon Reynold’s secures the lightweight honours and the overall cob title riding Rowena Stephenson’s reigning Royal International cob champion.
7. MHS Morning Master
MHS MORNING MASTER, exhibited by Robert Walker winners of Catplant Group of Companies Ltd. Show Hunter Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Robert Walker and Jill Day’s eight-year-old lightweight, in-hand horse champion at HOYS back in 2018, reign in the hunter championship on the gelding’s first appearance at the NEC under-saddle.
8. Shanbally Legacy
Shanbally Legacy, exhibited by Claire Oliver, winners of the Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
For the second year on the bounce, Claire Oliver and her Pride Of Neath 11-year-old dominate the small hunter final.
9. Bellvue Tomboy
Bellevue Tomboy, exhibited by Matthew Cooper winners of the Sport Horse Breeding of GB Working Hunter of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Matt Cooper jumps one of six clears to triumph in the horse working hunter final with his consistent gelding.
10. KBF Lucia
KBF Lucia, exhibited by Jayne Ross winners of the Mears Flooring Ladies Side Saddle Horse of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Lucy Cameron’s six-year-old mare, ridden by Jayne Ross, adds more titles to her ever-growing tally, including the ladies’ side-saddle crown, the non-native plaited coloured horse accolade and the reserve coloured horse of the year.
11. Batley Pepper Gray
(Image credit: Henry Kinchin)
Richard Bedford’s three-year-old filly Batley Pepper Gray dazzles under the lights to lift the Shire horse of the year championship.
12. Rosemore Midnight Rendezvous
(Image credit: Henry Kinchin)
Jane O’Keeffe’s nine-year-old gelding is crowned small riding horse of the year under Justine Armstrong Small, who took the supreme title here in 2003 with Zin Zan.
13. Randalstown Cromwell
(Image credit: Henry Kinchin)
Top of the heavyweight cobs is Debbie Harrod’s nine-year-old, ridden by Ryan Anderson.
14. Bloomfield Eloquence
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Loraine Homer and Liz Prowting’s 2021 middleweight winner and reserve hunter of the year repeat the exact same results two years later.
15. Manhatten
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Harriet Dennison posts a first HOYS win in horse ranks riding Team Helliwell’s Kilvington Scoundrel six-year-old.
16. Forgeland Hyde Park
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Guy Mears’ 12-year-old gelding, another by Kilvington Scoundrel, wins his third hack of the year title en route to standing supreme horse, piloted by Danielle Heath.
17. Ujenik Extasys Fine Design
(Image credit: Emily Arundale)
The 12-year-old stallion gives Hannah Bradley her third miniature horse of the year championship.
18. Cipriana
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Jade Hateley takes her first ridden pure-bred Arab title on the horse she finished reserve here with 12 months ago.
19. Dublins Street Fighter
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Matt Ainsworth and Sue Hookham’s gelding take glory in the heavyweight show hunter of the year final for the second time as a partnership.
20. Reality Bites
Reality Bites, exhibited by Laura Tylor winners of the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 4 -8 th October 2023
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Laura Tylor and her own home-produced gelding lead the SEIB Racehorse To Riding Horse field on their first Birmingham visit.
Liked reading about the HOYS 2023 showing classes? You may also be interested to read…
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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.
