The Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) held at the NEC (5 — 9 October) has wrapped up, and it was one of the best ever, with some stunning champions crowned across the week’s quality-filled showing classes.
If you’re not ready to come back down to earth after the show, or couldn’t be there in person this year, then check out these beautiful show animals who took to the centre line at HOYS 2022.
1. Briarhill Buddy Bolden
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Harriet Dennison rides Meg and Bridget Edmondson’s six-year-old gelding to the intermediate show hunter championship on his HOYS debut.
2. Shilstone Rocks Thunderbird
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For the second consecutive year, Brogan West’s Dartmoor lifts the mini M&M championship with jockey Willow West and handler John Harvey.
3. Skaergaardens Delicious Love
Skaergaardens Delicious Love
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The mare, a former HOYS winner under-saddle, wins the pony section of the Price Family in-hand supreme before taking section reserve with handler Scott Dixon who is leading her for owner Vanessa Clark.
4. Shildons Royal Affair
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Abbie Kirkbride, 18, scores the intermediate show riding type of the year championship.
5. Sharptor Kinsman
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David Hodge and Julian Walters’ home-bred stallion is reserve in the Price Family in-hand pony final.
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6. Warleigh Blushing Groom
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The 133cm show hunter pony wins the hunter pony tri-colour for his 10-year-old rider Daisy May Allen.
7. First Receiver
Horse no 538, 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 5 -9th October 2021
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The King’s five-year-old ex-racehorse, who was bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, takes the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse class for Katie Jerram-Hunnable.
8. Love Joy
Horse No 1179, 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 5 -9th October 2021
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Frazer Atherden steers his father-in-law’s lightweight cob to the overall cob championship.
9. Noble Peppermint
Horse No. 1125, winners of the Supreme Products Supreme Pony of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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The Ward family’s 133cm working hunter pony takes the pony worker tri-colour for the second time in her career before winning the HOYS 2022 supreme pony title with Elsie Lynch, 10.
10. Newoak Midnight Blue
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Naomi Bradwell’s four-year-old gelding trots to the lead rein hunter pony crown with Scarlett Smith, five, and producer Adam Forster.
11. Lovestruck
Horse No 1169, 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 5 -9th October 2021
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Rosemary Penn and Vicky Smith’s riding horse mare bows out from the show ring as she takes the Price Family in-hand supreme with Steve Pitt.
12. Griseburn Major
Horse No599, Winner of the National Pony Society/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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The five-year-old Dales stallion and Joe Watson enjoy their victory lap after scoring the ridden M&M pony of the year sash.
13. Acle Carousel
Horse No. 1577, winners of the Shire Horse of the Year Championship supported by the Shire Horse Society during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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Bryan Banham’s three-year-old filly Acle Carousel nets the Shire horse of the year championship with handler Henry Pattison.
14. Annandale Pheonix
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Maisie Peters and the winning 122cm are reserve for the overall show hunter pony championship.
15. Wot Perfection
Horse No. 1506, winners of the Coloured Horse and Pony of the Year Championship sponsored by CHAPS (UK) during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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Scottish showman Richard Telford rides Lindsay McCulloch’s plaited pony mare to go through the card and take the coloured supreme.
16. Westfield Calendar Girl
Horse No 1423, winners of the British Ridden Heavy Horse of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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Lindy Winship’s mare gives Emma Green a first HOYS ridden heavy horse victory.
17. Diamond Geezer
Horse No 1398, winners of the BSHA Riding Horse of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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Darren Crowe is in the saddle of his large riding horse en route to taking the section title.
18. Ardenhall Blenheim
Horse No 1259, winners of British Show Pony Society Children’s Riding Pony of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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The Harker’s consistent 128cm show pony gives her all under Lola Carabine, 10, to take the top spot in the children’s riding pony of the year championship.
19. Boheradurrow Fred
Horse No 1213, 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 5 -9th October 2021
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Polly Coles and her mother Debbie Harrod’s maxi cob delights the judges en route to the maxi crown.
20. Copybush Time Lord
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Reserve for the show pony championship is Emma Andrews’ winning 138cm and Harriet Storey.
21. View Point
Horse No. 1015, winners of the Supreme Products Supreme Horse of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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Robert Walker takes a fourth hunter championship with Jill Day’s lightweight contender, before winning their second HOYS supreme horse title in a row.
22. Joyton Sunshine
Horse No 965.Winner of the Thor Atkinson Steel Fabrications Ltd. Mountain & Moorland of the Year during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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Ella Eynon and Rebecca Faulkner’s Welsh section C make light of the M&M working hunter pony track to take the 133cm and the section sash.
23. Shanbally Legacy
Horse No 916, winner 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 5 -9th October 2021
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The small hunter is crowned champion with Claire Oliver for owner Susan Granger.
24. Ballinclare
Horse No 887, winner of the Culford Lodge Commodities Hack of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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Ami Miller’s large hack is top of the hack championship with her producer Jo Bates.
25. Greenholme Falcon
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The Fell pony gelding tops the M&M junior ridden championship with his rider Chantelle Chapman.
26. DPUK Nightdancer
DPUK Night Dancer
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The former HOYS ridden winner, who is owned by Ami Miller, is reserve horse in the Price Family in-hand final with James Knight.
27. Derw Dreamboy
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James Knipe leads his daughter, Millie, and their home-produced lead rein to the mini show pony title.
28. Little Joe
Horse no 566, LITTLE JOE ridden by Alice Homer winner of the Westown Stud Working Hunter of the Year Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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Alice Homer nets the horse working hunter accolade with her own gelding.
29. Herbie
Horse No 854, winners of the SEIB Search for a Star Championship during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 5 -9th October 2021
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Nurse Alex Windross scores the 2022 SEIB Search For A Star championship on her own riding horse.
30. Red Rock III
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Janay Leeman and the cob are reserve for the coloured championship, after also taking second in the open lightweight cobs the previous day.
31. Stanley Grange Gilt Edge
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The gelding wins both 148cm show pony and part-bred classes with Annabel Drake.
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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.
