Harriet Wood has qualified for the miniature horse of the year final with her own Summerrose Little Hawk (Jasper).
Harriet’s first ever miniature horse, Sol, was bought in 2016 and Jasper was purchased soon after, becoming a multi-breed and county show supreme champion.
In April 2018, Harriet found Sol in his stable covered in blood after man had broken into this stable and stabbed him 16 times.
“I was beyond heartbroken,” Harriet says. “It really was touch and go, but against all the odds, he survived.
“I felt like my dreams of competing at HOYS were probably over, but my family encouraged me to take Jasper to the The British Miniature Horse Society (BMHS) star seeker final where he won his hardshipping rights, passing with 100%.
“I started to show him with BMHS and the following year Jasper qualified for HOYS.”
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However, Harriet’s first trip to HOYS in 2019 was clouded by the fact that Sol’s crown court trial took place on the day of the miniature horse final.
She continues: “I spent the morning in court, and had phone calls from the police right up until my class. It was heartbreaking that this crime had taken so much from me and was also taking my HOYS experience. Although HOYS was amazing, it was very hard to keep my mind off Sol and it made the day very difficult.
“Sol’s case came to an end over winter and during lockdown, I concentrated on Jasper, with the aim of having my day at HOYS with nothing to distract me. We have worked as a team and this year Jasper has exceeded our expectations and was crowned gelding champion and overall reserve supreme at the Royal International, and qualified for HOYS again.
“This year’s show will be very special as I will be able to enjoy being there with Jasper who will also be showing for Sol as well as my cousin, Mel, who sadly passed away from Covid earlier this year. She was one of my biggest supporters. We talked a lot about my goals for Jasper. I’m so excited to be at the world’s best horse show with the world’s best horse. Jasper is truly the horse of a lifetime.”
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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.
