I’ve collated your need-to-know information for the 2026 HOYS show horse qualifiers, which includes hunters, hacks, riding horses, cobs, and working hunters in one place.

Negotiating where to go to secure Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifications for your horses is no mean feat, and I know first-hand how hard it is to find qualifier details and keep on top of planning your season, so this should help make it easier.

While the HOYS showing qualifiers list has been announced for 2026, the some fixtures are still confirming their judges. So I’m frequently updating this page with all the new details as they are released so it can be your one-stop-shop for planning your qualification.

2026 HOYS show horse qualifiers

• The Harrod & Coles Family Cob of the Year
• The Andrews Family Hack of the Year
• The Leeman Family Maxi Cob of the Year
• NeedleSmart, John Illingworth and Cliff Kirby Ridden Purebred Arab of the Year
• Alan Marnie & Family Riding Horse of the Year
• The Mears-Wood Family Ladies’ Side Saddle Horse of the Year
• Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year
• Catplant Group of Companies Ltd. Show Hunter of the Year
• Alan Marnie & Family (Meta Lounge Limited and SHB (GB)) Working Hunter of the Year

The Harrod & Coles Family Cob of the Year

These qualifiers are for both the lightweight and heavyweight cob sections.

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The Andrews Family Hack of the Year

These qualifiers for the hack classes are for both small and large sections.

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The Leeman Family Maxi Cob of the Year

If you are viewing this table on a mobile, swipe left for more info

NeedleSmart, John Illingworth and Cliff Kirby Ridden Purebred Arab of the Year

If you are viewing this table on a mobile, swipe left for more info

Alan Marnie & Family Riding Horse of the Year

These qualifiers are for both sections of riding horse.

If you are viewing this table on a mobile, swipe left for more info

The Mears-Wood Family Ladies’ Side Saddle Horse of the Year

If you are viewing this table on a mobile, swipe left for more info

Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year

If you are viewing this table on a mobile, swipe left for more info

Catplant Group of Companies Ltd. Show Hunter of the Year

These qualifiers are for all three weights sections of show hunter.

If you are viewing this table on a mobile, swipe left for more info

Alan Marnie & Family (Meta Lounge Limited and SHB (GB)) Working Hunter of the Year

Below is the information for all working hunter qualifiers.

If you are viewing this table on a mobile, swipe left for more info

• For all your need-to-know information for other 2026 HOYS qualifiers, plus more expert showing advice from top riders and updates on shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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If you have an Arabian horse or a part-bred pony qualified for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) it’s time to take notes, as 2025 HOYS judge David Bennett gives insight into his background in showing, and what he’ll be looking for in the ring.

Meet 2025 HOYS judge David Bennett

David successfully juggles working full-time as a paramedic with producing a mixture of horses and ponies for the show-ring, with help from his sister Amy who is a full-time P.E. teacher.

“It could be I’m working two days in the week and it could be I’m working five,” says David of the juggle. “It just depends on the shift rota.”

Although his mother did have ponies as a child, David’s parents are not horsey, and he admits he has “no idea” where the initial interest in horses hails from.

He explains: “I broke my leg when I was eight, and while I was in hospital, I refused to take my medication. In order to persuade me, my dad said if I took them, I could do whatever I wanted. And what I wanted was to go riding. That’s where it started.”

His first pony was a “working hunter pony” type, kicking off an interest in workers.

“From that, I did a bit of showjumping and went to work for David Bowen when I was 18 working with his showjumpers.

“Then I had another worker – Country Blue Moon – and people told me he was good enough to show, so it went from there. People started asking me to ride their show horses and it spiralled.”

Now, David’s production enterprise is based at Sharon Howarth’s Carrhouse Stud near Preston, and he considers winning the large hacks at HOYS astride Carrhouse Hidden Asset last term as a showing career highlight.

Other highs include multiple wins at Royal Windsor and at the Royal International – he stood reserve at both this season.

Although this is David’s first year judging at HOYS, David is an accomplished judge, having officiated at most of the UK’s leading fixtures, including Royal Windsor, and has judged in South Africa and Australia.

“But the biggest highlight so far would probably be at Windsor, where I rode the late Queen’s horse and had the honour of meeting her,” he says.

David sits on a string of judging panels including the British Skewbald and Piebald Association (BSPA), Coloured Horse and Pony Society (CHAPS), Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), Sport Horse Breeding (SHB (GB)), the Arab Horse Society and heavy horse panels.

What will HOYS judge David Bennett be looking for in the ring, starting with the part-bred ponies?

David will be assessing the conformation phase of the part-bred pony of the year final, while co-judge Clare Dew will be assessing the ride.

“I like to see ponies that look like they want to be there,” says David. “I don’t like them to look flat, and I certainly don’t want them to look fat, either. No fat ponies.

“I also like ponies to be very elegant, and to float along being good movers,” he says. “And they need to have plenty of good quality bone, too.”

As for pet hates?

“The thing that I hate the most is when riders stand up a horse or pony looking flat and like they don’t want to be there. I like a horse or pony to have presence, and to be stood up properly.

What will David be looking for in the Arabian horse of the year class?

For this class, David will be switching his suit for his riding gear and assessing each horse from the saddle.

In the initial go-round, David wants to see a horse going forwards correctly.

“I don’t like to see riders see-sawing on mouths or kicking too much,” says David.

Once on board, he’ll be looking for a horse that is “light in the hand, and forwards. I don’t like them when they’re too lazy.”

Again, movement is important.

“I also like them to really travel and cover the ground – a good mover.”

Overall, he’s looking for “presence, elegance and a little bit of wow factor”.

“I want everything to look easy and effortless,” he concludes.

Any advice for HOYS first-timers?

“If you’re going there for the first time, definitely enjoy it and don’t get stressed about it,” says David. “Even though it’s such a prestigious show, you’ve got to pretend it’s just any other show, otherwise you don’t enjoy it, and then it’s over before you know it.

“And even if it’s your first time, I always think you’ve got to enter the ring like you’re going to win it. As a judge, when you’re in the middle, someone who walks in riding like they are going to win, with their horse marching grabs your attention right away. If you come in head down looking nervous, it looks like you don’t want to be there. Go for it.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

An action-packed week for Francoise Babington and her own chestnut mare Scarlet Ribbons (J-Lo) ended in style as they claimed the Alan Marni Meta Lounge Ltd supreme amateur hunter championship at the Agria Royal International Horse Show.

The 11-year-old lightweight hunter and Francoise had topped the amateur lightweight final en route to the overall supreme; J-Lo, by Wish Upon A Star out of Javelin, has had a successful week.

”

Francoise explained: “We were sixth in the lightweights on Thursday, third in the ladies’ side-saddle, and then we jumped the worker course at 7.30 this morning.”

Francoise, who returned to showing six years ago after time away from the sport, was thrilled to win this prestigious title.

“I’ve been in the show ring since I was small. I took some time out and did a bit of racing, rode as an amateur for a while, then stepped away completely to focus on family and the business. I came back about six years ago and actually won this class two years ago on my other horse, Seabourne Silent Valley.”

She added: “We call her J-Lo because she’s very sassy, but she just loves showing off. To have her and be able to take this win, doing her from home, is just so special.”

Eventer turns to showing

In the Irish Horse Board home-produced amateur hunter championship, victory went to Constantine, a 12-year-old bay small hunter owned and ridden by Pretoria Lee.

“He’s 12 now,” said Pretoria, who bought him two years ago. “I’m an eventer, but I thought I’d have a go at showing, and I couldn’t have a better horse to do it on.”

She noted the contrast between the disciplines “It’s a challenge not having set times, but it’s so much more family-orientated; I can bring everyone with me. It’s a different discipline with its own challenges, but days like this make it all worthwhile.”

She added: “I’ve just had the most wonderful day. The dream was to win here. The next goal is to qualify for [Horse of the Year Show] HOYS.”

Both the reserve supreme amateur and reserve home-produced accolades went to Red Rhythm, a 10-year-old bay gelding by Penmerryls Rhythm and Blues out of Princess Diana, owned and ridden by Lucinda Martin.

“We’ve had the most phenomenal week,” said Lucinda. “He was fourth in the open heavyweights and absolutely shone. Then he was pulled top in his class and stayed there, and to go on and take both reserve titles is something else.”

Away from the ring, Lucinda has a full-time career: “I’m an interior designer and was just named one of Town & Country Magazine’s top 50 interior designers, so I’m having a dream week! Life is very busy and my mum looks after him, so I’m so lucky to have a horse this special, one in a million, and he shines when it matters.”

The pair recently qualified for HOYS at Stoneleigh.

“I think I’ll be competing on my birthday. We’ve also got the national hunter championships coming up, though I’m getting married in 13 days, so I need to fit in a quick mini-moon before we compete again!”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

If you’ve decided your horse or pony is destined for a career under the bright lights of the show ring, but you’re completely new to the discipline — or competitions in general — you’ve got an exciting yet challenging road ahead.

Here are 12 things you should do before you head to your first show this season:

1. Decide what class you’re going in

Not sure what weight your hunter is? Not sure if you’re horse is a novice or an open? Tackle this by studying rule books, reading society descriptions, getting out to shows on foot and speaking to professionals, who are usually more than happy to share their tips.

2. Join the right societies

There are several showing societies on offer. Ensure you pick the right one here.

3. Get your horse show fit

He’s not meant to look like he’s running in the Grand National, but he’s also not meant to look like he’s spent a bit too long enjoying that lush summer grass. Fit not fat is the key. Overly porky horses are usually penalised.

4. Practice a go-round

Cantering around with 30 other horses in a grass arena with potentially hundreds of spectators is a scary prospect for any novice rider, let alone a novice horse. If your horse is completely new to the ring, recruit some buddies to help you out at home. Practice riding past each other in all paces. If you’re required to gallop on the go-round, make sure your horse knows when to give it his all (and when to stop)!

5. Attend some showing clinics

The show scene usually has loads of clinics held by well-respected riders and trainers up and down the country throughout winter and spring. Heading out to a clinic held specifically by a showing expert can give you some extra insight into the performance requirements you will need on show day. It pays to get ahead.

6. Service your lorry

You’ll be clocking up some serious miles on your trips to shows, especially if you live in the north.

7. Invest in a statement jacket

Of course, the judge will (or should) be looking at your horse when you’re performing in the ring, but ensuring the rider looks the part can make a huge difference to the overall picture. Make sure you stand out for the crowd by picking a unique yet traditional tweed or competition jacket you maybe haven’t seen before. Also, make sure you’ve got the correct jodhpurs and boots.

8. Get your horse some decent pre-show gear

Even if you’re lucky enough to own a bay or black horse with minimal mane and feather, you’re wise to invest in some clothing that your horse only wears the night before an outing. A lyrca bodysuit can turn a clean coat into a gleaming coat and some leg wraps can help stop hay and shavings sticking to wet legs. And if your horse is grey, good luck to you…

9. Find a groom

Or several. Bribe friends to come and help you on show day with the promise of a free picnic and maybe some bubbles.

10. Keep an eye on closing dates

It’s all well and good starting out the new year with a diary packed with summer show dates, but if you miss the sometimes very early entry closing dates, you won’t be attending any of them. Most county shows have serious amounts of admin to get through so expect entries to shut about three or four months prior to the actual day of the show. Make planning a prerogative!

11. Know your judges

If you’re a complete newbie, it can be difficult to know who likes and dislikes your horse. Speak to others who have shown under a certain judge to see if you can gauge what they like to see and what pet hates they might have. Remember that even if a judge might not like a certain ‘type’ of animal, nailing your performance on the day could really boost your placing.

12. Don’t get discouraged

It can take a while to learn the ropes and get with the show ring programme. But stay positive — everyone has to start somewhere.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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

Breeding could be entering a new era after a gelding passed a Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB (GB)) stallion grading last month.

The 8-year-old PSH Overture was classified grade one. The studbook committee was due to meet on 29 April to decide whether to formally accept him. The results of that meeting have not yet been released.

Gary Power, of Power Sport Horses, had 150 straws of frozen semen (library picture top) collected from the promising Rhodium colt before gelding him. The stud has already bred a colt, PSH Twilight, and a filly, PSH Encore, from PSH Overture. Gary hopes that any future offspring will be eligible for full studbook papers.

“In the modern world, we now clone horses, do embryo transfers and use frozen semen — this has to be the way forward,” said Mr Power, who bred 8 colts that year (2008) and “had to make a decision which to keep entire”.

“Many people can’t keep and run stallions, and it’s not practical to use fresh semen from a horse who is competing or they don’t know what job they are doing.”

Mr Power has collected semen for freezing from his competition stallions every

few years and believes this is no different.

Vin Jones, chairman of SHB (GB)’s breeding committee, said the policy on grading geldings will be announced after the meeting on 29 April.

“I think it would be a useful tool for people who wish to compete their horses as geldings, but maintain their breeding potential,” he said.

“This could be especially important in eventing to allow the genetics of successful geldings to be available.”

SHB (GB)’s Marian Eydmann confirmed that the gelding was allowed to come forward for assessment at the grading on 18 March at Bury Farm, “on the understanding that there was no guarantee that he would be accepted as ‘graded’”.

The jury is out among British breeders. Some say it could be useful, as the UK doesn’t tend to run colts on as stallions due to expense and practicality compared with abroad, meaning some excellent British bloodlines are lost.

But others believe “licensing a gelding is not a fair gauge of temperament and presence”.

Breeder Sue Shore questioned “why a potential sire would not have been graded while still entire”.

Lynn Al-Redha, of Lynaire Sports Horses, said for those superstars who have missed out on breeding due to being cut early, the “option of cloning is always there.

“A stallion should be the only horse that attends a ‘stallion grading’,” she said.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine, 24 April, 14 issue

A disagreement over a controversial new hat safety rule has resulted in Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) hunter qualifiers classes no longer being run by Sports Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB(GB)).

All of this year’s qualifiers will now be run by British Show Horse Association (BSHA) and will only be open to its members.

The argument has come after SHB(GB) introduced a new rule for 2014 making it compulsory for all of its competitors to wear a skull cap or hat with safety harness at all times while mounted.

“The decision has been made following overwhelming requests from competitors and exhibitors to retain personal choice regarding headwear,” said a statement from HOYS.

“There are strong links to traditional attire and this has been expressed passionately by those who compete in these classes.

“A meeting was held between HOYS and SHB(GB) to discuss the conflict. Unfortunately, a compromise was unable to be reached.”

SHB(GB) has announced that it called an emergency council meeting as a result of the announcement by HOYS.

A statement from the society said: “HOYS has become involved in our internal policies and procedures concerning the running of HOYS Ridden Hunter qualifying classes and have subsequently transferred the administration to another society.

“This has caused a lot of heartache about a rule by which Horse of the Year Show’s own admission is likely to be enforced by legislation in the near future.

“SHB(GB) has the full backing of the Royal International Horse Show and already has the support of a significant number of affiliated shows throughout the country.”

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

Guy Landau and Finn McCool added yet another supreme title to their impressive list at the Sports Horse Breeding (GB) national championship show at Addington Manor.

Having already earned the ridden hunter tricolour, the winning lightweight Finn McCool was the choice of Tockie McKie and Nigel Wakley to stand overall supreme ridden.

“He went very well outdoors to win his class, and he’s risen to the occasion again for the evening supreme,” said Guy, who first spotted the Supreme Edge nine-year-old as a foal in Ireland.

It has been an amazing year for Guy and Finn McCool as over the past 12 months they have scooped the supreme ridden titles at the Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International.

Owner John Dunlop OBE was given double cause for celebration when his broodmare Little Alice took the broodmare tricolour. The following day, Little Alice put the icing on the cake by winning the Cuddy qualifier. The 11-year-old is by the TB sire Terimon, out of the well known mare Ballyard Bess, who was herself a Cuddy finalist in 1992.

Vanessa Ramm’s winning run from the 2008 hunter championships continued, as the Tynedale Hunt joint master secured the amateur championship riding Templebready Fear Not. The Irish-bred seven-year-old, who is produced by Katie Jerram, has registered three wins this term and he clinched a second win here in the small hunter class.

Katie Jerram took the ladies tricolour riding Azarax, and she took a further title with Woodfield Indo. The 2009 supreme ridden hunter at Dublin was making his debut on English soil, and he topped his lightweight class en-route to the five-year-old title.

Carol Bardo’s Knightsbridge Court claimed the four-year-old title, and Leon King rode Utah to take the novice championship.

Read H&H full report from the Sports Horse Breeding (GB) national championship show in 1 October issue

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

The five mares who received the highest marks across the Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain’s (SHB(GB)) 2006 gradings have each received a £500 service voucher. All other mares graded into the head studbook gained a £200 voucher.

Two of the top five are former eventers: Richard and Sarah Jewson’s former international campaigner Beat The Retreat and Sue Lanz’s Friday Feeling II. Both mares are by SHB(GB) graded stallions Queen’s Soldier and Matinee Du Madon and are hopefully in-foal to the graded stallions Mill Law and McGuigan.

Racing is represented by Zagala, a six-year-old mare by Polar Falcon owned by Colleen and Kerry Salmon. Following a successful career on the flat, Zagala will now retire to the paddocks.

Madonna 141, a Bavarian Warmblood owned by Maureen Nash, also gained a voucher. This mare was competed in dressage by Lizzie Murray up to prix st georges level. Last year, Madonna had a foal by Diamond Hit, but she will return to the dressage arena this season.

The fifth mare is the successful small show hunter Queens Walk, by Earl Cottage VII. Queens Walk won at Royal Windsor, East of England and South of England, twice at the Royal and Great Yorkshire and three times at the Royal International. Her showring career will hopefully continue as a broodmare in 2008.

SHB(GB) will again run a full programme of mare gradings around the country from August to October in 2007.

This year, £500 service vouchers will be awarded to the 10 mares with the highest marks, and all other mares who grade into the head studbook will again receive a £200 service voucher.

Don’t miss today’s sport horse special issue of Horse & Hound (8 February, ’07), which includes a guide to stallion gradings, interviews with top competitors turned breeders Mary King and Kyra Kurklund plus the Davies family, and a look at the continued popularity of coloured horses, on sale now.

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

Hard hats are now compulsory for judges of ridden hunter classes, including ladies’ classes. As of the start of this year, Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain’s (SHB(GB)) rules state: “Judges must wear a skull cap or hat and safety harness according to the current approved BSI or European standard.”

“The change of rule was for health and safety reasons,” explained Catherine Burdock, general secretary of SHB(GB).

The changes have angered members of the showing community, who feel the introduction of hard hats with three-point harnesses will ruin the traditional spectacle of ridden hunter classes, in particular ladies’ classes.

Lynn Russell, who has judged ladies’ hunter classes for the past 20 years, is outraged by the decision, stating: “I think it is dreadful — the dress code is part of English heritage and the changes will destroy the class from an elegance point of view.”

Russell feels wearing a hard hat will spoil the look of the traditional side-saddle habit.

“I’m very much a traditionalist and I’m vain, I like the look of the traditional dress, it’s very feminine,” she said, adding judges should have an opportunity to sign a disclaimer.

SHB (GB) considered extending the new rule to competitors as well as judges, but in the wake of negative feedback from members and consulting solicitors, decided it need apply only to judges and competitors under 18 (hats are strongly recommended for the over-18s).

SHB(GB) is aware the changes will meet with opposition, but remains determined judges should wear hard hats for insurance purposes.

“The downside of health and safety rules is that you risk losing tradition,” said Ms Burdock.

Showing producer and judge Robert Oliver said the changes were a shame for spectators, but “a sign of the times”, adding there was always a risk element when judges rode up to 60 unfamiliar horses at one time.

This story was published in full in today’s Horse & Hound (2 February, ’06)

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