Thistledown Wood Owl and Gracie-May Whitaker landed the supreme pony title at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

The charming Welsh section A mare was ridden by Gracie-May Whitaker, seven, – the latest of the jumping dynasty to win here – and led by her producer Craig Elenor, having won the mini mountain and moorland sash earlier in the week.

“I have never ever had a feeling like it,” said Gracie-May’s mother Michaela Whitaker through tears.

“Nothing will ever compare and I need to make the most of this moment because it's – I can’t stop crying – amazing. The pony, she is a mother's dream. She is so good. Just look at her now; she's falling asleep and she just wants cuddles and treats. I absolutely love her – she goes into that main arena and looks after my daughter.

“I've got no words to describe it, and I can't thank Craig and Sara enough because they’ve made not only my dream come true, but Gracie-May’s dream come true.”

Known at home as Birdie, the Thistledown Esteem six-year-old was initially sent to her producers by her breeder Sandy Anderson as a three-year-old, and has been produced by Craig and his partner Sara Parrot ever since.

Michaela bought her last autumn.

Sara, like Michaela, emphasised the young mare’s excellent temperament.

“She's just a dream,” said Sara. “She's easy. She loves it. She's been pretty straightforward and easy from day one. She knows her own mind and bosses the others in the field but once in the ring she's a dream to do.”

The Whitakers have a long association with this show, and the family turned out in force to watch Gracie-May.

“I turned around and literally the whole back row was just Whitaker,” said Michaela.

Michaela went on to comment on the positives of children competing in showing.

“It's just so great because it's a stepping stone to what's to come after, whether you're going to be a showjumper, eventer, dressage rider. It's the making of so many good riders and the confidence it gives these young riders…

“That's why Great Britain does so well, I think, on the teams because the children have such an amazing upbringing and so many opportunities on ponies.

“That's what makes these children amazing riders and able to deal with being under the pressure they do.”

They had no time to dwell further on the success as they needed to go to watch Gracie-May’s father George in the Grand Prix.

“I don’t actually know how he will concentrate jumping,” said Michaela. “Let’s hope for a double win!”

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Harlow White and King Bunowen Castle Ali took the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) junior mountain and moorland (M&M) crown in a one-two championship for Connemaras.

Second to the social media star was Lily Richardson riding another Connie, Hazelrock Twist.

Panda, as he is known at home and to fans, is owned by 15-year-old Harlow’s mum Chelsea White and took the open Connemara class here last year.

He will now retire from flat classes, and campaign the workers next year.

Chelsea said: “He is an absolute pony of a lifetime. I just can't describe what he means to us.

“A friend of mine said that it's like poetry in motion, and he is for her.

“She looks so lovely on him, and I'm just the proudest mum ever.”

Panda is a 10-year-old by Best Shadow Melody and out of Bunowen Castle Ellie. He was originally bought as a mother-daughter share.

“He's the whole family pony,” Chelsea said.

“My little boy rides him as well and everyone that can't ride, our friends, we put them on Panda because he's just so safe. He's totally bombproof.”

At home, she said, the gelding loves jumping, and is competing in a hunter trial next weekend.

“He loves his hacking. He loves going zoomies,” she said.

“He just loves just having fun and going down the beach. He is a true Connie.”

A “mega pony” reserve to Harlow White at HOYS

Lily Richardson was reserve on the 10-year-old mare, known as Emily at home.

She is usually ridden by Sue Deacon, and owned by Clare Flynn in Ireland.

Sue said: “It’s the first time Lily has ridden her here.

“She’s a mega pony. Her owners have flown over, her breeders have flown over – everyone’s come to see her.”

Sue won the open Connemaras with Emily at Royal International Horse Show this year.

She added: “She’s a little bit sensitive.

“She doesn't really like being inside as much - she likes big rings.”

Also in the championship was Heniarth Stand Up and Posy Lindsay.

Affectionately known as Stan, the Welsh section B won the junior small breed class.

Second to him was Tromps Sugar Rush with Lara Rae Jones, who was also second in the open As with Sam Roberts.

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Tandridge State Affair has been crowned show pony champion at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), giving his 15-year-old rider her second tricolour in two days.

Florrie Duncalf rode “Bella” to success in the 148cm class, then strutted under the spotlights in the Andrew Bowens arena.

It came a day after the rider won the working hunter pony championship in the same ring.

Bella is owned and bred by Joanna Adams and is produced by Harrison Taylor.

Florrie said: “With her, I was just thinking I’ll give her a nice time, because she’s never been here before.

“It feels insane. I didn’t expect her to win, or my worker either.

“I wanted them both to have a nice time, but for her to go in there and behave like she did as a novice is unbelievable.”

Florrie had to make a quick dash out the intermediates to make it in time for the championship, and was seen trotting out of the collecting ring after the lap of honour on sixth-placed New Illusion.

“It was worth it!” she said.

After producing a clear round through a tough course to win the 143cm class, Florrie and Star Smokey were crowned working hunter pony champions.

Now a seven-year-old, show pony Bella has been a slow-maturing mare and is in her first full season.

It has been a successful one, including winning the part-bred championship and reserve champion novice at Royal Windsor.

Harrison, who also won a championship sash this week on coloured mare Lostock Up Till Dark, said: “It’s incredible. I can’t believe it.

“I’ve had her for 18 months. She was quite tricky, but everything has just clicked with her and now she’s becoming really easy.”

Bella will eventually go back to her breeder as a brood mare, but will continue to campaign the ridden classes next season.

Reserve champion for the second consecutive year went to the 138cm winner, Stanley Grange Crescendo.

An eight-year-old, he is owned by Victoria Harker and bred by Jerome Harforth.

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Tidy Town has become the first small hunter in more than 40 years to take the supreme horse title at 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Surprised would be an understatement to describe the emotions of rider Alice Homer when she was called forward as the champion in the Andrews Bowen International arena.

Her former eventer pulled off an outstanding gallop in the main ring following a show piece in the pre-judging that impressed guest judge Laura Collett.

She said: “He means everything to me.

“You dream for a lifetime to find one horse like him. I just can’t believe I was lucky enough for him to come to me.”

“Guinness” has been a fantastic all-rounder for Alice, and also competes in working hunters alongside the flat classes.

The 10-year-old gelding is owned by Loraine Homer, and was found by Alice’s grandfather David Tatlow as a foal for a family friend.

He went on to compete in eventing but did not grow tall enough, so came back for Alice to show.

Unfortunately, Mr Tatlow was at home this weekend, so did not see the horse he sourced take the supreme with his granddaughter in the saddle.

“He’s such an incredible man and I really wish he was here tonight,” Alice said.

“He’ll be so pleased. He had so much success himself, he got so much success for Mum and now for me with finding these incredible horses. I’m just beyond lucky.”

The only other small hunter to take the supreme at HOYS was the Van Praagh family's Macbeth, who won in 1985 with Allister Hood.

Alice performed a superb show in front of judges Laura Collett and Edwin Prosser.

It included one-handed canter transitions on a straight line and walk-to-canter transitions.

Once in the Andrews Bowen arena, the combination pulled off an impressive, powerful extension, which rivalled the bigger horses in a quality line-up.

“I just had nothing to lose,” Alice said. “I thought, ‘Well, if I can’t win the supreme, I might win the fastest gallop’.

“I imagine the judges thought, ‘you’d cross country pretty well on that horse’!”

Alice described Guinness as a cheeky character, adding that he had a moment in the collecting ring before he went in and took the title.

“He actually tried to bite one of the fellow supreme competitors!” she said.

“It was the heavy horse as well, and I thought, ‘I’m not sure you want to take that on’.”

At home, Alice and Guinness enjoy hacking and “pretty much anything other than going in the school”.

Guinness is an Irish Sports Horse, and he qualified for HOYS this year at Staffordshire County Show.

Previous wins on his CV include five victories at Hickstead’s Royal International, including three in the smalls and two in the intermediate hunter ranks, which he has also won here.

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KBF Le Paradis (Mira), with a rider who had only sat on her three times, and former Price Family reserve supreme Scottshall Aristocrat took the hunter and show horse intermediate championships respectively at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Kinvara Garner says she feels “very lucky” to have the ride on Mira, who is out of HOYS winner CSF Cummer Paradise.

The five-year-old is owned and was bred by Tony Reynolds and Michael Cook.

Kinvara qualified her on a chance ride at the British Show Horse Association National Championship Show, which was her first time riding Mira.

Since then, she had had one practice ride at producer Jayne Ross’s yard, before she took up the reins here.

“Team Ross do all the work,” said Kinvara. “I just turned up and got on, so thank you to them because this mare is seriously special. Her breeders breed amazing horses.”

Mira also competes in the small hunter classes with Jayne, and Kinvara said she is a lovely, straightforward ride.

“She is gorgeous to ride. She’s very powerful,” she said. “You don’t really have too much of a contact – you let her do her thing. She’s pretty straightforward for a baby.”

Second in the hunters was Isabella Mason riding Ashlea’s The Banker, a five-year-old gelding.

Isabella said “Banksy”, owned by Shirley Dennison, gave her a lovely ride.

“He loves the job and he always tries really hard,” she said.

Intermediate show horse of the year

The winner of the intermediate show horse of the year was Scottshall Aristocrat (Reggie), ridden by Ellis Taverner-Burns.

Also a five-year-old, the gelding was bred by Johanna Foster and was reserve Price family in-hand champion here as a three-year-old.

He is produced by John Havey, who said: “For him to have won as a three-year-old in hand and then come back two years later and win, the first time he’s competed here under saddle, is incredible.”

It is Reggie’s first ridden season, and he also competed in the large hack class earlier in the week, finishing sixth.

Ellis said: “It was a complete shock. We had no expectations.

“He’s playful. He likes to nibble and he likes his treats, but he’s a very good boy.

“He’s lovely to ride. He just takes you round.”

Second to the combination was the 2023 winner, Poppy Carter riding Danni Radford’s Ladies Man.

Another Jayne Ross-produced horse, he also won the small riding horse class with Jayne Ross today.

Poppy said: “He went absolutely mega. He just gives his all every single time.”

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Seywoods Royal Dancer, a four-year-old stallion, has taken the prestigious Price Family supreme in-hand championship at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Led by Simon Charlesworth, and said to be the “best he’s ever shown”, he was bought from James and Christie Hunton by Carolyn Campbell from a video.

She said: “I had no intention of buying another one.

“When I saw the video, I fell in love with him. Simon rang James, they had a chat about him – deal done.”

“Ralph” is a British riding pony out of Colbeach Duet, who was champion part-bred Arab at HOYS in 2014, and by the prolific stallion Turberry Top Cat.

He is lightly campaigned, narrowly missing out on his ticket with two reserves last term.

At home, producer Simon said, the young stallion can sometimes be a handful.

“His days revolve around wrecking a jolly ball or anything he can get hold of,” he explained.

“He’s full steam. But he’s kind, and he just loves the job – a bit too much sometimes!”

Ralph is a full brother to today’s winning 138cm show pony and reserve champion, Stanley Grange Crescendo.

He has a star-studded pedigree, his granddam Colbeach Serenade qualified for the Price final as a yearling.

Simon added: “I think he’s one of the best I’ve ever shown.

“I think he’s the best I’ve ever brought here in terms of the way he looks. He’s matured a lot over summer.

“His coat has been unbelievable. Obviously the weather’s probably helped.

“I just thought physically, he’s come here looking better than anything I think I’ve ever brought.”

Ralph may soon have stock on the ground, as he is going for AI collections at the end of the month.

The championship followed a new format this year; all the horses were judged in the TopSpec arena, later going for the results and presentation under the spotlights in the international arena.

All the exhibits walked in together, then the colts and stallions went out while the mares were judged, and came back in for their turn.

Simon says he is “in two minds” about how the new process works, explaining that for him, there were too many horses during the preliminary judging in the Top Spec Arena.

“I’m not against the idea, though, because with everyone going in there at night, hopefully more people will see it and that might encourage people to do it, which can only be a good thing, can’t it?”

An emotional occasion

Reserve to Simon went to another plaited entrant, Billy Moran’s homebred Tiger Feet II and Tom Pearson, on the sport horse’s second appearance here.

“I am delighted,” said an emotional Billy. “I lost my wife Joanne last year, and she asked me to keep him till he was three as she thought he would be our next home-bred to do well in the Price, so I did what she wished.”

He’s out of Tiger Trap – a full sister to Billy’s prolific Tiger Attack, who showed and was lightly evented – and by pony stallion Stanley Grange Regal Heights.

“I used him because I wanted to breed a small riding horse, but I ended up with a large riding horse,” said Billy, “but that doesn’t matter.”

It’s been some year for the future large riding horse type; he’s been awarded elite status with British Futurity, and he’s been champion every time out, including standing supreme in-hand at Bramham Horse Trials.

He qualified for the Price at New Forest and Hampshire Show, after impressing judge William Fox-Pitt, and further attracting interest from the eventing world for him, though Billy said that nothing has been properly decided for him yet, beyond that he will be aimed at either ridden showing or eventing next year.

Third place went to Achillty Miss Isabella, a Trakehner filly owned by David Shand and showed by his grandson Hunter Macdonald.

Fourth was Inglehow Russian Star shown by David Russel and fifth was Llanarth Moses Jones owned and handled by Simon Bigley.

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Carters Top Gun impressed the judges to defend his Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) cob championship despite finishing second in his class.

Producer Oliver Hood said he just wanted to have a nice time in the Andrews Bowen International arena, but ended up coming out with the sash with the nine-year-old gelding, owned by Catherine Dickens.

He said: “He went fantastic this morning, and I just thought I was going to go in there and enjoy it tonight.

“I thought, ‘There’s no pressure, I’ll show him off to the best I can and you never know’.

“It’s not often you can pull it off, but he’s been great tonight.”

Olli says the heavyweight has not been out of the top two all season.

His extensive CV includes champion at the Royal International Horse Show in 2024 and two championships at the Hickstead Derby.

He was also cob champion here last year, and thinks his second placing may have helped him clinch the title again.

“To be second, you go in there with a little less pressure,” he said.

“I really just had fun with him tonight. He always knows when it’s the big occasion and turns it on.”

Reserve in the cob championship was the winner of the lightweight class, Norman Commander, ridden by Jayne Ross.

The six-year-old gelding is owned by Alison Tate.

She said: “It’s his first season, he’s not done many shows.

“He was thrown in at the deepend in the HOYS at Three Counties. Then to qualify at Great Yorkshire was the best and we came here not expecting a lot because he’s a baby really.”

Alison bought him in December from Magnus and Kate Nicholson.

He will now do some hunting over winter, as he is proving to have a great jump and may make an appearance over fences next term with Team Ross member Olivia Minihane.

Also in the championship was Will Morton, who pipped Oli in the heavyweights with Valerie Hosegood’s Banview So Smart.

Second in the lightweight class was Brian Murphy riding Polly Coles’ Mythical Creature.

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Thistledown Wood Owl has carried her young jockey Gracie-May Whitaker, of the famous jumping dynasty, to victory at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

“Birdie” – owned by Gracie-May’s grandfather Martin Wood – and Gracie-May first won the Welsh lead-rein class, then took the overall mini mountain and moorland (M&M) championship, led by her producer Craig Elenor.

The confident seven-year-old rider – who also follows in the family footsteps in jumping – has moved on to first ridden classes, so this was their last show together.

Gracie-May’s mother Michaela Marie Whitaker said: “The mare is unbelievable. It's her first season on the lead and she won two qualifiers. She's a lovely stamp, a lovely mare and we've actually just sold her, so this is Gracie's last ride on her.

“I've won HOYS eight times myself in showing, but nothing compares to this win. This win is unreal.”

Birdie has gone from strength to strength this season, having kicked off her 2026 campaign with the novice tricolour at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) winter championships.

The reserve sash went to Walter Ashworth riding his mother Lucinda Craven's Dolhelfa Brenin Aur.

When they are not giving a polished performance in the show ring, this pair can often be found galloping round fields at home.

Lucinda said: "We bought him unseen from the Isle of Wight as a two-year-old colt in view for Walter's first ridden pony. I loved his limb and his frame.

“We were here last year on the lead; this is his first year as an open first ridden.”

Walter backed the now six-year-old himself and has brought him on slowly.

“They suit each other. They're a little team,” Lucinda said.

Of his HOYS win, Walter added: “It felt spectacular.”

Second to the eventual champion in the Welsh lead reins was Olivia Marsh with Dean Marsh's Thistledown Detroit-City, led by Sharn Linney.

The non-Welsh lead rein was won by Westown Wild Storm and Naomi Lear, led by John Harvey, ahead of Newoak Rocketman ridden by Charlotte Gough.

Second in a huge first ridden class was Charlotte Knight on her mother Jamie Clarke’s Thistledown Princess Letizia, recently crowned supreme mini at the BSPS Heritage championships.

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Star Smokey, a superstar Connemara, has made his young rider’s dreams come true by winning the working hunter pony championship at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

“Colin” won the 143cm division with jockey Florence Duncalf earlier in the day.

He cleared a tough, full-up track which caught a fair few combinations out through the day.

The 16-year-old gelding owned by Laura Wheelwright was expertly ridden by 15-year-old Florence.

Florence, who has been riding Colin for four seasons, said: “He's just amazing. He's done everything I've asked him to do. He's won all the big titles now.”

The pair have won the British Show Pony Society's Desert Orchid championship class, the Royal International (RIHS) and have now added HOYS to their CV.

“He’s my life. If I didn't have him, it wouldn't be the same; I could do this on another horse and it still wouldn't be the same, because he's just so special.”

Although he is a forward competition pony in the ring, Colin has a gentle nature at home.

“My brother, he's eight, has very severe additional needs and he leads him in from the field and back to the field. His stable manners are very nice,” Florence said.

“He's so lovely on the ground, and that's another thing that makes him so special because he can do this job for me and then can do that for my brother.”

Colin will now have a break and some winter showjumping before next season.

It’s a kind of magic

Reserve to Florence in the championship was Ami Conchie aboard her own A Kind Of Magic JVH Z.

The 14-year-old gelding by Armstrong VD Kape – who has no front teeth as they had to be removed – produced a great clear round.

“I’m over the moon,” said Ami. “It’s our first big win together, so to go reserve is even better.

“I was first in to go [in the jumping] so the pressure was on, but it was a nice flowing course.”

The pair are based just outside Dundee in Scotland, and this is not the first time they have made the eight-hour journey to HOYS.

After things didn’t quite go to plan in their first year, they finished a respectable eighth last year before pulling out all the stops today.

They qualified at the Royal Highland around a tough Graham Barclay track. Ballyvary Patsy and rider Indie McKeand also qualified there and won their 153cm division ahead of second-placed Dunmore Star, ridden by Izzy Hartswood-Collier.

It was a championship full of legendary ponies, including former supreme winner Noble Peppermint.

The 16-year-old mare was ridden by Connie Hutton and was second in the 133cm class.

Ahead of them was Nancy Lyons Teehan and her mother Louise Lyons’ Dartans Seoda Ban who managed to fend off all competition and successfully defend their 2025 title.

Nancy said: “I can’t explain it. It was unbelievable.”

Lola Carabine and Lady Dublin Of Corderry were second in the 143cm class equalling their position in the mountain and moorland working hunter division.

Second to the eventual reserve in the intermediates was Eridon Echo, a skewbald mare owned by Helen Newman-Moore and ridden by Lottie Newman-Moore.

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Pandoras Conquistadors Bvlgari, a “cheeky” 73cm tall stallion, topped the American miniature horse championship class at the 2026 Horse of The Year Show (HOYS).

“Bo” was shown to the title by his owner Emma Armitage.

He is no stranger to success, being multi-garlanded, and this year took championships at the Royal Welsh and the Devon County Show.

A win at HOYS was last on the list for Emma, who has won here previously with a British miniature horse.

She said: “I’m elated. “He has won every title in the UK and this is just the icing on the cake. It’s what we’ve always wanted to do together and we’ve done it.”

Emma picked out Bo after seeing him “float around the arena” as a five-month-old foal.

The Covergilrs Boleros El Conquistadors seven-year-old was bred by Emma Williams, and is a working stallion.

“He has one on the ground, and three due next year,” said Emma, who has had pint-sized ponies for “as long as she can remember”, and who says she loves the breed for their personality.

“They are little, but they have so much love to give you, and you can have as much fun as with a big horse,” she said.

“He loves to show. He’s cheeky, naughty, but as soon as he goes in the ring he just does his job.

“He absolutely loved it in there. As soon as he’s got a sash on, he’s like, ‘I’m going’.”

Second in the class was Adele Is A Superstar, a mare by McCarthys Storm Warning.

The piebald is owned by Nicola Trigg and shown in the ring by Charlotte Trigg.

She was bought by them as a filly, and is now five.

They say Adele is the “sweetest mare” who “always gives her best no matter what”.

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Lostock Up Till Dark oozed presence and quality to land the coloured horse and pony of the year championship sponsored by CHAPS (UK) at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) before judges Stephanie Barrington and Julie Templeton.

Owned by her breeder Caroline Hamilton, seven-year-old “Susie” was ridden by her producer Harrison Taylor to the title; the pair went one better than last year to land the non-native pony division.

Bred in the purple, Susie is the last born of an exceptional pairing. She is out of prolific ridden mare Up-To-D, and by Lostock Huntsman, who was the first coloured champion here in 1998, and winner of the Kellythorpes leading coloured sire award at HOYS in 2021.

“I’m very pleased for the mare,” said Caroline, who intends to breed from Susie when she’s finished her ridden career. “She’s very special and the easiest person to deal with, which is unusual because sometimes when they’re this special they’re a bit quirky but she’s not.”

Harrison echoed her sentiments.

“She’s just the easiest, nicest horse I've ever had; I just love her.”

Aside from her easy disposition, it’s little wonder the Cheshire-based producer is so fond of her, as she’s notched a string of stellar results, with back-to-back supreme coloured titles at the Royal International, and a win and reserve this term at Windsor.

“She's done all our favourite three. She loves an occasion. She loved the atmosphere in there tonight, she really got up and went this evening,” said Harrison.

The Boss lived up to his name to steal the show in the coloured ridden native/cob/traditional pony of the year sponsored by CHAPS (UK)/ The White Crow and then stand reserve champion, much to the delight of his owner Loren Gaskin.

This incredible 18-year-old has qualified for HOYS five years on the trot. He has finished seventh and 11th before, so today’s spoils meant everything to his connections.

“My granddad bought him when he was two,” said Loren. “We do everything with him, he’s a pet really.”

The blue and white stallion made Loren work for her result though.

“He's had two baths today. Last night he was clean, and then we did the working in, and he looked like he'd been playing out in the field!” she said.

“I’m still on cloud nine from the class win. I wasn’t expecting it. Being home produced, it's hard. Every class is strong but the hairy pony class is very strong. But he felt incredible today,” said Loren, who was planning to celebrate with a Chinese.

Also in the championship were Stephanie Fitt’s home-bred 2023 champion Castra, ridden by Oscar Elcock to win the junior division.

Diane Stennett and Lucy Cameron’s 2025 champion and supreme horse KBF Lucia won her second class of the week – the non-native horse – with Jayne Ross in the saddle. The pair landed the ladies’ show horse class on the show’s opening morning.

Just as Will Morton thought his week couldn’t get better his ride, Bannview So Smart, owned by Valerie Hosegood gave him another centre line moment in the coloured native/ cob/ traditional horse class.

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Full Cry III and Robert Walker land what is believed to be owner Jill Day’s 10th hunter title at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Balou Du Rourt seven-year-old “Billy”, winner of the middleweights, has had a stellar start to his career, with sashes at Great Yorkshire and Royal International to his name this term, as well as the novice hunter spoils at Royal Windsor as a four-year-old.

“He’s a special horse,” said Robert. “Last year probably would have been too soon for him. We had time to wait for him.

“I like to come here with a horse that can possibly win it not once but twice, three times, four times, five and that's how I look at it. One-hit wonders don't tend to last.”

Although he has won the championship so many times, Rob says it does not get any less special.

“Each year there becomes more anxiety leading up to the show,” he explained. “Before, when you hadn't had a winner here, it was a case of you come and try your best.

“But actually when you've been successful here, it's wanting to try and win again.”

He says the clever gelding has a forward-thinking, trainable attitude, adding: “He learns things so easily.

“He's bred to be an amazing sports horse. He finds everything way too easy. It’s just a case of just teaching him and then putting him away and going for a hack, then going back again.”

Rob Walker pipped his partner Sarah on Crystal Cove II to second in the middleweights.

Speaking after her class, she said “Fishy” is “like a pair of old slippers”, and added: “Robert's horse is super talented, and if anything's going to beat me – I don't mind it being him!”

Reserve in the championship was Hannah Horton riding Lucinda Freedman’s lightweight winner Tigbourne.

“Tigger” – a winner here in 2024 – also won the lightweight hunter class at Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) this summer.

An emotional Hannah said after her win: “It means everything to me. It's been a hard year and we just cracked on with the horses.

“To win that, it's just a pinnacle of the year. You finish it on a massive high; to get here is amazing – but that's just the icing on the cake.”

She says Tigger felt like “poetry in motion” in the ring, and gave her his all.

Second in the lightweights was Angela Smith’s former Price Family supreme in-hand champion Tremal Timber and Vicky Smith.

The heavyweight class was won by Jayne Ross on Greenhall Will I Ever.

This was the gelding’s second open class, having come out this season as a novice.

Jayne said: “He's been fantastic.

“He's just got the most lovely, lovely attitude to life. He’s a gentle giant.”

The five-year-old performed beyond his years in the big ring, and his rider described him as “very honest”.

Second to Jayne was Susan and Vicky Tennant’s Waterfall ridden by Leon King.

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Monarch In The Mist has added a win at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) to his impressive CV.

“Jack” was ridden to victory in the maxi cob division at the 2026 HOYS by his producer Will Morton.

The duo have had heaps of success, having been cob champion at Royal Windsor this season, and winning the maxi cobs twice consecutively at the Royal International.

“He’s done it all now,” Will said. “He's ticked every big win off the box. He's just phenomenal and he's so easy with it.

“He had 15 minutes of work this morning just to see the ring and have a little warm-up before we go in. He’s spectacular.”

Last term, Will and the consistent cob were reserve to Oliver Hood and Indigo Blue , who finished third this time.

Jack, by Fintan Himself, is owned by Rosamund Lane, who bought him from a photo of him jumping a hedge out hunting.

Will, based in Epping Forest, says the hardest part of producing the grey gelding is keeping him clean.

“The guys do the cleaning and Sophie Lane is very good. She comes to the show with a trolley full of whitening powder, shampoos and things,” he said.

“The whole team was battling this morning. I went up there and there were about five of them – one on each leg and one on his body. It’s a team effort.”

Will and Jack, an Irish Sports Horse, qualified for the final at Royal Cheshire Show.

He added: “I mean, what can I say? He’s just spectacular isn’t he?”

Second to the pair was Craig Kiddier and Clare Trebble's lightly campaigned Harvey Star.

The six-year-old is by Killea Hill View and out of Liath Star, and qualified at Lincolnshire Show, his first ever qualifier.

He was bought as a three-year-old from Ireland, as a hunter for Clare but good enough to contend the Irish Draught classes but has proven to be a special find.

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Joyton Sunshine and Ella Eynon ended a rollercoaster season on a high, landing the 143cm mountain and moorland working hunter pony division at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) against the odds.

“It was a massive course, right up to height and you couldn’t take a breath anywhere as there were tight turn-backs and some tricky lines,” said Ella. “I was nervous going in but Dad said when we walked it, ‘just keep your canter because the jumps will come up quick’. Dougie never lets me down, though.”

This is not their first centre-line moment here. Ella and “Dougie” – owned by her parents Rebecca Faulkner and Eurig Eynon – stood champion in 2022 when he was a five-year-old, and they’d won the 133cm division.

Two years later, a more mature Dougie measured out just before they were due to head to the Royal International (RIHS).

“We were gutted,” said Rebecca. “RIHS was tough for Ella that year without her best friend.”

The family regrouped, and a few shows later, Ella and the beloved Welsh section C gelding were HOYS bound in the larger section, finishing fourth, returning last term to come a close second.

“He’s tiny in this class, but he has so much scope, that he actually jumps better now; he has more respect for the fences at this height,” said Rebecca. “He and Ella have a beautiful relationship; he really is her pony of a lifetime, and Dougie would jump the moon for her if he could.”

It’s nevertheless been “an emotional rollercoaster” of a season for Ella and Dougie, who clocked up five seconds, and got their pass just a fortnight ago on a technicality. Luckily, as the bold and game chap he is, Dougie was ready to step up to the HOYS challenge.

“For Ella, at 16, the prospect of not bringing Dougie was devastating, and it was tough mid-season to keep her confidence high going into the qualifiers feeling she could do no more, but couldn’t get the win. This has made it all worthwhile.”

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HS Queen Bea and owner Helen Forster enjoyed a fairytale centre-line moment at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) as they won the SEIB Search for a Star working show horse class.

Warwickshire-based Helen has owned Bea since she was a six-month-old foal. It was her first time riding at HOYS after tragic circumstances stopped her and her late horse Greannanstown Jackpot from competing here in 2023.

“Sadly, he broke his leg a few weeks after he qualified and didn't get here,” Helen explained.

“He's no longer with us. I honestly never thought this would happen.”

Nine-year-old Bea won the London International working show horse final last term with Helen’s sister Anne Grindal, as Helen had been injured, so she decided to pick up the reins in the Search for a Star classes.

Helen said: “We did West Wiltshire show at the beginning of the season and qualified. The wheels then fell off the bus.

“She's been injured all season, so we've done one show since then. HOYS prep has been on the water treadmill, so that's got her back in shape.

“I was a bit of a nervous wreck out here, but she just was brilliant. She loved the crowd. She thought they were all there for her.”

The working show horse was judged alongside the working show pony class, and all combinations had to include two rustic jumps in their performance.

It was 15-year-old Evelyn Tuck riding her own Pitch Supreme (GiGi) who took the pony title.

The pair qualified at the same show as the horse winner, after travelling four hours from Derbyshire.

Evelyn said: “I was a bit nervous that she was going to be a bit overwhelmed by the atmosphere but she coped with it really, really well.

“It's an amazing feeling. I can't even put it into words.

“I haven’t been to a big show like HOYS before. It’s very big compared to what I'm used to but I've loved it.”

The 12-year-old mare came into their family two and a half years ago, the first pony they viewed in their search.

Since picking up their ticket, Evelyn and GiGi trained hard in their favourite activity – the workers classes – but also enjoyed farm rides and cross country.

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Admiral Augustus commanded the ring to land the SEIB Search for a Star championship at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), ridden by his owner Robyn Carr.

The pair won the show hunter division of the series, which is now in its 28th year, en route to the tricolour.

Robyn bred the five-year-old grey gelding, and decided to start showing him locally last year.

“I am speechless, I didn’t think this would happen at all,” she said. “When he turned four I thought he was a good stamp of a horse, so we started doing a bit and qualified this year at our third show. It’s been an amazing journey and a childhood dream to ride at HOYS.”

Reserve went to Kay Gillam and her roan gelding Victor I, winner of the show cob title.

“I never expected in my life to be reserve champion at HOYS. I was so nervous I had to ask the steward to get me a bottle of water!” she said.

“Victor is very good at reading me and he knows when I’m nervous and relaxes me. He loves a big occasion, and I know I can trust him... He’s a showman.”

Making the win even sweeter, Victor incurred a serious injury in his younger days; he suffered a field accident as a four-year-old after Kay bought him from Fionnuala Moloney – who was here to watch him win.

Kay, a lorry driver from Norfolk, said: “We thought that was going to be the end then – we really did.

“But, we healed him and discovered he has a muscle disease halfway through that.

“He does take a lot of management. He has to be ridden every single day and I have to watch his diet.”

Despite his struggles, Victor enjoys hunting with the Narr Valley Bloodhounds.

“His mind has always been good,” said Kay. “We knew if he got to HOYS he'd be able to manage it no bother. He's just one of those nice horses that you just love to have around.”

His rider is no stranger to SEIB Search for a Star having competed in the series in the 1990s, 26 years ago, with her cob Mutley MG. She also competed in the open HOYS maxi cob championship in 2015 with Hortons McLaren.

The additional class winners were as follows:

Traditional cob: Helen Parnell's Angel of the North ridden by Abby Parnell

Hack: Summer Dance owned by Felicity Bond and ridden by Rosie Chetwynd-Talbot

Riding horse: Carnsdale Graceful Affair owned and ridden by Sarah Clucas

Working show pony: Pitch Supreme ridden by Evelyn Tuck

Working show horse: Helen Forster riding her own mare HS Queen Bea

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Copperbeech Encore, a working Connemara stallion, shone under the spotlight to win the mountain and moorland (M&M) championship at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

Owned by Debbie Todd, “Brian” has been ridden by Vikki Smith for the past two seasons.

An emotional Vikki said: “I worked so hard, and it doesn't always pay off. You can put everything together at home, and you don't always get it in the ring.

“I felt yesterday, we did everything we could to make it good for him, and today, he was a bit worried, but he trusted me.

“That bond – that's all you can try and get to go in there.”

Brian qualified at the last chance of the season – Moreton-in-Marsh Show.

He spends much of the season covering, and at seven-years-old has plenty of stock on the ground.

“We went to Dublin this year,” Vikki explained. “That made us miss quite a few HOYS qualifiers because we were over in Ireland for nearly a month.

“We didn’t bring him out at the beginning of the season because he covers mares at home. Debbie has got lots of offspring from him.”

Brian won at Dublin Horse Show and was second at Clifden Connemara Show before collecting his ticket in September.

Vikki added: “It was all a bit of a rush really, but I just wanted him to behave in there, and he did.

“He was a bit scared of the spotlight, but then after that, he was a good boy. When it went in front of him, he panicked, but then it was like he knew I had him.”

The win is extra impressive for owner Debbie, as this is the first time she has had one of her own Connemaras at the show.

“It really means a lot to her,” Vikki said.

After winning such a prestigious accolade, Brian is to end on a high and hang up his HOYS boots.

Another very lightly shown pony stood reserve. Gillian Simpson’s homebred Welsh Section B mare, Wortley Sinderella, was only backed in this spring by her producer and pilot, Lucy Glover.

The pair swiftly announced themselves as ones to watch, landing the challenge championship at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) winter championships, and the novice championship at the recent BSPS Heritage championships.

Lucy and the team decided to try a HOYS qualifier after three or four novice shows, and duly qualified.

“She’s been a dream to do,” said Lucy. “She takes everything in her stride and has the most amazing personality, especially for a chestnut mare!”

Last term, Lucy finished second aboard Sinderella’s full brother Wortley Warrior. Success is in their genes, as their mother Wortley Imagination also stood in the lineup here in her younger days.

The other winners in the championship were:

Exmoor/Shetland winner Wikners Gryffindor, ridden by Sarah Parker and owned by Anthony Bell. He is the only Shetland in history to qualify for HOYS in-hand and ridden. He was shown here in the “Price” by Anthony’s daughter Zoe.

Dales winner Griseburn Major owned and ridden by Joe Watson, who piloted the Wolsey Viking gelding to the overall championship here in 2022.

Fell winner Greenrivers Luke owned and ridden by April Gilmartin, who performed a standout show in his class.

New Forest winner Ravenstone Fudge II owned by Beverley Bayes and ridden by Steph Turner. They are London-bound next after taking a stunning championship at Royal Windsor this term.

Dartmoor winner Salcombe Frowder Cove ridden by Maisie Kerry-Oates and owned by his breeder Felicity Thompson. He is produced by Katy Marriott Payne, who was in floods of tears as she watched on from third place.

Highland winner Ashleyvale Glen Duror ridden by Ellena Thomas and owned by Karyn Thomas. The upstanding stallion has twice won his division at the Royal International.

Welsh C winner Danwood Llewellyn owned by his breeder Linda Atkinson and ridden by Hannah Atkinson. He was reserve champion here with Linda in the saddle in 2018, but almost didn't make it this time as they broke down en route.

Welsh D winner Thorneyside Royal Command owned by Lynn Scott and ridden by Kaitlin Fairhurst. This pair are also former RIHS winners.

Welsh A winner Noaberhoeve Clinton owned by Jade Gardner and ridden by Aliya Kahn. The Dutch-bred stallion has been a lucky find for this team, who had owned him just a few weeks before he duly qualified for here.

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Dycott Welsh King and Ross Keys completed a memorable hat-trick of wins, before going on to take the overall mountain and moorland (M&M) working hunter pony of the year crown at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2026.

“It’s the best feeling ever,” said a clearly emotional Ross of the experience. “I’m speechless. He’s just a dude, isn’t he?”

The Mitcheltroy Welsh Prince 19-year-old Welsh section D won the exceeding 143cm division despite being the oldest in the class, and at 145cm, one of the smallest, too.

King is jointly owned by Ross and his partner Anna Chaplin and Angela Thomas.

“We all own him. We just… he's part of the furniture – a joint effort,” said Ross before adding, gesturing at King’s condition and turnout, “but this is all Anna, it’s nothing to do with me.”

On his performance earlier in the day, Ross said: “He jumped mega. He took the track on. Literally, I couldn't stop him. He wanted that without a shadow of a doubt.”

Judge John James agreed, describing King as “Special.”

“At 19 years of age, he certainly could show the younger ones what to do and he jumped foot-perfect, as far as I’m concerned. He was a good representative of his breed and he really went well,” said John.

Ross has ridden King to 10 consecutive qualifications for here and for the Royal International (RIHS). As well as their three wins here, the pair boast a win at Hickstead, a Windsor championship, and countless more wins at county shows the length and breadth of the country.

“He's just a machine. He loves his job,” said Ross. “He's a bit grumpy in the stable, and a bit grumpy for the winter time when he's not doing any work. He lives for this. He's most happy when he's here doing this.”

As well as a glittering career over fences, King has covered, and has progeny on the ground.

“He's actually a granddad. Daichristu Prince, his son, was here with us last year and he’s maturing and coming up through the ranks.”

But King isn’t ready to hand over the mantle just yet.

“We’ll carry on. You know, he loves his job. He comes back stronger and stronger,” said Ross. “He loves the crowd and thrives on atmosphere…If he retires he'll probably just be really grumpy.

“He'll be a grumpy old man like me! So we'll carry on doing him, and he'll tell me when he wants to retire. When he wants to retire, he’ll retire. He owes me nothing. He's my best friend.”

The championship was largely dominated by Welsh ponies, with a representative of the breed taking the top spot in every division of this championship, and two seconds.

M&M working hunter pony of the year reserve champion

Poppy Gresty finished reserve having won the 133cm division aboard her mother Jenna Gresty’s Welsh section C, Seiont Watcyn, on the pair’s debut here.

Poppy had been first to jump in her class earlier today and produced a very stylish clear.

“He felt absolutely mega [this morning]. I just wanted to get round with no stops and even if he had every pole down, I’d still be pleased.”

Poppy was supported by family and friends, including her trainer Amy Canavan-Smith, who took this championship in 2025, and from whom the Grestys purchased Watcyn.

Since then, he’s been “very quirky” but with persistence, this pair have built a stunning partnership.

“He’s an absolute dream… my whole world.”

Poppy and Watcyn hit top form to qualify at Moreton in Marsh, the final open fixture of the year. The 122cm and 143cm winners also qualified there.

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Stobilee Zac made his team's 15-hour drive from John O’Groats to Birmingham’s NEC worthwhile when the Clydesdale landed the Barber Family ridden heavy horse of the year championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) with Lucy Stewart in the saddle.

The 14-year-old by Great American GW Carver out of Stobilee Ruby and was bred by Robbie Morton.

He was bought by owner Brian Bissett as a foal and has been produced by Brian’s daughter Isla Miller since he was a four-year-old.

There were happy tears as Isla, who has ridden him to three reserve titles here, watched on from on board one of her youngsters, four-year-old Clydesdale Hartcliff Loretta, owned by Andrew Swanson. They finished ninth.

Isla said: “Lucy’s my partner in crime so we try to do it together… I took the ride on this baby so she could ride Zac today.

“Zac’s literally been a phenomenal horse. He’s competed all over the UK, but I can put my one-year-old daughter on him and she’ll ride him to the field; he’s just fantastic.”

The long journey south to Birmingham might have felt like a challenge in itself – “that’s a lot of diesel,” quipped Brian, “and at £2 a litre, we won’t attempt to calculate the fuel bill…” – but the path to the final, having secured the gelding’s ticket at Fife in May, has been smooth sailing.

Rachel Moore Rooney judged the ride portion, Randy Robertson the conformation phase.

In an interview beforehand, Rachel said she was hoping to see “top-quality horses with correct conformation” and “good movement”. She said that further ticks would be awarded to those “that give a safe, balanced and forward-going ride” and “horses that are mannerly and cope confidently with the busy atmosphere”.

The gelding, who has qualified for this final for eight consecutive years now, duly delivered, and looked at home under the bright lights of the International Arena, which comes at no surprise given his illustrious showing career.

“He’s the current ridden Clydesdale world champion,” said Lucy. “He’s such a showman.”

Lindy Winship’s Burlington Park Loose Valley son Cardington Billy Bob, a striking grey Shire gelding bred by the late Frank Evans and ridden by Emma Green, was the runner-up – they were returning to HOYS as defending champions having won this class 12 months before.

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Copybush So Fashion impressed the judges with her level-headed attitude and stylish performance to take the hack tricolour at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

“Sophie” - owned by Nicola Miller - was ridden by her producer Will Morton to give a polished showpiece in the championship, including canter transitions on shallow loops.

The five-year-old mare performed well beyond her years.

“I'm not normally a mare person, but I'll have to eat my hat because she's super special,” said Will.

“I just love her. She's got such a good brain, such a good temperament, and she’s incredibly clever.”

Sophie was shown at HOYS by Matt McGivern in-hand as a three-year-old on behalf of her breeder, Pembrokeshire-based Sarah Baker, when she finished an impressive fifth in the Price Family supreme in-hand.

But this was Sophie’s first time here under saddle and she pipped seasoned combination and reigning Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) supreme Boston Black Tie (DJ) and his producer Helen Baker to the championship.

Will added: “It's an incredible atmosphere in there all the time anyway, so any championship here is just brilliant to ride in.

“But, to go in there on a young horse, who at the beginning of the season was completely new to this, and she just went in and owned it – felt incredible.”

Although he impressed judges Stephanie Barrington and Sacha Shaw with his show piece, Will admitted he “didn’t have a clue” what he was going to perform when he walked in the ring.

“She's only five, she still can be a bit green at times, so I thought, ‘I'll do what I know I can do and try to do it well’,” he said.

“Her transitions are quite good for her age, and she’s very mannerly so I knew I could kind of steer her around and just show her off to her best.”

Sophie will have some downtime over winter and enjoy hacking in the countryside around Will’s yard in Epping Forest.

Experts in hack ranks, Helen and DJ, were pulled into the reserve spot after a polished show which included trot to canter transitions on a straight diagonal line.

Helen said: “I enjoyed it in there, and I think he really enjoyed it too.

“He listened to everything I asked for in the show and did most of it one-handed.”

DJ, bred by Stephen Howard and owned by Nicola Faulconbridge, seems to have got used to the limelight following his supreme win at RIHS. His rider said: “When he realised he wasn't champion, he threw a right temper tantrum!”

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Alice Homer and her mother Loraine Homer’s Tidy Town proved the ones to beat once more when they were called forward as the top pick for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) small show hunter of the year crown.

Ten-year-old “Guinness” is by Superior Premium out of Ricardos Trump. He was judged here by Rachel Moore Rooney (ride) and Susan Stockley-Bridges (conformation), and with Alice has been a tremendously consistent campaigner and arrived at HOYS unbeaten in small hunter ranks this term.

“There are no words left for how incredible he is, there really aren’t,” Alice said. “As a young horse, we maybe used to say that HOYS wouldn’t be his show because he loves a big, galloping ring, but I think as he's got older and more mature he’s proved he can either step up to the big grass rings or, like today in here, he can be so measured and controlled.

“It’s like you’re riding on a piece of silk, his mouth is so soft. He can extend then come back like a hack, but yet he has all the power of the hunter. It’s just incredible.”

The pair were extending a serious run of form, with this year’s highlights including titles at the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) – in intermediates as well as in small hunters – the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Summer Championships and the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) National Championships. The pair are also seriously dominant in working hunters.

“He won his third RIHS small hunter title, and his fifth RIHS title altogether, this summer,” she added. “He also won his third-in-a-row supreme working hunter pony at BSPS. Actually one of the biggest ones was at the BSHA National Championships when he won the overall hunter championship, so he beat the lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight to get the big classic supreme hunter championship.”

Having claimed the intermediate show hunter title here with the Irish Sport Horse last term and now with the small hunter title under her belt to boot, Alice has her eyes on one final prize.

“I would love, tomorrow, to do well in the working hunters, because I have a finite amount of time in the intermediates,” said Alice, 24, who has just one season left in this particular class. “I know it sounds ridiculous when you've had such a good season… and I really was not expecting to win this one, I really wasn’t!”

Second to Alice and Guinness was the former Royal Windsor and Hickstead Derby Meeting winner, Red Valentine – who also stood supreme hunter at the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) National Championships in 2025 – ridden by Will Morton.

Will came through to the small hunter final having earlier in the morning secured two slots in the hack showdown. He won the large division on Nicola Miller’s exciting Small-land Maytino five-year-old Copybush So Fashion, and stood second in the small section atop Sara Fisher’s Time After Time.

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Natasha Nelson was delighted to be crowned champion of the NeedleSmart, John Illingworth and Cliff Kirby ridden pure-bred Arab of the year final at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), with Mike, Jayne and Sandra Johnson's Bugatti.

Nine-year-old Bugatti, by Master Design, is a newcomer to the top echelons of ridden showing but has belied his relative inexperience to secure some top results:

“He did a lot of in-hand before he came to me to do his ridden career, but this is only his second season; his first open season,” said Natasha, a member of the Meads Show Team.

“He was British national supreme champion as a novice last year, and this is his first HOYS so I’m just absolutely blown away.”

This was not only a poignant win for the chestnut stallion, but for his rider too.

“It’s my first HOYS win. Horses from our team have been placed up to third before,” she said. “But on a horse I’m actually sitting on, I’ve never made it further than sixth so I’m absolutely made up!”

Following an enthusiastic lap of honour, Natasha describes Bugatti as “a darling” and “good fun to have around”.

“He was very excited, he’s done a lot of in-hand so he can flare up, but actually as a person he’s really gentle, cuddly,” she added. “Your nan could lead him out, he’s a darling, he’s really good fun to have around.”

So what’s the plan next?

“I’ve no idea! I need to go and have a glass of champagne, I think!” Natasha said. “But I’d like to think we’ll have him out again next year.”

Runners-up to Natasha and Bugatti were Sian Warman and Waliandro, while third place was awarded to Louisa Biles riding Arimathea.

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Shemkia Snip and a very teary Kelsey Bishop took the first Veteran Horse Society veteran of the year championship sash at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

At 26, “Snippy” was the oldest in the class. South Wales-based Kelsey has owned the former brood mare for 17 years.

“I bought her to showjump,” said Kelsey. “But we went to a local show and someone encouraged us to try more showing and here we are. I never imagined that a pony I bought for £700 would be at somewhere like this, let alone win HOYS.”

Snippy really found her home in the veteran showing ranks. Among her many accolades, she was reserve supreme senior at Royal International this term, and is also London-bound, having qualified for all three of these coveted places at their first attempt.

Making the success even sweeter, Kelsey almost lost Snippy to colic.

“She had two nasty bouts of colitis,” said Kelsey. “Then she did a check ligament, so she had a long period of box rest. I thought I might lose her. But she’s back better than ever.”

Snippy gave a stunning show; she is full of presence and a big-moving mare.

“She’s sassy, but she’s as good as gold,” said Kelsey.

Taking the runner up spot was Shonagh Stark with Susan Don’s Taffechan Flashman Bertie Blaze (Bertie), making their journey south from Scotland well worthwhile.

Susan has owned 21-year-old Berti – who has previously enjoyed a successful driving trials career at national level – for 12 years. He now participates in a less demanding attelage driving competitions with Susan and has also given a junior driver the opportunity to experience local driving events.

A versatile pony, Berti also competes in affiliated dressage with Shonah.

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Katy Green said Gorsehill Layla was “prepped to perfection” for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) – and it showed, as the pair took the Alan Marnie & Family (Meta Lounge Limited and SHB (GB)) working hunter of the year championship

Katy and her own and Charlotte Readings’ eight-year-old took a flawless turn about the imposing Colin Ellison track to lead the 30-strong field under judges Stephanie Barrington and Chris Yates.

“She was mega,” said Katy, who has deliberately chosen to campaign the mare by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of Gorsehill Amber lightly in the workers this year to keep her from getting bored.

“We’ve prepped her to perfection; not overjumped her, taken her show jumping and she’s had a lot of fun. We’ve not jumped many worker classes and she qualified really early this year.”

The pair finished fifth last term here.

“She was so good here last year. She had one down and I knew she had it in her, so I wanted to save her for this… It was a tough track and took some jumping.

“She absolutely loves her job so it makes my life very easy… I’m thrilled for the horse and for Charlotte.”

Gorsehill Layla: spotted in Ireland

Layla was first spotted by Katy’s mother in Ireland and though Katy wasn’t initially quite sure, her friend Laura Wheelwright persuaded her as she shared her name with Laura’s daughter, whom Katy trained to win here in the intermediate ranks a few years ago.

“She said, ‘don’t be boring’, and I didn’t have an IBAN number, so she said, ‘I’ll buy here and you can pay me back.”

She wasn’t originally intended for the workers.

“Mum wondered what I was doing aiming her for them, but I knew she had a good jump and was genuine, so I knew I could turn her into one and now she’s proven herself to be one.”

Katy described the course as “massive” and admitted some relief when she’d cleared the last.

“I watched Craig’s round so I knew what to do,” she said.

Craig – Kiddier – finished reserve with Vicky Tennant’s Irish Sport Horse Bold Adventure, who lived up to her name as she clocked up a brilliant clear to defend her reserve champion.

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Danwood Llewellyn won the Welsh section C of the year title at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) for the second time. He is owned by his breeder Linda Atkinson, who rode him to win his class and stand reserve champion in 2018. This time, however, he was beautifully piloted by Linda’s daughter Hannah Atkinson.

The Yorkshire-based family team almost didn’t make it though.

“We broke down on the M1 on the way here this morning,” said Hannah. “At that point I was really worried we wouldn't make it. Luckily, my dad Ian made an early call to contact recovery. They were great, and had us on the road a few hours later.

“Shout out to the truck boys; we wouldn’t have made it without them!”

“Lewi” – a 15-year-old by Wyken Rob Roy out of Rivervalley Loulou who was also campaigned by Hannah – has had a stellar career including standing champion at the Royal International, best of breed at London International, and supreme ridden champion at the Royal Welsh.

The Atkinsons almost retired him here last year. Thankfully, his form this spring persuaded them otherwise, and he’s gone on to prove that decision correct time and again.

“He’s ticked off a few things for us this year,” said Linda. “He won the Royal Highland for us after Hannah had had nine seconds there, he was supreme ridden at the Welsh Pony and Cob Society’s 125th Anniversary Show, and now this for Hannah. I think he deserves to retire now.”

Linda described watching Hannah with Lewi as “nerve-wracking”, adding, “but Hannah always does a good job and he always tries his best.”

Standing second to Hannah and Lewi were a delighted Jane Smith and her own Dafren Rhodri.

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A 13-year-old who was making his fifth appearance in the SEIB racehorse to riding horse final at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) stepped up to take his turn in the spotlight.

Morean Hamilton’s Rich Man Poor Man (Robbie) was ridden by his producer Kirstine Douglas to take the spoils.

The Robin Des Champs gelding started his career with trainer Philip Kirby, but after he was disappointing on the tracks, Morean was tipped off that he might make a show horse for her instead, and she instantly fell in love.

“He’s always been placed here,” said Morean, “But he hasn’t had his day and he hasn’t always given the best account of himself here. He’s a big horse in that arena and he’s different to a lot of the racehorses – he also competes in middleweight hunter classes.

“We haven’t campaigned him in hunter classes really this year, and just focused on this. Obviously we didn’t know who the judges were going to be, but when we heard that Hayden [Hankey], an event rider, was judging, we did think he may like him, and he just went for him. It was lovely.”

Robbie gave a beautiful account of himself for ride judge Hayden to take the win.

Rich Man Poor Man’s extensive CV

He adds this to a long list of accolades, having notched multiple wins in the Scottish Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) final held at the Royal Highland Show, and also standing supreme at the RoR championships at Aintree.

Kirstine was emotional, saying that she wondered whether this one would be the championship to elude the pair.

It was emotional for Morean, too, who has owned Robbie since he was a four-year-old.

“It feels quite surreal. People were saying It’s my personal first win here,” explained Morean. This made the win all the more popular for spectators who know Morean as she is known for her generous support of fellow competitors.

In second was Hannah Horton with Migration, an Alhebayeb Dam 10-year-old. Migration was given to owners Anthony and Georgina Andrews and Hannah Horton by the Gail Brown Racing Syndicate.

It is two and a half years since 10-year-old Migration last ran. He was in training with David Menuisier for whom he won over £200,000 including winning the Lincoln Handicap in 2023.

Taking third place for the second time were Sar Cassidy-Hill’s Imperial Ruby and Sarah Llewellyn.

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Jayne Ross rode Diane Stennett and Lucy Cameron's multi-garlanded campaigner KBF Lucia to secure the 2026 ladies’ show horse championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

The nine-year-old mare by Free Spirit out of Seabourne Swansdown, bred by Tony Reynolds and Michael Cook, has lifted this title before, in 2023, and won her coloured final three times, also netting a supreme and reserve sash in the latter division.

“She’s such a giver. She’s the most gorgeous little horse inside and out. She tries her hardest for you. She’s the one you go to when you’re not having a great day.”

Jayne and Lucia were returning to HOYS as defending supreme champions, having won the coloured supreme last term.

“[There was] no pressure, inasmuch as no more pressure than you would ever feel,” Jayne said.

“It’s always difficult to come back when you’ve been supreme but it’s a different class, she won this a couple of years ago, the side-saddle, so it’s lovely that she’s come back and won it again. You can’t put yourself under that pressure – you come back and enjoy it and have a nice time, and I always enjoy it with her because she’s so special.”

It’s a busy week for Team Ross; Jayne said: “We have 14 horses here altogether, more than enough to keep us busy, and it’s so lovely to have one in the box so early on.”

Taking the reserve championship was Amelia Hood riding her own Seabourne Singing Hills.

“He’s very special to me,” said Amelia, who has owned the seven-year-old by Aveia out of Ducal Lavender Hill since he was a foal. “I bought him straight from his breeder Michael Maryan and we’ve done everything with him. My husband Oliver backed him, and rode him in his novice season last season. I put a side saddle on him in April – ladies’ is my passion and I always dreamed of riding him. To be second is amazing, I’m delighted.”

The pair return on Friday for the lightweight hunter showdown.

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Edwin Prosser and Laura Collett were recently revealed to be Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2026 supreme horse and pony judges. For equestrians both in and outside of showing, Laura’s is a household name. But what of Edwin?

For those of you who do not know the Welsh pony aficionado, here’s an insight into his background in horses, in showing, and what he will be looking for in the ring at HOYS.

Edwin's background in horses

Edwin grew up around ponies.

“My father had a smallholding,” says Edwin. “I used to drive his pony and trap. Then I had a pony and learned to ride and went to Pony Club.”

In his teens, Edwin picked up the ride on two local jumping ponies.

“The local butcher had bought 14.2hh jumping ponies for his daughters, and when they grew too old to ride them, I was offered the ride, and rode them for two seasons around the local county and agricultural shows.”

After leaving school, Edwin worked with point-to-pointers for a year before taking time away from horses.

“Then when my daughter was one, I bought her a Welsh section A and when she was old enough, we showed her for a few seasons on the lead until my daughter decided to give up. At that point, I looked to the in-hand ring and bought a section A stallion to show myself – Foxhunter Clove, who was champion at Glanusk in 1976.”

A long association with the famous Cottrell stud followed.

“I went to buy a foal from Mrs Johns-Powell at the Cottrell Stud, and from there she kept an eye on me, and I ended up doing and showing her ponies for 22 years.

“We won lots of major shows, including the Royal of England and the Royal Welsh, and were supreme at the Royal Welsh with Cwrtycadno Cadfridog in 1996, qualifying for the ‘Cuddy’.”

This wasn’t Edwin’s last qualification for Horse of the Year Show’s ‘Cuddy’ supreme – now the Price Family supreme in-hand championship.

Cadfridog’s daughter, Edwin’s own home-bred Mintfield Songthrush repeated her father’s success, standing Welsh section B and supreme at the Royal Welsh in 2004, earning her a spot in the coveted HOYS line-up.

He also produced Dr Wynne Davies’ stallion Trefaes Taran to qualify for the final, before he was shown by Dr Wynne’s son, David, to stand second in the pony final.

Since hanging up his showing jacket, Edwin has thrown himself into stewarding, including a 15-year stint in the main ring at the Royal Welsh.

As well as being a Welsh breeds enthusiast, Edwin is a big racing fan, making annual trips to Ireland to visit, among others, Coolmore, Ballylinch and Ballydoyle.

Edwin is also an experienced judge.

He had the honour of officiating over the in-hand championship at HOYS in 2022 with Tullis Matson, and joined Jocelyn Price to judge the junior mountain and moorland (M&M) final the same day, so judging the supreme won’t be his first experience of officiating over at the NEC.

“I really enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to this time,” says Edwin. “It took a while to sink in when I was first asked. It’s a real honour.”

Edwin has also judged all over the globe, including twice in Australia, America, Holland, France and Belgium, as well as at countless shows in the UK.

What will Edwin Prosser be looking for?

In the supremes, Edwin insists he will be looking for a quality exhibit and a good mover. It must also be “true to type” whatever it is, have clean limbs and correct conformation.

It may be easy to assume that given Edwin’s background and personal interests, he will be drawn to the welsh, or even the former racehorse, but previous form suggests not. Edwin and Tullis chose the horse division winner, broodmare Lovestruck as their champion, and Connemara mare Skaergaardens Delicious Love for reserve.

“It will be whatever stands out as the winner on the day,” says Edwin.

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This year, I don’t know what it is, but this season seems to have gone by faster than ever.

Looking back, I think it’s been particularly tough financially. After a difficult winter, where hay and straw shortages meant higher prices, we rolled into the season to rocketing fuel costs. Pressures on shows mean that entries certainly aren’t getting any cheaper.

And then came the heat and the hard ground that accompanied it. It certainly made me appreciate the shows running on surfaces and it’s something to bear in mind if we are to have such hot summers in future.

There were only a couple of fixtures where we decided not to take certain ponies on account of the ground as, thankfully, we were lucky that most had qualified for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) by that point.

One thing that struck me at qualifiers this year, though, was the narrow range of marks some judges awarded. With 50 marks available, why use a range of eight? I would like to see judges be braver. If they love an exhibit, give it a high mark, but if an exhibit is not for them, give it a low mark. It’s fine to have an opinion, be brave enough to stand by it.

During that particularly hot spell, I found it bizarre that Royal Norfolk and exhibitors were criticised for running during a weather warning. Although the extreme heat continued, there was no such criticism of anyone showing in the heat in the following weeks.

What a shame this show came under fire, having tried hard to mitigate against the heat and ensure the welfare of all present. The horses and ponies looked comfortable in a pleasant breeze.

Praise and promise

Despite the weather and the harsh financial climate, the National Pony Society staged a championship that was well attended and that catered for everyone, from the serious HOYS qualifiers to novice finals and novelty classes for the children. There were also unaffiliated classes on offer, which I felt were brilliant for allowing beginners to see and experience showing at an affiliated level, and hopefully increase their interest.

The Royal International was also fantastic. The team there are particularly helpful and every year stage a show that was slightly better than the last. The atmosphere was superb – fun, but with seriously high standards in the ring.

However, I would like to see a tweak in the timetable. The mini ponies are usually in the ring at the same time as the opens. Changing this would be so helpful for parents and pony producers who have children in both rings, particularly if they need to lead a mini finalist.

HOYS judges

I am pleased that HOYS has reinstated the surprise judging format. I can see that perhaps it makes things more difficult for horse producers. All ride judges like something slightly different, and this way, they can’t tune up their exhibits to suit a certain way of riding.

As a pony producer, I like the element of the unknown. This is perhaps because it’s different and people can’t speculate or predict who will do well. I also felt it made for a calmer atmosphere “backstage” last time round. Inevitably at this time we’re all feeling the pressure of HOYS.

It’s not that I am worried about the results – they will be what they will be – it’s just that I believe it’s harder than ever to qualify, so more than ever, you want all your exhibits to look well and go well on the day.

It’s my favourite show – the one we all want to be at – so I want to come home thinking I’ve given it my best shot.

So with that in mind, good luck to everyone.

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A young rider who has been through years of cancer treatment has qualified for the London International Horse Show – with his “pony of a lifetime” who survived colic surgery and has come back better than ever.

Dylan Ward, who was voted inspiration of the year at the 2023 Horse & Hound Awards, earned his London ticket with McFlurry at only their second affiliated showing competition. The pair will be contesting the British Show Pony Society performance pony not exceeding 148cm class. They qualified in July, eight months after McFlurry underwent his lifesaving surgery.

“It’s really special,” Dylan’s mother Jessica told H&H. “We’ve got absolutely no expectations. I hope Flurry will be good but showing is really new to him too. Just standing in the middle was hard for him as he’s a dressage pony; why would he be standing still in the ring?!

“But whatever happens, they’ll try their best and have fun.”

Dylan was diagnosed with inoperable bone cancer in 2022, aged seven. After two years of intensive chemotherapy, proton beam therapy and radiotherapy, he finished his treatment in April 2024, but he is unable to use his left leg as a result.

“He’s in remission,” Jessica said. “Because it was inoperable, he still has a mass but they think it’s scar tissue. He’s still got three years of scans till he’s not monitored, and he still has a lot of hospital to do with all the side effects and disabilities, but the cancer side has definitely ramped down.

“He just cracks on, and when he’s riding, you just wouldn’t know. He makes the most of everything.”

Dylan first went to ride Nederlands New Forest pony McFlurry three years ago, when he was at a friend’s yard. Jessica said she had no intention of buying this 14.2hh FEI dressage prospect for her nine-year-old para rider son.

But there was an instant connection, she said, and thanks to the power of social media, people made up the price to buy him for Dylan. The pair have won multiple dressage championships including the Pony Club special ability class two years running, and been placed in British Dressage able-bodied championships.

Then, last November, McFlurry colicked. He had surgery and spent days in intensive care. Jessica said there was no guarantee this would save him, and even less chance of his coming back to what he had been.

“Dylan did all the rehab,” Jessica said. “He had to be walked four times a day for three months and Dylan did it all. He’d go out there, on his crutches; he lost him once when something spooked him but he did it all.

“It’s been a rollercoaster but he’s an awesome horse. He’s quirky – he’s had me off before! – but him and Dylan, it’s just something like I’ve never seen before. They’re amazing.”

Jessica said once McFlurry was back into some work, they fell into showing almost by accident.

Dylan Ward and McFlurry: champions at first attempt

“We only did a walk-trot class because we thought it wouldn’t be fair to do anything lower at dressage, and they they managed to come away as champion,” she said. “Then I was convinced by friends to try to do some affiliated, and they managed to qualify for London at their second ever affiliated competition.

“Colic surgery has a massive risk that they’re probably not going to come back to where they were but he’s come back stronger and better and looks like a different horse.”

Jessica said her view, and Dylan’s, has always been to make the most of everything.

“When Dylan was diagnosed, it was horrific, and I cried for a day,” she said. “Then I thought ‘How can you be like that all the time?’ If I had cried for months and I’d lost him, that’s all I’d have done in that time.

“My dad also died at 49, suddenly, and that had already taught me that you have to live everything. Sometimes that’s difficult and expensive but make the most of what you can. And that’s when you get weird opportunities, like qualifying for London International in a sport you’ve never done before!”

Jessica added that London is very special to her in many ways.

“Losing my dad was even more sad as I know he’d have loved being a granddad,” she said. “None of my family were horsey but every year we went to Olympia, it was a Christmas present from my dad and he came with me. So when Dylan was old enough, I said I’d take him every year.

“He went in the sleigh with Santa one year when he was poorly, with Willberry Wonder Pony, and now he’s going back as a competitor, so it’s even more special.

“They’re a crazy pair; both been on the side of death and managed to come back. I could talk about them both for hours.”

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Back in 2022, we qualified a pony for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). It was a particularly special ticket; “Brian” was home-bred, and to say he was tricky would be a wild understatement!

A few weeks later, a parcel arrived in the post for Brian from “the HOYS fairy”, and Brian became one of, by now, almost 200 ticket holders to receive a package.

The HOYS fairy, Morean Hamilton, reveals why she continues to enjoy bringing an extra little bit of magic to certain combinations’ HOYS prep...

Ayrshire-based Morean began this tradition a decade ago.

“The first time I saw a little mini browband like the ones in the packages was with a friend from the north of Scotland. She had her own browband company, and she made them as little Christmas decorations,” says Morean.

“Then I ordered my new horse box, and she made me a blue and white one for my lorry, and that's when I got the idea. I asked her, ‘I wonder if you could do these for me for HOYS?’ And she did. That would be 10 years ago.”

That first year, Morean ordered and distributed eight browbands and accompanying cards.

“At that point in time, it was friends that were going, or people with home-breds and whatever, and that’s how it started. Unfortunately, after a couple of years, that original friend stopped making the browbands, and I thought, ‘I don't want to stop this,’ so I spoke to Valerie Lafond at Lafond browbands, and sent her one through the post for her to see. I asked if she would be willing to make them.”

Luckily, Valerie agreed, and now Morean orders 20 each June in preparation.

“Valerie makes them and she changes the design slightly each year – I get a little surprise too. I collect them from her or she posts them, and they're usually here for a good couple of months,” says Morean. “I know she has countless messages from other people, but I’m lucky Valerie only makes them for me each year, which makes them that little bit extra special. They’re one-offs.”

As well as the browbands, each recipient gets a card and some gold “sparkly bits” that come in a box topped with the HOYS logo, and some “signature purple tape”.

“I wrap them and do all the wee frilly bits. All the little sprinkles and whatever – they’re just all theatre, and help to make it a nice little surprise.

“I used to make the cards by hand using scrabble pieces,” says Morean, “but now I order the little credit-card sized ones that can be carried in pockets. It got too much to make 20 each year; I just didn’t have the time.

“I do use the HOYS logo, but I have permission to do so from Sandy Anderson. He joked that I had ‘stolen’ his logo, but in good humour. I checked that I wasn’t breaking any copyright rules!”

Morean explains that the season decides who receives a package each year.

“There has to be something special about it – a first HOYS or something remarkable. That’s why I sent your Brian one,” she tells me. “When I saw him qualify after all these challenges, I had to send him one.”

This season has been no different.

“I was watching the coloureds at the Royal Highland, for example, and a lovely little pony with a young girl was called forwards as champion on her birthday, and then they told her that there had been a mistake, and she wasn’t the champion and sent her back into line. I thought, ‘well that’s such a shame’, and added them to my list.

“I’ve got friends that have tried for years to qualify one with their wee girl, and this year, they’ve got two qualified, so they were a must. It kind of sorts itself out.”

Whether she knows the combination or not doesn’t matter to Morean.

“There’s often a degree of the Miss Marple about it,” she jokes. “I have to find out where to send it, so I track down mums or friends who might know where to send them.”

She sometimes has to adapt the package, too.

“I wanted to send Team Harvey some luck this time, but I couldn’t send all eight combinations a browband, so with a bit of detective work, I made a call to team member Hazel Sleight to make sure all the children – and adults – had an individual card, and a browband to share.

“They have this kind of universal appeal, and it always surprises me that people will reveal that they have wanted one for years, and wondered how to get onto the list!”

She sends them all out in September.

“I send them over my birthday,” she says. “I always take a few days off at that point anyway, so it means I can make sure they all get to their destinations.

“It’s so disappointing if they get lost, but that’s only happened a few times thankfully. I usually get a message to say thank you, and sometimes I get videos of the children opening them. I always make sure Valerie knows they are appreciated, too.

“Then at HOYS, I’m there for the week, so I try to watch how they all get on. It’s nice to follow the journey.”

This year, as well as watching, Morean will be there as a sponsor – Hamilton Tarmac sponsor the small hunter division – and as an owner, with five horses produced by Kirstine Douglas qualified across six classes. So what about her own horses? Do they get a browband?

“One of mine is being ridden by Kirstine’s groom, so she’s had one. But I make my horses special hoods. I like pink, or leopard print or something, but this year Kirstine has insisted on navy. I’m not there every day to exercise them and so on, so this is my way of preparing them; my HOYS tradition.”

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Overley Gamebird made a stunning return to the Senior Showing and Dressage Ltd (SSADL) championships, claiming the supreme in-hand accolade.

The 22-year-old also won a coveted London International Horse Show (LIHS) in-hand ticket en route to the overall spoils.

The Rackham family has owned “Mildred” for seven years; she had already had a successful showing career including multiple Horse of the Year Show appearances.

“She was my daughter Millie’s lead rein pony,” explained Heidi Rackham. During her time with the Rackhams, Mildred continued to flourish in lead-rein and senior ridden ranks. Three years ago, she was ridden supreme here with Millie on board. She also picked up placings at the Royal International and stood reserve champion at London International in 2023.

But things took a turn for the charming little mare at this point.

Heidi explained: “After London, having just come reserve champion, Millie was out of the lead-rein class so we loaned Mildred out. Unfortunately, she came back home with severe laminitis. We had made the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep the following week as it was over Christmas. Miraculously, in that week she decided it wasn’t her time. With a lot of nurturing, patience and love she is now back to her normal princess self.”

She was led on this occasion by Millie’s godfather Justin Hollis, who also previously led her at London owing to Heidi having hip surgery.

“Justin has been there throughout Mildred’s rollercoaster of a journey and has a great relationship with her,” said Heidi. “We are very excited to be returning to London and very grateful to have Mildred still in our lives, she has a huge support club.”

Reserve to Mildred and Justin were Megan Share and her own striking appaloosa Desired Edition, who went on to stand supreme ridden. The pair will also make an appearance at LIHS in December.

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Multiple medal-winning event rider Laura Collett and experienced judge and breeder Edwin Prosser will judge the supreme horse and pony championships at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2026.

HOYS organiser Grandstand Media announced this week that the pair will “have the honour of selecting this year’s supreme champions from some of the finest horses and ponies in the country”, on the final night of the show (11 October).

European champion Laura, who also won world team gold and individual bronze this year, won the supreme pony title at HOYS in 2003 with Welsh section A Penwayne Ryan.

“Horse of the Year Show holds very special memories for me,” she said. “Winning the supreme pony championship when I was just 13 was an incredible moment and one I’ll never forget.

HOYS supreme judges 2026: ‘A tremendous honour’

“I know how much it means to qualify for HOYS and to stand in that arena on the final evening. To return all these years later as a supreme championship judge is a real honour, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Edwin, of Mintfield Stud, is a highly experienced judge of Welsh ponies and cobs.

“It is a great honour to be invited to judge the supreme horse and pony championship at Horse of the Year Show,” he said. “I have very fond memories of judging the Price family supreme in-hand championship in 2022, so to be asked to return four years later to judge the supreme is a tremendous honour.

“It means a great deal to me and everyone at Mintfield Stud, and I’m very much looking forward to being part of such a prestigious championship.”

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Chloe Lacey topped the four- and five-year-old novice ridden championship with the outstanding Ballylee Lemon at the Connemara Pony World Search for a Star championships.

There were 77 exciting young Connemara ponies at Barnadown EC in County Wexford on 6 September, competing for the €4,000 (£3,440) prize fund on offer over four championships.

The event, now in its third year, is the brainchild of Connemara Pony Tales podcast host Lucinda Kelly.

The unique format for the Search for a Star finals included four phases: jumping, a ridden show and conformation in hand, and finally the top six were ridden by judge Harrison Taylor, while Andrew Bryne assessed jumping and conformation.

Sealing their final show together with one more championship were Chloe Lacey – who had hot-footed it back to Ireland from competing in the UK – and five-year-old Ballylee Lemon, by Slackport Prince out of Lemonfield Lass.

Their tally this year includes top-three finishes at Balmoral and Royal Dublin, as well as heading a 48-strong class at Clifden in the four- and five-year-old final and taking the reserve overall championship.

Lemon is owned by Emma O’Gorman Wall, who bought him after Royal Dublin last year for her daughter Matilda. Chloe will hand over the reins for next season.

“Emma is a client of mine and I will continue to work closely in producing him, but we are very excited for the next chapter for him – he has all the qualities to make a top junior pony,” said Chloe.

Ride judge Harrison Taylor praised Lemon’s production.

“Chloe presented Lemon beautifully; her show was balanced, confident and well executed,” he said. “Lemon gave me a truly enjoyable ride – he is a correct, true to type Connemara pony with good limbs, a pleasing way of going and an overall attractive pattern of a pony.”

This year also included the introduction of the Little Star championship for Connemaras standing 143cm or under, open to ponies aged four, five or six who were measured on the day and assessed in age order.

Ellen McLoughlin, 13, clinched this championship with the impressive 128cm Ardville Mattie K. The six-year-old gelding, bred by Jane Somerville, competes in showjumping, and has twice qualified for the 133cm working hunter pony final at Royal Dublin.

Having won the five-year-old Search for a Star championship last season with the bay Hogan’s Charm – who had finished second in the Connemara performance hunter class at Royal Dublin – Pauline Dahill collected another win this year in the four-year-old equivalent, with the exciting Glencairn Cruise, bred by her mother Jean.

“This is his first season in the show ring and his results have far exceeded our expectations. Naturally, our clients’ ponies come first and that sometimes means our own ponies don’t get to shine as much as they should, but we are so proud of how Cruise has developed and grown into a lovely young Connemara,” said Pauline.

Debbie Flavin was pushed into second, third and fourth positions with Annaveigh Mairtín, Whitethorn Lorenzo and Fortruane Apollo respectively in the four-year-old final. It was her daughter Emily Flavin-Redmond who gave the family a win in the five-year-old final with the grey mare Galtee Honeysuckle.

Judge Andrew Bryne praised the careful production of these young Connemaras.

“You could see the product of patient work today with genuine quality and correct Connemara types coming through in these age groups,” he said. “The track asked fair questions without over-facing them and the ones that impressed me jumped with their ears pricked.”

Harrison echoed his sentiments.

“It was a super day, and I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside my co-judge, Andrew,” he said. “The standard of performance ponies was exceptionally high, and we were treated to some outstanding displays across both the jumping and conformation phases.

“Throughout the day I had several rides, and despite the ponies being only four, five and six years old, I was grateful for how well produced they all were. Each pony showed balance, manners, and a sensible mind, making for comfortable and rewarding rides. We also saw a couple of exceptionally talented junior riders, whose performances were so impressive, I found myself thinking I wouldn’t mind having one or two of them on my own show team back home in the UK.”

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Former racehorse Communion secured a surprise Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) pass in the Racehorse to Riding Horse at the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) Championships.

Known at home as Monkey, he is owned by Donna Bamonte, who produces him from home, and was ridden by chance on this occasion by Sophie Staveley.

Monkey had been lightly but successfully shown – he’d qualified for the Royal International Horse Show as a large hack – when Donna saw the Mattmu seven-year-old with former owner Amanda Picillo and snapped him up in March.

“Me and mum went up to North Yorkshire and loved him,” said Donna. “Monkey was beautifully schooled and we've spent lots of time since out hacking up the hills".

Donna already had one former racehorse – Hagar – HOYS-bound having qualified at Wiltshire Spring Show, so her aim here was to make it into an evening performance.

“As Hagar was already qualified for HOYS I wanted to get into the evening performance with her - which we did having taken second in the amateur owner rider class,” Donna explained. “I was rushed with Monkey as there wasn't much time after Hagar's class, when Sophie came along and was keen to have a spin on Monkey. He went like a dream for her and won the class. I can't believe we've got two through to HOYS

The horses are a welcome relief for Donna, who lost her husband Perry Bamonte – guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure – at Christmas last year. They provided a focus in spring and continue to bring comfort.

"It's still very raw,” she said. “I need the routine and focus that the horses give me, they are my pets and family. I said to Mum that Perry wouldn't have wanted yet another horse, but Mum said she didn't think he could have cared less if it helped me. I love the longevity of the relationship I have with my horses. Getting to go out to shows is the jam on top! They are truly home produced and I was delighted that Sophie was able to step in and help on the day.”

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Where has the season gone? It feels like five minutes since we were squinting at the qualifier lists, and now the evenings are drawing in and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) is looming. It really has flown by.

Looking back over the summer, though, one thing is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: the numbers.

Not everywhere, and not in every class, but many classes that were once well filled are now running with seriously depleted numbers.

I don’t believe people have suddenly stopped wanting to show. I think it is simply becoming too expensive to compete at a certain level for the average family, and a significant part of that expense comes down to the number of societies we have, each running separate finals for the same types of class.

Most of us would hate to see showing become the preserve of those with the deepest pockets. It has always been a sport where ordinary people with one pony, plenty of determination and a bit of luck can make it to the highest level. But the average family is being quietly squeezed out and I don’t think we’ve properly reckoned with what that means, or why it is happening.

Start with the pony. A decent one that will hold its own at county level now changes hands for a sum that would put down a deposit on a house. That figure alone rules out a great many people who might otherwise be standing beside us in the collecting ring and we should be honest enough to admit that we are poorer for it.

Double the cost

But some of the cost is one we have created ourselves. This is where societies need to look hard at what they are offering their members.

In certain sections, you need to join two separate societies to compete in the same class, as one holds the Royal International route and the other HOYS. That isn’t a criticism of any one society. But collectively, we’ve ended up in a situation where the same classes require membership of different bodies and it is the competitor who pays for it twice over.

Faced with that choice, most families will simply pick one route and let the other go. Then we wonder why the classes are getting smaller.

This is something the industry needs to sit down and solve together. Nobody expects it to be simple, and there will always be different organisations with different responsibilities and ambitions. But the goal ought to be a straightforward one: better value for the people who are paying to keep our sport going.

Don't forget about the other 50%

On a brighter note, we’re only weeks away from HOYS. If you have a ticket in your pocket, here’s one last thought before you go.

For most flat classes, 50% of the mark comes from the conformation phase. Yet how many of us spend the week before bathing, plaiting and polishing, but barely a moment practising standing up?

You have literally seconds in front of that judge, and all the hot oil in the world won’t counteract four legs pointing in four different directions. Practise teaching your pony to stand correctly from a light aid and, importantly, to stay there while you step away. It gives the judge a much clearer picture of what is actually in front of them.

Spend some time really looking at the horse or pony you’re showing, too, and take off the rose-tinted glasses first. We all think ours is the best in the country, but be honest about its good points and its weaker ones. Then learn to stand it in a way that accentuates the good.

Practise in the yard, in the field, with people walking past. Recruit someone to play the judge. Half the overall marks are there for the
taking and 10 minutes a day is all it takes to go after them.

Best of luck to everyone going to Birmingham.

● How do you think we can help alleviate costs in showing without forcing our fixtures to run at a loss? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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Graham Dunkley is one of the judges who has the enviable task of judging at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

This year, what each judge is assessing will be revealed just the night before the class. Trialled in 2024, this format is back by popular demand. So, while we won't know what Lancashire-based Graham is judging for the time being, we can learn a little more about him, his background in showing, and what she will be looking for in the ring.

One thing we do know, having been trained as a classical chef, Graham can handle the heat...

Graham's background in horses and showing

Graham rode and began showing as a child. Though he rode many show ponies, two native ponies have had a significant influence on his equestrian journey.

That particular journey “began back in 1975 on a little Welsh Section A lead-rein pony called Norgwill Pipi,” says Graham.

“At the time, the local riding school was run by husband and wife team Bob and Pat Templeton, who decided to try their hand at producing show ponies. Bob later became a well-known showman with strong links to HOYS and after marrying Julie, they went on to help shape the showing world as it is today.

“My little pony Pipi also went on to enjoy success, winning his breed section at the Olympia finals.”

The second pony hit headlines just earlier this year. This was the latest addition to the Dunkley family’s herd: Highland pony Genesis of Westown (Noah). Incidentally, you can find out more about this in the March 5, 2026 issue of Horse & Hound.

“Quite unexpectedly, Noah brought me back into the show ring as a rider after a 30-year break. It certainly was not planned but he reminded me that being in the saddle is my happy place,” says Graham.

“In showing, it is easy to become so focused on turnout and performance that we put too much pressure on ourselves and those around us. Noah reminded me that we do this sport for fun. For those of us who are truly hooked, nothing quite compares with the bond between horse and rider, and competing against yourself to be better that you were yesterday.”

Owning horses is a lifelong learning curve for any equestrian. Graham believes that “the most important lesson horses have taught me is that the right way in the end isn’t always the quickest way. There isn’t a gadget or TikTok video out there that replaces the need for patience, kindness and understanding that every day is a school day. That is true when working with horses, and it is just as true in every aspect of life.”

In a lifetime spent around show ponies and horses, Graham has had a good number of highlights to remember.

“I have been lucky enough to ride some beautiful horses and ponies over the years and have enjoyed many amazing moments.”

However, one of his fondest is the memory of “a small local show, watching my son absolutely smash his first-ridden debut on his little Shetland pocket rocket.”

Graham's judging experiences and highlights

“Before judging, I got into stewarding once my riding career paused.”

This is something he would encourage all prospective judges to do.

“It teaches you how to manage a ring, which is ultimately the job of the judge. You learn to spot that child who is about to take flight on their bombproof schoolmaster, or how to deal with the one who has had a wrong leg and needs some encouragement before dealing with mum outside the ring.

“I was one of the main ring evening performance stewards for Ponies UK when it was at the East of England Showground, along with Phill Judge and Nigel Oliver. Great times.

“You also see much more than you would from the other side of the ropes and when I was starting out, the knowledge I gained from watching and talking to the senior judges was invaluable and helped me gain the confidence to become a judge.”

Graham started judging at at a very local level, “as is the case with most judges,” and has now now been a panel judge for over thirty years.

“I have been fortunate to judge at some fantastic shows and, without detracting from those experiences, my highlight has to be my two previous HOYS judging appointments; to judge at HOYS is both an honour and a privilege.

“That is the gig that every judge starting out wants to be invited to. The first time is obviously a bit daunting leading up to the show; however, the second time, you can allow yourself the time to take it all to enjoy and appreciate the experience of judging the best of the best.”

What will Graham be looking for in the ring?

“I started my riding career on show ponies and these, for me, will always hold that special place,” he says. “However, you will always get a kick when that special animal walks into the ring and that can come from any of the sections.

“I want to see animals smiling through the bridle, with an attitude that cannot be ignored,” he continues. “Reaching the finals is incredibly difficult, so all the ponies will already be of a high standard, true to type, correct in conformation and way of going.

“I’m really excited to see the one or two with that unmistakable star quality, deserving of having their names on the roll of honour alongside the great show animals of the past.”

Graham’s pet hates

“Maybe I am turning into a grumpy old man but I have a few. My biggest bugbear is bad manners and that is from the competitors. I was always taught to smile, be on time, be correctly presented and give the impression that I was doing something I enjoyed.

“Another one is animals going in a forced outline and not carrying themselves. But the pet hate that frustrates me the most is overcomplicated individual performances that are often inappropriate for the class and are usually badly executed.

“As a judge, I want to see lots of little things done well: correct paces with crisp transitions. I would rather see simple perfection than complex chaos. I have lost my winner numerous times for this reason.”

Tips for HOYS first-timers

Graham says: “The clue is in the title – be a showman.

“From the second you step into the ring to when – if you are lucky enough to be – you’re cantering out on the lap of honour, you are on show and someone will always be watching.

“Don’t play it safe; try to wow. With reference to my earlier point, that doesn’t mean attempting a one-handed serpentine, with a rein back and a walk to canter thrown in for good measure. At HOYS, there will be a set show, so take time to execute it correctly, don’t rush and most of all, enjoy the ride.”

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Helen Starkie is one of the judges who has the enviable task of judging at the 2026 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

This year, what each judge is assessing will be revealed just the night before the class. Trialled in 2024, this format is back by popular demand. So, while we won't know what Helen is judging for the time being, we can learn a little more about her, her background in showing, and what she will be looking for in the ring.

Helen Starkie’s background in horses

Lancashire-based Helen has been involved with horses since a child.

“Being a pony-mad child, my parents bought me my first pony when I was 12 years old,” says Helen. “He was a great all-rounder that I enjoyed competing at local shows. In the 80s we hacked to shows, did three or four classes and then hacked home. How things have changed!”

Both of Helen’s sons – Jack and Morgan – rode and showed ponies, predominantly natives. Both sons were successful, too, winning the mountain and moorland (M&M) first ridden class at HOYS; Jack won aboard the multigarlanded Waxwing Paintbox in 2006 before going on to take the mini M&M championship, and Morgan steered Wendon Choice to the title in 2013.

“The photos take pride of place on my living room wall,” says Helen. “Competing with their ponies gave them a strong work ethics and made them competitive. They are 24 and 30 now and are both doctors.”

Jack and Morgan also rode a pony that Helen considers has had a significant impact on her: Pumphill Bennet.

“Both my sons rode him with great success and many wins at HOYS, Royal International, Olympia and county shows. He never stopped giving his all and the partnership that he had with the boys was a pleasure to watch. He’s 25 now and enjoying his well deserved retirement at home on our farm.”

Helen says, reflecting on her time in showing: “Showing has also taught me good sportsmanship, accepting wins modestly and to act professionally when results were not always in my favour.”

Helen’s judging experience

“I started judging and stewarding when my sons got older and I had time to put something back into the system, and hopefully encourage and advise people coming into showing,” she says.

Since then, Helen has judged a host of shows up and down the country, including judging the M&M final at London International, an appointment she considers a highlight.

“I also judged in New Zealand this year, which was a fantastic experience and I would love to go back there.”

What will Helen be looking for when judging?

“At HOYS this year I am hoping to see forward moving ponies with good limb and where applicable, true to type movement and conformation.

“I am a big fan of tradition in showing regarding dress, performance, manners and sportsmanship,” she says.

“One of my pet hates is ponies going over-bent and ponies not being true to type and lacking good limb.

“My advice to HOYS first-timers is to plan your working in times, and enjoy every moment and enjoy all the show.”

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Irish working hunter team member Max Mcdonnell landed a standout win in the 153cm section of the inter-country teams competition at the British Show Pony Society summer championships with his own 10-year-old WKD Little Gift (Lola), having almost had to sit the fixture out owing to lorry troubles.

“Our lorry caught fire on the way to Dublin,” said Max’s mother Mary. “But we were lucky we had several offers to borrow one and came here in a neighbour’s lorry.”

The McDonnells have only owned the lightly campaigned mare for 10 weeks.

“He was riding with a friend and fell in love with her. She was for sale and he said, ‘Don’t sell her to anyone else, I’m buying her’,” Mary said.

“He came home and told his dad in the milking parlour that he was buying a horse. He just thought she would be fun to have about on the farm as his other good horse was injured, and she reminded him of a pony we once had for his sister.

“She’d not been in competition before, but we started jumping her and we took her over to the Scottish – she’d never been on a boat before – just to see what she was like and she won and qualified for [Horse of the Year Show] HOYS. She’s so calm and takes everything in her stride.

“Max was under no illusion she would do anything like qualifying for HOYS, but she loves it and she’s just so sweet. It was pure luck.”

The win, along with reigning Dublin champions Evie Kennedy and Little Dromin Phoenix’s win in the 143cm, contributed to Ireland’s historic win in the inter-country teams competition, led by chef d’équipe Stuart Murphy.

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Jeanette Stayt and Fado Des Brosses topped a line-up of former racehorses in the SEIB Insurance Brokers racehorse to riding horse (R2R) class held on the hallowed turf of the Defender Burghley main arena on the final day of the event (6 September).

This was the 14th annual running of this R2R Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifying class, and just the top combination earned their HOYS qualification.

“Every-time Fado goes out he is like clockwork; he loves being in the ring and the attention that comes with it,” said an elated Jeanette. “It’s made it even more special as my daughter Alex and granddaughter Jess have both flown from Scotland to groom for me today. Now they’ll have to come back down again for HOYS!”

The winning pair came to Burghley on great form. Jeanette and Fado took the champion former racehorse and champion hunter titles at the Melplash Show the week before Burghley.

Sired by Balko out of Nanou Des Brosses, Fado was bred by Michel Lecoq. Jeanette has had him for around two and a half years.

“He was in training with Fergal O’Brien having cost £280k from the Cheltenham sales. He ran several times and won three chases for Fergal. My boss John King has horses in training with Fergal, and Fado came to stay,” said Jeanette who works as a lorry driver for John’s cattle business PJ King & Son in Gloucester.

“I saw him trot across the field and decided I really wanted him. He was about to have his shoes back on and go to a new owner. I did some hard bargaining – just don’t ask how – and managed to get him.

Fado Des Brosses’ new career

“It’s taken time to get to this stage with Fado. I showed him in hand for the 2024 season and we went to several clinics. We had our first big outing at the Area 7 Show at Aston-le-Walls in 2025, where I managed to miss the novice class and so he had to go straight in and won the open Tattersalls class and went reserve champion! We’ve had to work hard on his canter and building him up.

“Both Fergal and John follow Fado’s new career, they came to watch him yesterday at Moreton show.”

Jeanette competed in SEIB Search for a Star several years ago and qualified for the HOYS final of the series with another former racehorse, Chief Executive.

Judging the qualifier at Burghley were Lucy Killingbeck, who assessed conformation, and ride judges Michaela Bowling and Jill Wormall. The judges commented on how beautifully behaved the horses were and how much they enjoyed the occasion.

SEIB R2R series organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “We are delighted to have been back at Defender Burghley again. It is such a privilege for these fabulous thoroughbreds and their riders to compete at this fantastic event with its unrivalled atmosphere, and we are very grateful to the Defender Burghley team for allowing riders this opportunity.”

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Irish riders across four teams dominated the inter-country working hunter pony teams competition on a day of torrential rain at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) summer championships (25-29 August).

As well as winning for the first time, Irish riders made up the third and sixth placed teams, led by chef d’équipe Stuart Murphy.

“We were second last year,” said secondary teacher Stuart, whose daughters were competing. “So It was amazing to see the Irish flag flying this time, and to have two or three placed in every section – even four – it all went amazing.”

Evie Kennedy and Little Dromin Phoenix won the 143cm section; Max McDonald and WKD Little Gift claimed the 153cm class ahead of fellow Irish representatives Lucy Donnan and Killaughey Super Sonic, and there was a host of other placings.

Stuart competed at BSPS himself from 1994 to 1996 and “has great memories”, so has encouraged participation in recent years.

“Four or five years ago, we came over and we didn’t even have an inter-country team at that point. It was after Covid and there was a bit of a lull,” Stuart said. “But we started to build… I started to talk to friends, and told them how much the kids would love it.”

By this year, there was no need to encourage participation; candidates had to apply for a space on the team.

“We had to be selective,” Stuart said. “Luckily the BSPS let me bring four teams and four really strong teams.”

BSPS championships: a strong team

In the run-up, Stuart knew that they would be fielding strong contenders.

Evie Kennedy, for example, was recently champion for the second time at Dublin having previously won Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), Nancy Lyons won HOYS on her 133cm Dartans Soda Ban and Burghley on her 143cm Newydd Lady Marmalade, who was also already HOYS-bound.

Intermediate contender Jessica Murphy had also qualified her intermediate Leestone Conbreaker for the NEC final.

“There was strength and depth in the Irish teams. They were first, third and sixth, but any of the teams could have won,” Stuart said.

“I’m proud of the team and the energy and enthusiasm they brought. They were doing it for fun and entertainment – cheering each other on – but to come away with the win is amazing. I’m proud of them all for how they upped their game in horrific conditions, too.”

The entire Irish plaited working hunter contingent in total included:

133cm contenders Ellie Murphy and Stockham Secret Envoi, Nancy Lyons Teehan Dartans Seoda Ban, Robin Lyons Teehan and Tybroughney Cloud and Nancy Caffrey riding Bowmount Rusty.

143cm combinations Evie Kennedy and Little Dromin Phoenix, Lily Murphy and Dunran Love In The Mist, Holly Logan and Owens Shadow, Aoife Brennan and Captain Bailey, Maggie Caffrey and Illaunurra Bay, and Clara Cully with Colemanstown Fred.

153cm contenders Lucy Donnelly and Tinraher Aggie, Lucy Donnan and Killaughey Super Sonic, Max McDonnell and WKD Little Gift.

158cm combinations Jessica Murphy and Leestone Conbreaker, Kate Horgan and Highview Shakespeare, Emily-Jayne McPolin and Thornleigh Sir Robin.

To compound the victory, the plaited working hunter teams won the premier working hunter teams competition against the UK area associations and the broader Irish representatives won the native teams competition, and stood fourth in the show hunter pony team rankings, with different ponies reaching across the various teams.

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I read Stuart Hollings’ latest column with interest, particularly his comments regarding the working hunter pony qualifiers. It landed in my inbox the very day after my sister had been 26th to jump in her Horse of the Year Show not exceeding 143cm mountain and moorland (M&M) worker qualifier. There were over 40 declared in total.

While this was a particularly large class, it’s not unusual to find at least 30 entered, and similar numbers in the not exceeding 133cm class.

How to differentiate between them? As the marks stand, the only logical way is to build what Stuart described as a “gladiatorial” track to sort the wheat from the chaff. The trouble is, some of the ponies that jump best, won’t necessarily have the conformation desired in the winner of what is, in essence, a showing class.

The solution? I would love to do away with the style marks as for me, they are wildly inconsistently applied. But it is a show class, and so style matters.

Instead, let’s award more marks for conformation and for show, which currently holds a paltry 10 marks in pony classes.

Awarding a mark from 20 for show and 30 for conformation means these phases are of more significant consequence, which if nothing else, makes it more interesting for the second judge!

This way, we can have the kind of tough track necessary to whittle down contenders and keep the adrenaline junkies on board happy, while honouring the class’s roots in showing.

Do we need more junior M&M classes?

With numbers this big, is it time we also had a second, if not a third, junior M&M working hunter qualifier, further to the junior 122cm class we currently have?

The number of children and teens contesting these classes and the popularity of the flat junior M&M qualifiers suggests that there could be appetite.

Meanwhile these flat classes are now enormous, and sometimes hairy to watch, figuratively and literally! Of course qualifying should be a challenge, but even top-notch combinations struggle to find a space, stay out of trouble and shine in front of the judges.

Perhaps it’s time they were split further? This would not only allow more children an opportunity to ride at HOYS, but also surely make the go-rounds a little calmer? Perhaps splitting entries by height – 128cm, 138cm and exceeding 138cm – avoids the repetition of the breed classes, but still alleviates the current problem.

We’re ambassadors for our sport

I sat with my toddler daughter through every grand parade at the Royal Welsh. She was mesmerized, not so much by the gee-gees – she sees those at home – but by the cows and sheep. It made me think that elsewhere in the grandstand, a future showing star may be falling in love with the gee-gees.

It cemented the importance of the county fixture for me, and our roles as ambassadors for our sport and the countryside in general.

It’s also why I’m behind hosting qualifiers at county shows where possible. To be truly inspired, the public needs to see the crème de la crème out in force.

Finally, as usual at this time of year, I hear ripples of discontent over this result or other.

When I was teaching, I loved discussing JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls with my class, where the playwright explores the differences between legality and morality. Being legally just is not the same as morally just. I would urge competitors to consider this when entering fixtures.

Just because you can show under a judge, doesn’t necessarily mean you should.

● What alterations would you make to the schedule of qualifying classes? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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This summer I heard a commentator at a show announcing that a winning pony “was ridden and shown by ....”. My immediate thought was that this perfectly describes showing at its best, highlighting not only a rider’s ability in the saddle, but also to present an animal at its best.

A switched-on jockey with excellent ringcraft can easily beat even the potential class winner if it has a less skilled show rider on board.

Overall, riders have upped their game with their individual displays, but some still fall short in the conformation section, especially in working hunter pony circles when poor presentation can lose you valuable marks.

Could this be the reason that successful flat riders can often come to the fore in the workers?

I cannot believe the number of times riders – including adults – feel the need to ask, “Where would you like me to stand?” in the conformation phase, or ask the judge to explain the set show again because they haven’t been watching other competitors during the class or from the collecting ring beforehand.

For me, it’s akin to working hunter competitors not walking the course properly nor observing how it rides in the early stages of the class.

“Which camp are you?”

On the subject of workers, I was confused recently when an owner complained that a course was “too easy and it turned into a show class” as the section came under the jurisdiction of the British Show Pony Society!

The problem lies in the fact that course designs vary so much. Some can appear gladiatorial, sometimes taking over four minutes to complete.

Davina Whiteman advised me to always look for the next fence before landing at the previous one. Nowadays, that fence could be lurking around a corner out of sight, which must be daunting for the younger competitors during their round.

So which camp are you in – an owner appreciating a show hunter pony that can jump or one who advocates that jumping is everything and the more challenging the task, the better?

It’s disturbing to hear that competitors not returning for championships and supremes is becoming more commonplace and surprising in this economic climate when a decent purse is on offer and prize money won earlier will be confiscated for non-attendance. One could argue that by entering a show, you have signed up for the whole step-by-step process.

The situation is more understandable if a supreme like a Horse of the Year Show in-hand qualifying round is two days later, but not if it’s on the same day. I’m told some Price Family supreme in-hand qualifying shows are contemplating following in the footsteps of Royal Cheshire and Pembrokeshire that have all the in-hand classes in one day.

I firmly believe that when a rider withdraws from a championship – usually without permission – or when they elect which animal to show and leave their other eligible contender(s) in the horsebox, they are influencing the outcome and undermining the role of the appointed judge.

Why rosettes are like chocolate bars

Is it me or are rosettes, like chocolate bars, getting smaller at some events? With a vast range of colours and designs available, why are some of the county shows still awarding ghastly rosettes in 50 shades of gravy and boring white ones, for the major placings?

On the flip side, some of the sashes are completely over the top and I wonder if there is a case of private ‘one-upmanship’ taking place among the sponsors. Some sashes wouldn’t look out of place at Chelsea Flower Show or encasing a massive celebration cake.

I fully appreciate the time and workmanship involved and dread to think of the expense, but sometimes less is more. Call me old-fashioned, but there is nothing better than a traditional lined sash that doesn’t appear crumpled in the presentation photos..

● What sort of working hunter pony track do you like to see and why? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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Huge progress continues to be made in tackling equine obesity in the show ring – and key to future success must be “embedding” this thinking in judging.

Those behind the Weigh to Win awards – by which the horse or pony in the healthiest body condition in a participating class is given a special rosette – held a discussion at the Royal International Horse Show on 22 July.

The scheme is funded by The Horse Trust and supported by the University of Liverpool, has been running since 2019 and is expanding every year. In 2026, there was a 19% increase, to 60, in the number of events hosting the awards. Representatives have been invited to societies’ judge-training conferences and run training days, covering areas including body condition scoring and the risks associated with excess equine weight.

Scheme spokesperson Rachael Holdsworth reported on the first Weigh to Win awards championships last year; finalists who had won multiple awards were invited to the London International Horse Show and the winners presented with rosettes and sashes. The second championship will take place at this year’s show.

Ms Holdsworth added that the scheme’s social media posts are now being seen by thousands of people, including 70,000 views in three months on Facebook this year.

“It blows my mind to see all these people engaging with this; I think it’s a huge step forward,” she said. “Looking to the future, we’re going to talk about how we move the program forward. We’d like to work more with judges, to encourage winners to give us more feedback. We’ve had our judges’ WhatsApp group in operation for a couple of years, which works really well, and more involvement with that will help us cover more shows.

“Thank you all for being such supporters of this programme. We’re all in this together and making a difference.”

Body condition score data collected since 2021 show a “significant improvement”.

Weight to win awards’ “fantastic” progress

British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) president Imogen Burrows said it was “fantastic” to see the initiative’s progress, but asked if availability of people to judge body condition in participating classes may be a barrier.

“BEVA has tried to advertise for people who want to get involved,” she said. “It is quite daunting to stand alongside a judge but you do tend to get asked back, and I think at local shows, that’s good advertising for the practice.

“We get members saying, ‘We see all these fat ponies in showing’, what are you doing, and staying engaged with this gives the opportunity to see the change, and to go back to them and say ‘You can be part of the solution’.”

Ms Burrows suggested that vets champion clients who have won the healthy weight awards to help inspire others and spread the word of the scheme.

It was agreed that no award should be given out if no horses in a class are in a healthy condition.

“If there’s nothing [healthy], should we give a rosette?” said Jan Rogers of the Horse Trust.

“They may be the healthiest, but [the excess weight] is doing damage just by being there. If we’re giving it to horses who are not healthy, even if they are the healthiest looking, what message are we conveying to people watching?”

The wrong message?

One organiser said that in such a case, the show moved the body condition judge to another class rather than give the rosette to an overweight horse. A judge said she had walked out of classes as giving an award would give the wrong message.

It was suggested that in classes with several healthy horses, some could be given highly commended cards to show owners they are on the right track.

Ms Rogers said all the data from participating classes is collated by researcher Tamzin Furtado, who has been running the scheme with Ms Rogers from the start.

“There are some really positive changes,” she said. “Pony crests, for example – we’ve seen a nice downward line on the graph, and that’s fantastic. There are some classes that are quite resistant to change. Those would be the maxi cobs, but they have improved. They were off the scale, now they’re on it but there’s still far to go.

“Also Welsh section Cs and Ds and Highlands are the ones where we’re really trying to get changes. We need to think about what it is in those classes and communities that means people aren’t quite getting the message.”

Welfare at the forefront

It was agreed that welfare must be at the forefront in judging, and that societies must empower judges to work in this way.

“The whole thing about body condition should be more mainstream, embedded in the judging culture and in the judge,” Ms Rogers said. “Judges are saying they’re instructed to do it, and some do, to a greater or lesser extent.”

Producer Edward Young said that although things are improving, “there are still fat horses being rewarded” in class placings.

“I’d love one of these rosettes,” he said. “There are still classes where the horse who wins the weigh to win isn’t placed. Until judges start putting those horses higher; that’s going to be the biggest challenge.

“The biggest acid test will be when horses that condition-score correctly are making up the majority of the line, and that will be through the societies. It has to be embedded in the judging criteria, that’s the only way forward.”

What do you think about the progress made in tackling obesity? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

A new in-hand championship at the Agria Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) will “celebrate and promote excellence” in horse and pony breeding.

The National Pony Society (NPS) and RIHS are “delighted” to confirm that the Cases Ltd NPS Pendley supreme in-hand series will run next year, culminating in a championship in the International Arena at Hickstead.

Qualifiers will be held at NPS and Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain affiliated shows, for hunter, hack and riding horse, British Riding Pony and show hunter pony breeding, as well as all registered mountain and moorland ponies.

NPS chair Jackie Webb said: “The brainchild of 2025 NPS president Sara Hird, the competition aims to identify and celebrate the leading light horse or pony in-hand champion of the year, while also recognising and rewarding breeding excellence, reflecting the charitable objectives of the NPS.”

Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn said this will be an “exciting addition” to the show, thanking those who have worked towards it, and the sponsors Suzanne and Ian Burns.

Mrs Burns said the couple were delighted to support the championship.

“Ian and I are passionate about investing in the future of pony breeding and showing,” she said. “We believe this competition has enormous potential to promote our native and riding pony breeds while supporting breeders during these challenging times.

“We are thrilled that the NPS is driving this exciting new initiative forward and look forward to seeing the finalists compete at the 2027 Agria Royal International Horse Show.”

Details of qualification criteria, venues and championship conditions will be announced shortly.

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The 2026 Global Champions Arabians Tour (GCAT) London's played out spectacularly at the Royal Chelsea Hospital.

This was the fifth stage of six in the Europe and Middle East series. The Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat and Monaco championships have already played out, and Aachen will hold the final leg in September. An Americas tour is also ongoing, ahead of the world supreme showdown in Paris.

More than 90 pure-bred Arabians from all over the globe did battle for these prestigious titles and the staggering $636,000 (close to £472,000) prize pot here. A further $4.1m (just over £3m) will be awarded to the top 20 males, females and handlers at the end of the 2026 season.

Nine judges assessed each exhibit in every class, but there were 11 esteemed judges in attendance so that organisers could avoid clear conflicts of interest by swapping the combinations of officials.

Officials carefully scrutinised the type, head and neck, body, legs and movement of each animal, awarding a mark out of 20 for these different components. These marks are used to create a ranking system and determine placings.

Global Champions Arabians Tour champions

Senior stallion

D Shahhar continued his remarkable undefeated run here, stealing the gold senior stallion championship with his exceptional presence. The Dubai Arabian Horse Stud’s home-bred six-year-old is sired by Excalibur EA out of D Shihanah was handled to victory by Paolo Capecci.

In reserve for the senior stallion spoils was eight-year-old Rhan Al Shahania, owned by HE Sheikha Reem M K Al Thani.

Senior mare

The Dubai Arabian Horse Stud delivered a one-two in the senior mare champion. The stud bred the eventual champion, D Seraj seven-year-old D Dhayrah, now owned by Al Mirqab Farm. She was shown by Giacomo Capacci to deliver a standout per performance and claim the title.

Taking the silver in the senior mare championship was the stud's retained D Najlah.

Junior filly

There was more success for the Dubai Arabian Horse Stud when Paolo Capecci led their home-bred Fa El Rasheem three-year-old D Rowa in the junior fillies showdown.

D Rowa beat Mashaof Stud’s Malika Najd into the silver spot in the junior fillies.

Junior colt

Al Shaqab’s Synatra, a Sharif Al Zobair three-year-old bred by Joseph Polo in the United States and shown here by Arnauld Mertens, landed gold in the junior colts championship – his second gold of the season.

Yearling colt

Ajman Stud fielded two of the top picks in the yearling ranks: winning colt RDS Donatello and bronze filly, the Brazilian-bred HDF Izabella, who made an impressive debut here. Silver in the colts was awarded to Shawash Ajmal, owned by Turki Alothman.

Yearling filly

It was Hleetan Qatar Stud’s Sultanah Alarab who stole the show for gold in the yearling filly final ahead of Aljumail Stud's Shalwa Al Adwan.

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The summer season is now well and truly in full swing. At the time of sending this to print, I’m especially looking forward to competing at the Dublin Horse Show this week. It’s been on my bucket list for years.

If you’ve never been to Dublin, I’d definitely recommend putting it on your list. It’s a fantastic show with an atmosphere unlike anywhere else, and I’m really looking forward to experiencing it from inside the ring for the first time.

To qualify, I had to travel over to Ireland a few weeks ago, as over there it’s the horse and rider combination that qualifies, so you can’t qualify the animal and substitute another rider.

Set shows

One thing that’s really struck me over the last few weeks is the use of set shows and whether they’re actually being marked as intended.

It’s certainly not a new discussion. Spend five minutes around the collecting ring and it’s a topic that comes up time and time again. The general feeling is that when a rider doesn’t perform the set show as specified, those inaccuracies aren’t always reflected in the marks.

I’ve watched several classes recently where competitors have been given a set show, yet obvious errors haven’t appeared to affect the performance mark. A rider might be asked to trot the full diagonal but strikes off into canter over X, or misses a marker altogether. Surely those things should be reflected in the performance mark? Otherwise, what’s the point of having a set show?

For me, it also feels a little unfair on those competitors who have ridden the set show to the letter. If accuracy isn’t properly recognised, it inevitably leaves people frustrated and questioning whether that attention to detail really mattered.

First ridden classes

The other thing I have found myself questioning is whether set shows really belong in first ridden classes. Personally, I’m not convinced they do.

First ridden classes are a child’s first real solo introduction to ridden showing. It’s their first opportunity to compete without the support of a leader, so building confidence, learning the ropes and, most importantly, enjoying themselves should be the priority.

Most children spend weeks at home practising their individual show. They know exactly where they are going to trot, where they would like to canter and where they plan to halt, meaning that when they walk into the ring they’re as confident and prepared as they can possibly be.

Then comes the curve ball. They’re handed a completely different show to the one they’ve spent many weeks practising.

I’ve watched children who are perfectly capable riders suddenly freeze because they’re desperately trying to remember what comes next. The focus shifts from riding well and showing off a happy partnership with their pony to trying to remember the next movement.

For some children that’s absolutely fine, but for others it completely knocks their confidence, which is a real shame. One bad experience at that age can easily dent a child’s confidence, and confidence is arguably the most important thing we’re trying to build in those early years.

I know the counterargument will be that they need to learn to adapt. I don’t disagree that it’s an important part of progressing through the levels. But does that really need to start in the first riddens? Wouldn’t we be better allowing children to build confidence first, before introducing set shows as they move up the ranks?

I’m not sure there’s a right or wrong answer, which is exactly why it’s an interesting discussion to have. Are set shows really adding value to these classes, or are they simply creating an unnecessary hurdle for the very riders we’re trying to encourage?

● If you were judging, how would you deal with a rider failing to perform your set show, even if they were your favourite combination? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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One-eyed former racehorse An Cathoir continues to break ground for his owner-rider Victoria Bertorelli, most recently topping the lightweight hunter division at the Royal Welsh and going on to stand reserve hunter champion.

“He’s won the retrained racehorse class twice before,” said Victoria. “We entered the hunters at the last minute as I’ve been nagged for years to give it a whirl.”

Remarkably, this is the thoroughbred 17-year-old’s third career.

“Angus” began working life on the track, but retired after just six runs, and found a second career as a huntsman’s horse.

Victoria bought him in 2020, and began the process of transforming the Turtle Island gelding into the show horse he is today.

It’s not been an easy journey.

“We only managed a total of two outings before he was diagnosed with uveitis, and two months later we made the sad decision to remove his eye,” said Victoria. “In hindsight it was the best decision we ever made.”

Angus “bounced back” only to incur further injury and need a long stint of rehab.

Since these initial setbacks, the pair have gone from strength to strength.

Last term, they won the Retraining of Racehorses amateur series championship at Hickstead, and have already booked their 2027 return pass. They are also set to compete for the first time at Horse of the Year Show in October having qualified at the Royal Three Counties.

“It’s my first ever ticket,” said Victoria, who is currently fitting Angus’ production in around setting up her new bespoke clothing line, ViBe Equestrian. “We’ve been trying for three years and had never been out of the line-up in all our previous attempts.

“But I 100% never thought it would happen. We’ve been pulled top too many times to mention and I always assumed we were dropped due to his eye, so when we were finally brought up to win I ignored the stewards the first time they called me as I didn’t believe they were pointing at me.”

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With Dublin Horse Show this week (5-9 August), Ballynahinch-based showing producer Rachel Moore Rooney’s schedule has been jam-packed with preparations.

But she found time to speak to H&H showing editor Bethan Simons for episode 179 of The Horse & Hound podcast, sponsored by Clip My Horse TV, about preparing young horses for Dublin and the incredibly buzzy atmosphere.

Rachel concedes that “it is a big ask” for young horses.

“I don't think anyone understands like how buzzy it is until you're in that ring. So it's a big ask for them,” says Rachel.

“Our four and five-year-olds have to do three shows before they're actually allowed to compete at Dublin Horse Show, which is good. It gives the ride judge a little bit of reassurance that they've seen a bit and done a bit because it is a massive atmosphere.”

To prepare for the show, Rachel prefers to take her youngsters to quieter fixtures.

“I like to just do a few quieter shows with them, and I don't like to expose them to a massive atmosphere, because it can sometimes send them the other way,” she explains.

“We try to do a lot of local shows and just keep everything nice and calm, and just hope. A lot of them won't take the atmosphere, so you kind of gauge their temperament at home and what they're going to be like. Not everything will cope with Dublin.”

Winning at Dublin

Over the years, Rachel has enjoyed considerable success at Dublin, including a shock win in the working hunter championship, something she considers a career highlight.

“We’d had a long, long week. It had been an okay week, but you know when you're just kind of deflated? And you had high hopes for a horse, and one thing and another happened?” she says of the build-up to that win.

The workers plays out on the show’s final day, and having been there for a week, Rachel felt she’d rather go home.

“I was like, ‘Do you know what? We’ll just pack up and we’ll go home’.”

To add to the week’s pressure’s, Rachel was set to marry now husband Kyle four days later. Luckily, Kyle and her parents felt she should go for her last class of the week.

“My mum threw the plaits in with bands – she never plaits with bands – but the class was starting. So she was plaiting him, and one of the girls was studding, and they let me walk the course. I was like, ‘it's quite a quite a steep track’, but I knew my horse was more than capable and thought ‘I'm just gonna go in, and whatever happens, that'll keep everyone happy if nothing else’.”

It was a good thing she stayed.

“We went in, and he jumped the most perfect round, and he rode just amazing for the judge, and he won, and then he was champion. You couldn't have written it. It just was meant to be. We’d had him since a foal so it was a long old road, and he just was such a special horse. That was my last show with him. He then was sold. It was lovely.”

Looking ahead, it’s the hunter championship that Rachel has her eye on:

“I think everyone says the same, but my goal would be to win the hunter championship at Dublin. It would just be totally the icing on the cake. But I guess every single person on this side of the water would all say the same.

“That will be the dream to win that supreme on a Saturday morning in the main arena. But we'll keep giving it a go and keep trying, and maybe one day it'll happen, and maybe it won't. But that's okay; it can still be my goal and we can keep chasing it.”

Judging at HOYS

Beyond Dublin, Rachel has an exciting judging appointment: Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). She’s named as one of the pool of judges who will be allocated classes the night before the class.

“It is really exciting. I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be great. I go most years so it'll be a weird one not competing, but definitely it's a privilege to be asked.”

In the face of speculation that appointed judges do know what they are judging but are sworn to secrecy, Rachel is clear: “No, I genuinely do not know what I'm judging.

“I could be as shocked as everyone else, so I'm just gonna take it and see what comes. It's gonna be a surprise for me as well as everyone else.”

In the podcast, Rachel goes on to elaborate on the trials it poses when it comes to packing her outfit for judging.

“I think we're going to have to overpack and just be prepared to do anything.”

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