Delight as 2021 Horse of the Year Show gets the green light
The Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) will go ahead this year on 6-10 October.
The event, which was cancelled last year owing to Covid, will take place at its usual home, the NEC Birmingham.
“Following the recent Government announcements, we have decided to go ahead with the planning of a fantastic HOYS 2021, with a ticketed audience,” said a spokesman for Grandstand.
“Along with exceptional competition and displays, the first part of the week is packed with all the fan favourites including mountain and moorland classes on Wednesday to Friday, national showjumping championships on Thursday, and the prestigious Price family supreme in-hand championship showcasing on Friday.”
On the Saturday visitors can enjoy championships “galore” in the TopSpec Arena and the Andrews Bowen International Arena.
“The evening performance is equally exhilarating with the final instalment of the Osborne Refrigerators Scurry driving championship and the continuation of the international showjumping classes including the highly anticipated Ripon Select Foods puissance,” said the spokesman.
“Sunday remains the ‘day of champions’ as the show comes to a climax with the crowning of the Horse of the Year Show supreme horse and pony of the year and the leading showjumper of the year. You will also get the chance to see the awarding of the much-coveted Prince Philip Cup to the Pony Club team who have raced their way to victory in the mounted games heats.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
The “finale celebrations” will take place on the Sunday evening.
“In the context of the current public health situation, our aspiration remains the same, to stage the best HOYS, with the health and safety of trade stand holders, guests, staff, competitors, volunteers, and the community remaining our highest priority,” said HOYS event director Emma Williams.
Article continued below…
Horse of the Year Show announces 2021 showing qualifiers
'We recognise the huge responsibility we have to the industry, and that we have to make certain that the qualifiers
Four-time HOYS-winning show horse produces three ET fillies
DPUK Night Dancer won Horse of the Year Show as both a small hack and a small intermediate show riding
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
“We are working with the venue and are confident that we can deliver a safe and productive event for all.”
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 14 May on the HOYS website hoys.co.uk/tickets and the box office: 0344 581 8282. Disabled bookings can be made by calling 0800 640 5001 and discounts are available for groups of 10+ through the groups booking line on 0800 358 0058 or by emailing groups@theticketfactory.com.
“All 2020 HOYS general, season, M&M, hospitality and Champions Bar tickets will automatically be transferred to the 2021 event for the corresponding days and same seats purchased. We will be working together with our ticketing agent, The Ticket Factory, to communicate directly with all ticket holders regarding their purchases,” said the spokesman.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.