‘He’s a dream’: show pony lead-rein is mini champion at HOYS with tiny rider

A lead-rein hailed as a “dream mini pony” by his show team took home the Annabel’s Deliciously British HOYS 2024 mini show pony of the year title at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

At HOYS in 2022, the Westgrove Dark Secret gelding Derw Dream Boy (Dave) won the same title with his previous owners, the Knipe Family.

On this occasion, he was shown by Craig Elenor and ridden by five-year-old Sienna Clay, for whom this was her first HOYS appearance.

Judge Gregory Gerry said: “He was such a charming and quality pony who did his job looking after his tiny rider.”

Sara Parrott co-produces the pony alongside Craig: “We’ve had him for a year. We watched him win HOYS the year before last and over a few drinks at a ball a few weeks later we said he was the one we’d like for Sienna. We bought him after HOYS in 2023.”

The pair have enjoyed minimal outings, but stood mini champions at Three Counties, booking their HOYS place, and winning the tiny-tots title at the BSPS summer championships.

“He’s a dream to produce and while he’s full of personality he’s so easy,” Sara added.

Craig has quite the record in plaited mini ranks at HOYS; he’s led in the show pony lead-rein class three times and he was mini champion in 2017 and reserve last year.

Sienna has watched her big brother, Finlay, ride at HOYS several times. In 2023, he won here on a lead-rein Dartmoor pony.

“She’s following in his footsteps,” said Mum Heather. “The pair have totally exceeded our expectations; as Sienna is so tiny we thought maybe next year might be their time, but they’ve blown us away.”

Lara-Rae Jones and David Jinks’ Archwood Finley lifted the first-ridden honours and finished reserve in the HOYS 2024 mini show pony of the year championship.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Home-producers shine at HOYS — Meet the 2024 SEIB Search For A Star winners

‘She told me not to watch!’ Tiny rider and pony in full flight to win first HOYS title

‘My life revolves around this horse’: HOYS glory for home-bred and home-produced Arab

‘We’ve been on a journey’: big-moving Welsh and 12-year-old rider are champions at HOYS

‘This never gets old’: Olympic gold medallist takes blistering HOYS win

‘They don’t make them like him often’: worker stuns on the flat to lifts HOYS hunter title

A breeder’s dream: home-breds lead HOYS in-hand supreme field, as young filly steals the show

‘On a horse, I feel like a young man’ Whitakers’ guard of honour as John given top HOYS award

‘He’s sent me flying a few times’: hard work with ‘tricky’ horse pays as he scoops HOYS title

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