HOYS New Forest: Vikki Smith wins aboard Lovelyhill Folklore

Stunning blue roan stallion Lovelyhill Folklore went one better than his runner-up spot here last year to land the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) New Forest championship title with Vikki Smith.

Lovelyhill Folklore, and 11-year-old by Applewitch Pure Magic and out of Yewtree On High, is owned by Penny Sutton and has been produced and ridden by Vikki for two years.

“He’s got both fillies and colts on the ground this year and has thrown a few roans, although not a blue roan yet – we’re still waiting for one of those,” said Vikki. “He’s cheeky, but he’s always got his ears forward and loves his work. He’s a pleasure to have around and really is an outstanding stallion. He’s a little pocket rocket and I love the bones off him. He gave me everything today.”

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

TOPICS

Stephanie Bateman began her career working for Horse & Hound’s sister title HORSE magazine in 2009 after studying a BSc Equine Science degree at Hartpury university. After a few years working in-house for a national equestrian title, she went freelance in 2011, and now writes for a variety of print and online platforms, editing sections of national monthly magazines and contributing regular features and event reports to Horse & Hound. She juggles working with being a mummy and wife, and riding her coloured mare Matilda.

‘I love the bones of him’: meet the blue roan HOYS New Forest champion

“He felt amazing,” exclaimed an ecstatic Vikki. “He’s jumping in the workers tomorrow, too, so he’s a really versatile pony. I’m so pleased with him.”

Lovelyhill Folklore is a covering stallion alongside his ridden duties, but juggles the two jobs easily.

Vikki jumps the stallion once and week and schools him once a week, and they hack the rest of the time.

“He goes out in the pitch black and up the main road and doesn’t bat an eyelid at anything,” she explained. “He’s just mega.”

The stallion will now be prepared for the working hunter class tomorrow.

“He’ll then do the Heritage championships before the Olympia qualifier, and then it’s up his owner what he does next,” added Vikki.

The runner-up spot was awarded to Hilltop Ned and Rebecca Penny, while third place went to Backley Dream Maker and Danielle Hughes.

You might also be interested in…

HOYS announces its 2022 wild cards

‘We wish Mum could have been here’: special home-bred stallion produces emotional HOYS win

‘I was thankful to be alive’: how HOYS 2022 judge overcame the odds after freak accident