Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) has revealed the four showing wildcard winners who have bagged qualification tickets in their respective finals, following their consistency in this season’s qualifiers.
Following the successful introduction of the wild cards in 2015, HOYS was “thrilled” to announce the 2018 results. The wild cards are determined by means of the LeMieux La Liga Consistency Awards. The points series recognises those who have shown consistency throughout the year in the qualifiers.
They are awarded to the highest scoring horses and ponies, taking their top five results across the qualifying season. This year, two pony and two horse wild cards have been awarded, with all four animals finishing joint on points and placings (four second places and one third).
The ponies to have qualified are:
Glencarrig Patrick (owned and ridden by Victoria Edwards-Sonnex) in the NPS/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain & Moorland Connemara Pony of the Year.
Olympia Ridden M&M Qualifiers
12 Ridden New Forest or Connemara
Winner
145
Gencarrrig Patrick.
Rider: Victoria Edwards-Sonnex
(Image credit: Real Time Imaging)
Mirah Hero (owned by Angela Pallett and ridden by Gemma Pallett) in the British Show Pony Society mountain & moorland 143cm working hunter pony of the year.
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Made In Ireland (owned by Deborah Curtis) in the Topham Barnes small riding horse of the year (Pictured here in 2016 with Sarah White.)
MADE IN IRELAND
SARAH WHITE
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Freckleton High Flyer (Owned and ridden by Liz Cross) in the coloured ridden non-native horse of the year sponsored by CHAPS (UK) (Pictured here in 2015 with Ashley Anderson)
Freckleton High Flyer handler Ashley Anderson (70)
CHAPS Champions, Arena UK, Grantham
(Image credit: David Miller)
Victoria, who has qualified her own Connemara stallion Patrick after amassing four frustrating seconds, celebrated on social media:
“The best phone call today, we only went and got the wild card. Sorry Patrick, holidays are postponed, we are off to HOYS. I’m absolutely thrilled.”
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Freckleton High Flyer’s producer Christine also shared her delight:
“Freckleton High Flyer is on the HOYS bus. He has won the wild card. Best get him in from the field now.”
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
