Sole double clear takes leading pony showjumper title at HOYS

Elissa Herrmann riding LAPISLAZULI, winner of the Sorbeo Leading Pony Showjumper HOYS — Elissa Herrmann riding LAPISLAZULI, winner of the Sorbeo Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 6 -10th October 2021

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The winner of the Sorbeo leading pony showjumper title at HOYS said she “hasn’t ridden much recently” — but still managed to jump the only double clear to take the coveted title.

Elissa Herrmann and Lapislazuli, who were on the British team that finished fourth at the pony European Championships in August, jumped a neat, accurate round to clinch the prestigious title, from third draw in a seven-strong jump-off.

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

Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

‘I haven’t ridden much recently!’ sole double clear wins prestigious HOYS title

“This is my last year in ponies, so it’s a good way to go out!” said Elissa, who turns 16 in December.

“I can’t put it into words, how this feels. You can say you might win but you don’t think you actually will. It’s quite difficult to hold your nerve, but I had a good team of people cheering me on.”

“He’s very fidgety sometimes, but very sweet and loving,” Elissa said. “He’s a bit like a rocking horse to ride because he’s so comfortable.

“I was a bit apprehensive when I came out, about whether my round had been good enough, and I knew there were people coming who can go fast, but it was just good to leave all the fences up.”

Elissa’s biggest challenge is getting to ride at all, as she lives in Hampshire and her ponies live with trainers Jason and Katrina Moore, in Essex.

“They’re the best, which is why we keep them there but I haven’t ridden much recently!” she said. “So I’m very happy with today. This is the big one. There’s nothing more special than HOYS.”

Sophie Evans and Oscar Van De Beekerheide came second in the HOYS leading pony showjumper class, with Ollie Fry and Zucan V, who won the title in 2019 with Ollie’s brother Toby, in third.

You might also be interested in:

‘I owed it to him’: PE teacher and 21-year-old horse take HOYS title

‘He’s my best friend in the world’: speed-riding masterclass secures HOYS pony title