‘She is pure elegance’: 15-year-old mare leads HOYS heavy horses after phenomenal performance

The oldest horse in The Barber Family 2024 HOYS British ridden heavy horse of the year championship stole the show to provide her connections with their first Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) victory.

Alice Pimbley piloted Harry and Hannah Bardsley’s 15-year-old Shire mare Moorfield Nancy into the top spot.

Judges JJ Kemp (ride) and Captain James Anderson (conformation) were both captivated with the upstanding mare’s “phenomenal performance”.

Nancy was bred by Peter Williams. She is a daughter of the stallion Trem Y Wyddfa Mascot.

She has only been lightly shown, having bred three foals prior to her joining the ridden heavy horse scene last year.

Alice took the ride on her last summer. She first rode her in the ring at Staffordshire County where they finished second in the HOYS qualifier. Earlier this season they returned to that show ground to bag their ticket. She was also champion at Cheshire County this term.

“We’ve had a fantastic year, though she’s done very little,” Alice said. “When she’s stood still she’s a nice horse, but she really shines when she goes up a level. She rides like a hack. I’ve never known anything like her.”

Nancy is based with Harry and Hannah full-time, with Alice taking the reins at shows.

“I met Nancy when she was two hours old,” said Shire enthusiast Harry, who has now owned her for 10 years. “Nancy is pure elegance. She’s also a sweetheart; you can lead her out to the field in the headcollar and she’ll just follow you. This was our first time at HOYS, and while it sounds like a cliche, winning is a dream come true.”

This was Alice’s first HOYS win, following in the footsteps of her mother, Jayne, who has won in Birmingham before: “As horses are my job we always have to sell them with the ride, but Harry and Hannah have been so loyal and have let me go all the way through with Nancy. I am so grateful.”

• 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:

‘He’s a pony of a lifetime’: HOYS glory for equine physiotherapist and home-produced Connie

‘I’m in shock’: Highland stallion provides rider with second HOYS win of the day

Rider takes second HOYS title 10 years on – with son of her first winning ride

‘He definitely stands out’: former eventing pony shines in the ring en route to HOYS triumph

‘He totally owned it today’: second HOYS title for 15-year-old Fell stallion

‘He does the lot, even half pass’: amateur’s joy as her dressage star leads Dales field at HOYS

‘This is the second time I’ve sat on him’: stand-in rider reigns at HOYS with Shetland stallion

‘This was unexpected’: gelding takes SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse crown on fifth HOYS visit

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