A Welsh section C has measured out of its height allowance a week before the 2018 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and has consequently been disqualified from the open ridden final he was set to compete in on Wednesday 3 October.
Lisa Haye’s nine-year-old gelding Efran Cai was purchased six weeks ago with a HOYS ride from show producer Debbie Barr. The pony qualified with Debbie’s daughter at NPS Area 25 show and competed at the final last year, as well as taking sixth place at the Royal International in July.
Despite measuring in at 137cm last season, the pony was measured at 142.2cm when he was inspected last week. The maximum height limit for a Welsh section C is 137.2cm (13.2h) meaning the pony will require re-registering in the larger Welsh section (Welsh section D) if he is to compete in the future.
HOYS organisers Grandstand Media said: “Grandstand Media Ltd can confirm that the Welsh section C, Erfan Cai, has measured out of the class it qualified for and has therefore been disqualified resulting in the qualification being passed down the line in accordance with the Horse of the Year Show rules.”
Taking the place in the final will be Iysha Pitman and the stallion Hywi The Enforcer. The six-year-old will be making his first appearance at the show after standing second in two qualifiers during his debut ridden season.
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The Mountain and Moorland (M&M) classes will take place in the TopSpec Arena on Wednesday (large breeds) and Thursday (small breeds), before the top two from each class will come forward for the overall championship held in the Andrews Bowen International Arena on Thursday night.
M&Ms also have their own junior ridden, working hunter and mini sections and a total of four native champions will contend the overall pony supreme held on Sunday.
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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.
