2022 HOYS qualifiers and details of two new classes

Louvaine Rooney and Megan Cookson take the Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year title at HOYS 2021.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Grandstand Media has announced the list of qualifiers for the 2022 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), set to be held at the NEC from 5-9 October.

As well as all the usual set of classes, two new finals have been added to the schedule; the ridden Dartmoor pony of the year and the mountain and moorland (M&M) 122cm junior working hunter pony of the year.

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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.

Two new classes added as HOYS qualifiers announced

Throughout the season there will now be some individual qualifying classes for the Dartmoor ponies, as well as the usual mixed qualifying classes for all breeds as in previous years.

“This qualifying season will offer competitors even more opportunities via a greater geographical split of shows than ever before,” said a spokesman for Grandstand Media.

The addition of the M&M 122cm junior working hunter pony class, which will host 10 finalists who have qualified at respective shows held throughout the season, comes from “extensive feedback and a want to encourage the younger generation of riders within the sport of showing”.

Eligible ponies for both the open 122cm and the junior 122cm will only be able to compete in one of these categories at the HOYS final. They may enter both categories when competing at qualifying shows but must compete in the class they qualify for first at HOYS.

The Grandstand spokesman added: “Let 2022 be the year of encouragement, support, and appreciation for what we have in this sport. Tell the person next to you in the line-up that they did a nice show, and refrain from posting that comment online that might bring someone down.

“There are so many exciting opportunities for everyone this year, through both the new classes and an increased geographical spread of shows, so let’s all aspire to restore the sport to its full glory after this bump in the road.”

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