New Beginnings and Retirements as Day Three at HOYS Draws to a Close

The Catplant Group of Companies Ltd. Show Hunter Championship has featured at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) since the show’s inception 75 years ago. This evening, the  top six horses from the three weight divisions judged earlier in the day were invited back to contest the title.

The Middleweight winner Mulberry Lane, owned by Sue Tennant and ridden by Craig Kiddier, was crowned Champion, clocking up a first HOYS win for Craig.

The nine-year-old is predominantly Craig’s working hunter horse, making the win even more significant, as Craig wasn’t expecting too much on the flat. They finished third on Wednesday in the Sport Horse Breeding of GB Working Hunter Championship after having an unlucky pole.

“I’m not really into flat showing, but he went and did it this morning. He’s just the best horse in the world,” said Craig. “He felt on air in the ring.

“I’ll never find another one good enough to win on the flat and in the workers.”

The judges’ Reserve Champion was the Heavyweight winner, Sarah Tait’s bay gelding Ringwood The Specialist, with Will Morton in the saddle. During the presentation, it was also announced that the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse will now be retiring from the show ring.

Will said: “He’s been very consistent – he deserved his day today. Sarah bought him as a three-year-old, I broke him as a four-year-old and he’s been with me ever since.”

A delighted Sarah said she is “so lucky to have him” and looks forward to having him back at home with her after he’s had a holiday.

Lucinda Freedman’s eight-year-old Hunter, Tigbourne, won the Lightweight class ridden by Hannah Horton.

A total of 46 ponies contested the Westown Stud Junior Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year Championship, split between the Small and Large Breeds.

The small breeds dominated the overall Championship with first and second place taking Champion and Reserve respectively.

Laura Kerry-Oates’ Welsh Section B Cadlanvalley Royal Bronze was firmly in gold position after a foot-perfect performance with Maisie Kerry-Oates in the saddle. 

Ozzy, as he is known at home, is produced by Katy Marriott-Payne who broke him in as a three-year-old. He’s now six and this is his first appearance at HOYS.

Katy said: “This is Ozzy’s first year as an Open pony, so we’ve come a long way this season.”

“We bought him out at the start of the season in novice classes and then started some of the HOYS qualifiers. This is also Maisie’s first HOYS win – they’re heavenly to watch together.”

12-year-old Maisie said: “I’m over the moon. It’s the biggest dream come true. I’ve ridden here three times but never been placed.”

Reserve Champion was the second-placed Small Breed, Lucy Richardson’s Welsh Section A, Marsh Walk On By, ridden by Lilly Richardson.

Daisy May-Ovens was triumphant in the Large Breeds riding Francesca Ovens’ Fell gelding Melliver Willy Wonka.

Concluding the evening showing was one of the most coveted titles, The Price Family Supreme In-Hand Championship; the pinnacle of achievement for in-hand showing and the ultimate accolade at the end of the season.

Horses and ponies must have been crowned In-Hand Champion at a major county show to qualify, making it one of the most hotly contested during the week at HOYS.

This year judges Colin Tibbey and Vicky Lawrie chose two homebred youngsters as their Champion and Reserve.

Champion was Evelyn Tate’s homebred two-year-old filly Kirkwood Tabitha Twitchit (Tabitha), produced and shown in the ring by Jerome Harforth. Tabitha is by Turberry Topcat out of Rotherwood Have A Peep.

Evelyn asked Jerome last year to go and have a look around her youngsters and see if he thought there was anything worth showing. Jerome said: “My eyes immediately fell on Tabitha, and I said ‘I think that’s definitely worth showing.’”

“She came to us in March this year and six weeks later we qualified at Nottinghamshire County Show.”

Since qualification Tabitha has gone Champion at two other shows, and her future will be under saddle as a 128cm Show Pony.

“She’s got loads of quality, elegance, but she is just the most outstanding mover, and I think that will shine through when she goes under saddle,” concluded Jerome.

Reserve was the exceeding 148cm winner, Johanna Foster’s homebred three-year-old gelding Scottshall Aristocrat by Stanley Grange Regal Empire out of Social Climber.

This was a “dream come true” for breeder Johanna, particularly poignant as this is her last homebred, now that she has stopped breeding horses.

Johanna said: “I’ve always liked him and thought I’d keep him. He has a lovely temperament, nice personality and is a great mover.”

“He’s going to be broken and brought out next year under saddle for a season with someone else, and then hopefully I’ll be able to take over after that.”

ENDS  

For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2024, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk