Sibling success in the Miniature Horse of the Year Championship

A brother and sister team had a successful day at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in the Miniature Horse of the Year Championship.

Thomas and Hattie Miller jointly produce Moira Oatley’s four-year-old Pinto mare, Rosaphia Snippets Twilight Sparkle (Zaza), who took the spoils in today’s Championship.

She was handled by Thomas in the arena and Hattie finished third with Lisa Taylor’s homebred two-year-old, Model Farm UK Midnight Meadow. Zaza goes to Thomas and Hattie in the summer and then back home to Moira over the winter. Hattie takes the lead when Thomas is at university.

The team have been to HOYS on numerous occasions, but this was Zaza’s first year, and a first HOYS win for Thomas.

“I’ve always dreamt of it, but it’s never come true until today,” said a delighted Thomas. “She’s so lovely to be around and cheeky.”

The mare hasn’t done too much this season but did win at the New Forest Show. “We’ve tried to keep her quiet, as she’s quite a bubbly person,” said Thomas.

Zaza will now be put in foal and have a year off.

Leonie Wroe’s Allstars Graffiti in the Spotlight was placed second.

The British Miniature Horse Society was founded in 1992 to promote the welfare, breeding and showing of miniature horses. Initially starting as a registry, it became recognised by DEFRA as a Stud Book for equines measuring 34 inches (87cms) and below at the wither at maturity. It remains the only UK stud book for the British Miniature Horse.