The Cooper Family Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony of the Year Championship presented competitors with another big, challenging track by Colin Ellison on day two of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS)
Ride judge John James and conformation judge Graham Dunkley had their work cut out in the TopSpec Arena, as ponies and riders were put through their paces. First and second from all five sections were then invited to the Andrews Bowen International Arena this afternoon to determine who would stand overall Champion.
In the end it was the wonderfully consistent Welsh Section D stallion Dycott Welsh King (King), ridden by Ross Keys and owned by his partner Anna Chaplin. Now 19 years of age, King has been with Ross and Anna since a five-year-old and this is his 10th year at HOYS. Today marks his third win in the Exc 143cm section and first time standing overall Champion.
Ross considered retiring King a couple of years ago, but there is no retirement in sight for now!
“He comes back stronger and stronger,” said Ross. “He loves the crowd and thrives on atmosphere… he’ll tell me when he’s ready, he’s my best friend. Until that day we’ll keep going.
“He’s just a machine, he loves his job so much. He goes into the ring and thinks all the claps and cheers are just for him.”
Poppy Gresty onboard Jenna Gresty’s Seiont Watcyn, the liver chestnut Welsh Section C gelding, was already on cloud nine this morning as they took the 133cm section, but the celebrations continued to flow as they went on to stand overall Reserve Champion.
Poppy had been first to jump in her class earlier today and produced a very stylish clear.
“He felt absolutely mega [this morning]. I just wanted to get round with no stops and even if he had every pole down I’d still be pleased.
“He’s an absolute dream… my whole world.”
Welsh ponies continued to dominate the Championship: Ella Eynon piloted her Welsh C Joyton Sunshine to poll position in the 143cm; Welsh A gelding Menai Slip-On Johnny ridden by Millie Davies took the 122cm; and Frankie Summers rode her mother Helen Summers’ Islyn Arafa Don, another Welsh A, to victory in the Junior 122cm section.
Loraine Homer’s 10-year-old bay gelding Tidy Town, ridden by Alice Homer, was back with a bang this morning to add the Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year Championship open title to their impressive resume, following their triumph in the Intermediate last year. “I really was not expecting that,” said an elated Alice. “There are no words left for how incredible he is.
“As a young horse we used to say HOYS wasn’t his show, as he likes a big galloping ring… but as he’s got older and more mature he can now step up.
“He’s so measured and controlled, like you’re riding on a piece of silk. He extends and comes back like a Hack, yet he has all the power of a Hunter.
Alice and Tidy Town have a busy week ahead at HOYS with the Intermediate Workers and Intermediate Show Hunter to come.
Will Morton enjoyed a fantastic day, winning the Culford Lodge Commodities Large Hack of the Year aboard Copybush So Fashion, having earlier taken second place in the Andrews Family Small Hack of the Year with Time After Time. His success continued later in the day when Rosamund Lane’s six-year-old bay gelding, Red Valentine, was crowned Reserve Champion.
14-year-old Clydesdale gelding Stobilee Zac made the 15 hour journey from north Scotland more than worthwhile by landing The Barber Family Ridden Heavy Horse of the Year Championship for the Bissett family.
Brian Bissett bought Zac as a foal at nine months old and daughter Isla Miller started producing him as a four-year-old. This super consistent horse has qualified for HOYS eight times in a row and stood Reserve Champion three times.
There were tears of joy as Isla watched Zac take the win with Lucy Stewart in the saddle. Isla had chosen to ride one of her youngsters, four-year-old Clydesdale, Hartcliff Loretta, owned by Andrew Swanson. They finished ninth.
Isla said: “Lucy’s my partner in crime so we try to do it together… I took the ride on this baby so she could ride Zac today.
“Zac’s literally been a phenomenal horse. He’s competed all over the UK, but I can put my one-year-old daughter on him and she’ll ride him to the field; he’s just fantastic.”
A delighted Lucy added: “He’s always been the bridesmaid and never the bride, until now! He’s such a showman.”
Reserve Champion was Lindy Winship’s grey Shire gelding, Cardington Billy Bob, ridden by Emma Green.
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2026, please contact:
Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd.
Tel: 02476 858205
Email: press@hoys.co.uk
Image: 1st Class Images