HOYS Qualifying Stories are back!

HOYS Qualifying
stories competition

Qualifying entries competition has now closed

Be ready to vote for your favourite story.

Vote is opens from Thursday 24 September – 27th September 2026

Prizes

🏆 Winner

2 x Sunday evening hospitality tickets

HOYS Competitor Hoodie

HOYS Official Programme

🥈 Two Runners-Up

2 x Sunday evening tickets

HOYS Competitor Hoodie

Read the qualifying stories

Samantha Borland’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Jamacho and I have qualified for the Racehorse to Riding horse class. We have been together for almost 2 years and are in our first full season of showing. “He is an equine ambassador for Stratford Upon Racecourse after being one of

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Harry’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Harry was a starved and beaten cruelty case from Ireland, he was bought by a dealer from Cheshire and brought to England at the end of 2018, where he was conditioned broken and sold. “After tracing the lady who bought him from

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Charlotte Driver’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “After we bought Cush last April we had him cut and Charlotte started to get to know him. It took a little bit of time for their partnership to grow and by the end of the season they were really starting to

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Kelsie Savage’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Since I was a little kid, I’ve always had one big dream… to compete at HOYS. “After going last year to support my friend, I came home and said to myself, “Next year, I’m going to give it a go and see

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Thistledown Hawaii Five O & Emily Hill’ Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Our journey with Thistledown Hawaii Five O began with a simple telephone call to Sharn Linney. I was looking for a Lead Rein Mountain & Moorland pony for Emily and, after listening to exactly what I wanted, Sharn’s response was immediate: “You

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Anthony Chapman’ Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “We are a home produced family in Devon who never dreamed in a million years we would qualify a pony for horse of the year show. It was a dream come true. “We bought benji (Wycroft Benjamin Bunny) last year when he

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Lillie-May Stokes’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “From a Scrawny Little Pony to HOYS… 🤍 “A year before Albert came into my life, I lost my heart horse. After losing him, horses just weren’t the same. I still loved them, but something was missing. I never thought I would

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Sarah & Bella’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “We have owned Felix (Fawsley Temple-Hill) for about 18 months, and he has definitely become part of our family and really loves the variety in his life! Hacking, jumping and being cantered round bareback whilst Bella is doing the Macarena on top!

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Elizabeth Mantel’ Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Eleven years after winning at Horse of the Year Show, qualifying again feels incredibly special. Gracey has completely transformed over the years. “She was never the fastest horse, but after I lost my once-in-a-lifetime speed horse, NPS Andre, she stepped up in

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Deirdre Conroy’ Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Some horses come into your life exactly as you imagined. Jinx did the complete opposite. “After what felt like endless disappointing viewings in 2020, I found an 11-year-old 16.1hh mare. I had been searching for a gelding, over 17hh and under eight

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Kelsey Bishop’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Myself and snippy, who’s 26 qualified at Royal Bath & West for the Veteran ridden final. “We nearly lost snippy back last year, she recovered but then damaged her cheek ligament in the field a few weeks later, meaning total box rest

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Poppy Pollard’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “A DREAM WORTH CHASING. “People often see the rosette, the qualification ticket and the smile in the winner’s photograph. What they don’t always see is the journey it took to get there. “My name is Poppy, I am 12 years old, and

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Katie Mason’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “The pony that does it all… One minute riding around a busy county show, the next teaching the girls’ dad to do his up-downs. Dolly was originally bought as a happy hacker for Clara to gain confidence on after a nasty fall.

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Lois Seymour’ Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “From starting side saddle at 14 on my little grey Connemara pony standing ringside watching the HOYS Ladies Show Horse class at the National Side Saddle Show I grew up believing it was the very definition of elegance… I never imagined I’d

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Jodie Gibson’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Last year was the best and also the worst year. In July I qualified for hoys on my horse of a lifetime “Brodie” an 8 year old Arab I had purchased as a yearling. “This was my first year trying to qualify

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Lindy Winship’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “A MOMENT BEYOND WORDS “I hadn’t seen Billy Bob for 9 months, since Horse of the Year Show in October 2025. due to my health. “Watching him walk into the collecting ring at the New Forest Show was a moment that meant

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Phoebe Jefferies Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Zippy and I have been a team for eight years, and honestly, I think we’ve been through it all. From the early days when he was just a gangly five-year-old who was still finding his feet, to securing the 1.05m champion title

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Natalie Devlin’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “I bought Lexi in July last year after spotting her on someone’s Instagram story. I instantly knew she was special, so I sent a message. I was incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to try her before she was officially advertised for

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Amy Payne’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “I bought Bella, a Green 13’2 Traditional Gypsey Cob for my daughter Freya Jean on her 5th birthday…everyone thought I was mad 😆 “Bella has been the best £1500 I have ever spent. Freya and Bella showing achievements include… a place at

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Charlotte Maling-Dunn’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “The Rise of Megland Sweet Serenade : The True Lead Rein Show Pony. “Two years ago, Megland Sweet Serenade (Tilly – then age 5) and Charlotte (then age 3) were introduced by Sarah Newbould of Emmerson’s Show Team who brilliantly envisaged the

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Scarlett Ellwood’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “When we first got Omega (Danny) it was to teach me how to ride properly and do the lead rein qualifiers, we got close but never managed to get my ticket, so when I eventually started doing First Ridden’s and open Exmoors

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Charlotte Stephens’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Anchor Kryponite got his golden ticket at Moreton show winning the M&M lead rein qualifier. With 7 year old jockey Eleanor Stephens, lead by Mum Charlotte Stephens. “Pony owned by Vanessa Moody. The hoys dream has been one of Mum and owners

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Paula Gautrey’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “We have qualified for the SEIB Search for a Star Traditional Cob. It will be our first time riding at HOYS although I have been coming to HOYS for many many years as a spectator. “Our story isn’t out of the ordinary

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Katie Goodwin’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Moelview Prince Harry and myself qualified at Lincolnshire County in the Welsh Section Bs. “Lincolnshire County is about four hours away and one we haven’t done for a few years. Harry hadn’t been there before. They have lovely big rings and this

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Harriett Platt’s Story

Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜 “Harriett started the season of 2026 brilliantly considering she’d recently had surgery on both knee’s in a bid to straighten her legs. She was placed 2nd in the first two qualifiers, followed by a couple more close placings. “Then, devastatingly everything changed.

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