Saturday night at Horse of the Year Show is always a fan-favourite and the packed-out crowd were in for quite a treat! The first class of the evening, the Grandstand Stoneleigh Events Cup, was hotly contested by the international showjumpers and the crowd were revelling off the electric atmosphere. Eight riders made the cut through to the jump off course set by course designer Kelvin Bywater. Despite Italian rider Lorenzo De Luca setting a tough time to beat of 37.47 seconds, Joe Stockdale was determined to do one better. Riding the striking chestnut stallion, Ebanking. Joe meant business from the off. He plotted his route to perfection, taking calculated risks

Ten pairs of ponies across the large and small sections of the Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry qualified over three days at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) to battle it out to be crowned Scurry Supremo this Saturday night. The final saw the fastest times of the week posted, but no one could catch Nelson King driving Gareth Roberts’ nippy pair of ponies, Omega Equine Darkhouse Fred & Barney. They completed the course in an eye-watering 40.59 seconds with Gareth as backstep. Hot on their heels were Jemma Millman with Piglet & Roo, finishing in 40.86 seconds, and Alison Osborne with Osborne Refrigerators Chip and Dale on 41.00 seconds.

On the 15th anniversary of The Leeman Family Maxi Cob of the Year Championship at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Jo Baker’s Chestnut Irish Draught Chantilly Sandman (Teddy) stood Champion after settling for Reserve last year. Ridden by Jayne Ross, this was the 13-year-old gelding’s first HOYS centre line moment. “He was absolutely fantastic, he did not miss a beat,” said Jayne. “He’s always a lovely horse to show,but he was just perfect today.” Teddy is now based with show producer Clare Fitch and Jayne meets him at shows. “He comes to me a few days before, so it’s just a big joint effort”. Jayne now has two horses

Opening the proceedings on day four of Horse of the Year Show was the Equine Rescue Services 128cm and 138cm Championships. These finals see some of the show’s youngest competitors demonstrate an unbelievable standard of discipline and enthusiasm for their sport. 12-year-old Ella Kay and chestnut mare Red Alert III produced a thrilling round in the jump off which featured just four pony and rider combinations. The technical track asked some tricky questions of the young jockeys, but the experience of the 20-year-old mare shone through. Rising to the occasion for Ella, the pair came home nearly three seconds quicker than the second placed rider, eight-year-old Annabel Widdowson. Based in

The Equestrian Index HOYS Trade Stand of the Year Awards (TOTY) are designed to recognise exhibitor talents in trade stand dressing and etiquette throughout the show week. All trade stands by way of exhibiting are automatically entered into the awards which have two sections; Best Display 20sqm and under and Best Display over 20sqm. Judging for the awards took place anonymously over Wednesday and Thursday of the show during trading hours. Every trade stand (and team) were observed and assessed across four categories; best overall impression, warmest welcome, best use of space and best interaction with customers. The winner of the 20sqm and under category in 2023 was first time

Robert Walker landed his seventh Catplant Group of Companies Ltd. Show Hunter of the Year Championship, and third in a row, for owner Jill Dayon the third evening of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). The Lightweight Hunter, MHS Morning Master, gave the team another well-deserved spotlight down the centre line at “the world’s most famous horse show”, after impressing judges Gilly McCowan and Peter Crafts. The bay gelding won the prestigious Supreme In-Hand Horse Championship here at HOYS as a three-year-old and stood overall Reserve Champion. Now, five years later, he’s had his winning moment under saddle. Rob said: “He’s a performer; he’s always been a little operator into