Iwan Carpenter reflected on a “phenomenal” feeling after his home-bred Merllyns Special Illusion won the GFS Saddles Senior Newcomers Championship at Horse of the Year Show. The 22-year-old, who is based in North Wales, was last to go during a gripping jump-off that saw only four combinations progress from a field of more than 20 starters. And he had it all to do after Holly Smith and Flying Saucer O.S clipped four hundredths of a second off the leading time set by Alex Hempleman with Billy Foster. But Iwan did it in style, clocking 35.46 seconds for a clear winning margin from Holly in second and third-placed Alex following a

The 77th Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) got underway with the Ladies Side Saddle Horse of the Year Championship and a very special win for the reigning Supreme Horse of the Year, KBF Lucia and Jayne Ross. KBF Lucia, known as Poppy, is owned by Diane Stennett and Lucy Cameron. The nine-year-old Piebald mare reclaimed the Ladies title from 2023, adding to her string of HOYS titles, including multiple Coloured Horse wins. “It’s a very emotional win,” said Jayne. “She just throws her heart out and gives you her all. “She has a beautiful attitude to life, what you see is what you get. She never gets revved, or

Katie Benbow overcame injury-hit preparations to land the NAF Five Star Bronze League Championship on day one of the 2026 Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham. The North Yorkshire-based rider guided her bay mare Latico to victory after eight combinations from 14 starters made the jump-off. Their winning time of 36.94 seconds was just over a second quicker than runner-up Anabel Cluer, riding Ciao Bella Z, while Martin Brake took third place on Juduela. For Katie, though, the build-up to HOYS was far from plain sailing, and it proved a real team effort to keep the horse on track for its appearance in the Andrews Bowen International Arena. “I

The Andrews Bowen International Arena is set to welcome an impressive line-up of international showjumping talent at this year’s Horse of the Year Show, with 35 riders preparing to compete for some of the sport’s most sought-after titles.  The 2026 line-up brings together an exciting mix of established names and emerging talent, including multiple generations of the Whitaker family, brothers Shane and Trevor Breen, and a host of riders who have represented Great Britain and competed at the highest levels of the sport.  The action will culminate on Sunday evening with the prestigious Leading Showjumper of the Year Championship, as riders battle it out for one of the most coveted title