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

Opening the evening performance this Friday at Horse of the Year Show was the Enablelink Ltd Pony Foxhunter Championship; an opportunity for young riders of the future to showcase their talent. In the first round, the technical course of 15 obstacles asked some testing questions of these young riders. Some were luckier than others and there were six riders careful enough to make it through to the jump off. Making her first ride at Horse of the Year Show one to remember, 15-year-old Lauren Wilkins from West Sussex put it all on the line in the jump off against the clock. Riding the nimble nine-year-old mare, Eloclea Ro. Del Colle

Making his trip from south-east Wales well worth the trip, Mark Edwards wins two back-to-back international showjumping classes on day three at Horse of the Year Show. Mark was in flying form with his eight-year-old stallion Dillinger NE to take the opening Grandstand Welcome Stakes at the prestigious horse show held at the NEC in Birmingham. Mark was amongst one of the first riders to go and he set the bar high jumping clear and stopping the clock on 30.60 seconds. Despite 30 riders in the class, only one rider came close; Lorenzo De Luca from Italy pushed his 10-year-old mare Dirka De Blondel all the way to finish on

The stage was set once more for the working hunter ponies at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2023, as the National Pony Society/Mole Valley Farmers Working Hunter Pony of the Year Championship got underway over David Cole’s course in the TopSpec Arena. 14-year-old Samuel Laity posted an emotional win on the grey gelding, Barney IX, in the 133cm section and later went on to stand overall Champion in the Andrews Bowen International Arena. This incredible achievement was made even more special because this is the pair’s last show together before he goes back to his owners after this week. “It’s been a rollercoaster, said Sam’s mum, Marie. We’ve had