Tears of delight on day one of Horse of the Year Show
The curtains opened on the 75th edition of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at Birmingham’s NEC with the Mears Flooring Ladies Side Saddle Horse of the Year Championship; an elegant spectacle of horse and rider that set the tone for this special celebration of HOYS’ rich history. 22-year-old Phoebe Price held her own in a very strong field of 17 starters to pilot Heather Rothwell’s 12-year-old Warmblood cross, Happy Valentines, to victory in only their second season together. “He was on top form”, exclaimed a delighted Phoebe, who finished sixth with the gelding last year. “He loves it in that ring and always knows it’s time to show off.”