When the Andrews Bowen International Arena is transformed into an exhilarating ride across country it can only mean it is time for the Alan Marnie & Family (Meta Lounge Limited and SHB (GB)) Working Hunter of the Year Championship – a class with a wealth of HOYS history dating back over 70 years to 1951. A suitably testing course with plenty of questions sought out the boldest of the 33 starters. With just two clears, a total of 14 combinations were invited back by judges Susan Oakes and Sarah Smith for the ride and conformation phase, before the final 10 were chosen for the evening performance to decide final placings. 

The first national class of this year’s show produced a thrilling jump-off featuring 10 combinations, with less than a second separating the top three finishers. It was Canterbury-based Pippa and PDV Constanza that came out on top, with their time of 30.58 seconds proving enough to hold off runner-up Joseph Trunkfield, riding Usha Z, with James Ingham and Altesse 2 VN Z in third. Three riders – Aimee Paxton (Chilli’s Duke), Thomas Pritchard (Princess SW) and Charlotte Walker (Victoria’s Painted Secret CW) – went marginally quicker than the winner, but four faults for each of them proved costly. The Newcomers class was first contested at HOYS exactly 40 years ago,

Equestrian influencer Harlow White – known and loved by fans across the equestrian world – has won her first HOYS title on just her second visit to the Show. Harlow and her mum, Chelsea White’s, nine-year-old gelding King Bunowen Castle Ali was crowned National Pony Society/ Supreme Products Mountain & Moorland Ridden Connemara Pony of the Year among a very large class of 24 quality ponies. Panda, as he is known at home, has been with Harlow for just a year but they have already made their mark on the showing circuit with a collection of major wins. This was the gelding’s first time competing on the flat at HOYS,

The 76th Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) got underway with the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse of the Year Championship; a true showcase of the versatility of Thoroughbred horses. From track to spotlights, all 14 starters have raced during their careers and were put through their paces this morning by ride judge and multiple HOYS Champion, Robert Walker, alongside conformation judge, Lucinda Sims. Among a strong field, Loti Innes-Parry rode her own 13-year-old bay gelding, As I See It, to victory, marking the ‘pinnacle’ of this combination’s partnership having qualified, but not placed, last year.  Loti said: “He’s just beautiful [to ride]. He went in there today and… [said]

Eventer Louise Harwood’s broad smile said it all after a successful Horse of the Year Show debut that saw her continue on the comeback trail from serious injury. The Herefordshire-based rider has been a stalwart of the British eventing scene for more than 25 years, and a regular competitor at prestigious events such as Badminton and Burghley. But her world turned upside down in 2024, when she suffered two major accidents – one when she fell from a muck trailer, and the other during an event. The first one in June last year left her with a fractured skull, broken ribs, fractured shoulder and vertebrae. She was airlifted to hospital

Emily Morris hailed her “absolute superstar” Searlait ML after victory in the NAF Five Star Bronze League Championship on the opening day at Horse of the Year Show. Shropshire-based Emily, who won the same class nine years ago, produced a stylish performance to finish more than two seconds clear of runner-up Danny Nicholson, riding Jarley VL, and third-placed Cassi McDade on Quality Touch Z “It really hasn’t sunk in. I am a bit speechless,” said Emily, who triumphed after 11 combinations from 14 starters made it through to the jump-off. “She is only six and she hasn’t been to many shows with this kind of atmosphere, but she just went