The pinnacle of the showing season got underway at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at Birmingham’s NEC today, with the first two Championship classes reflecting the rich heritage of our long and esteemed relationship with the horse. The Mears Flooring Ladies Side Saddle Horse of the Year Championship is an elegant spectacle of horse and rider, echoing bygone years. 19 starters immaculately turned out in graceful habits gave judges Alycia Pritchard and Michelle Underwood plenty to debate. In the end it was seasoned HOYS winner Jayne Ross who piloted Lucy Cameron’s eye-catching piebald mare KBF Lucia to the top spot.  This is the mare’s first season side saddle, but

Horse of the Year Show are thrilled to announce that Andrews Bowen have renewed their partnership with the show and will continue to be the Official Surface Supplier for at least the next three years. Andrews Bowen are long established suppliers and supporters of Horse of the Year Show, having provided the arena surfaces for the show since 2007 and also headline the renowned International Arena. This year marks the 16th anniversary working together, and both HOYS and Andrews Bowen remain committed to provide a world-leading competition surface for the competitors at the show.  Last year’s event saw Andrews Bowen introduce the new 2022 Hybrid surface, which provided the very

The Highland Pony Society will mark its 100th year with a centenary celebration parade at Horse of the Year Show 2023.  Showcasing a representation of the Highland breed, the display will feature highland ponies under saddle, driving, showing and working animals – highlighting the versatility that the Highland breed are well known for. We will welcome this special celebratory parade in the Andrews Bowen International Arena during the evening performance on Sunday 8th October. The Highland Pony Society was borne from the National Pony Society, the main organisation responsible for administering native and riding ponies across the country at that time. Though the first attempt to create an independent organisation

Heavy Horse Driven Showcase Horse of the Year Show, “The Ultimate Celebration of the Horse”, is thrilled to announce the second display to the 74th edition of HOYS. The Heavy Horse Driven Showcase will be taking centre stage in the Andrews Bowen International Arena daily, this magical showcase will welcome a fabulous presentation of heavy horses as they drive a two-wheeled show cart. Heavy horses have taken a historic role in Horse of the Year Show’s heritage, taking place in the main arena heavy horses have previously performed majestic displays to music with the traditional harrows instead of tractors. This year at HOYS, eight Clydesdales driving a single Troyer cart

National charity Blue Cross was originally set up in 1897 with the purpose to help street horses in London. Through the First and Second World Wars, the charity treated horses who were injured on the frontline. Fast forward to today and the charity continues to help, rehabilitate and find new homes for horses and ponies at its two rehoming centres in Burford, Oxfordshire and Rolleston in Staffordshire. The team also helps to find horses in private homes across the country new homes with its Home Direct scheme, which sees the horse rehomed direct from its home rather than coming into one of the rehoming centres. Bramble’s owner contacted us to

A wild and windy day did not deter the 200 plus competitors entered for SEIB Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse at the TSR Summer Show at Stoneleigh Park on the 15th July. Despite the testing conditions, the horses and ponies entered were a credit to their riders and owners and coped well with the high winds and heavy showers. For the first time, SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse ran an extra class purely for amateur riders to have a go at HOYS qualification in this most popular of classes. The Horse of the Year Show qualifiers at Stoneleigh were preceded on the Friday by a Search