First timers and hat-tricks as the curtain comes down on day two of HOYS

Thursday’s evening performance at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) saw two

prestigious Championships play out in the Andrews Bowen International Arena.

First up was The Andrews Family Hack of the Year Championship where the first and second placed horses from The Andrews Family Small Hack of the Year and Culford Lodge

Commodities Large Hack of the Year showed off their paces in a bid to impress judges Mathew Lawrence and Vanessa De Quincey once more.

In the end it was the winner of the Large Hack that took the overall honours.Guy Mears’ British Riding Pony, Forgeland Hyde Park, was called forward into the spotlight with Danielle Heath in the saddle. A foot-perfect performance from this gelding, by the prolific late sire Kilvington Scoundrel, secured him his third Hack Championship title at HOYS since 2019.

A good Hack should have excellent manners and self-carriage, as well as quality and elegance; all things that this striking gelding has in abundance.

“He never stops giving; he’s just a showman,” said Danielle, who clinched her first ever HOYS Hack Championship on him. “Even when he’s a bit tired he goes in there and rises to the occasion. We laugh when we put the red rosette on him; straight away he is in the zone and he just knows.

“He does a handful of shows a year – that’s why there is so little wear and tear on him and he looks fantastic for his age. We’ll keep going with him as long as he wants to do it and enjoys it.”

Will, as he is known at home, will be in the TopSpec Arena on Saturday to contest The Honourable Stud Intermediate Show Riding Type of the Year with Isabella Mears-Wood. He gave Isabella her first HOYS centre line and Championship title and this will be her last year in Intermediates.

Reserve Champion was the six-year-old Sports Pony, Manhatten, winner of The Andrews Family Small Hack of the Year and another offspring of the late Kilvington Scoundrel. Ridden by Harriet Dennison, the combination qualified at the Royal Cheshire County Show.

The first two days of HOYS are a Mountain & Moorland spectacular and the prestigious

National Pony Society/ Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the

Year Championship on Thursday evening is a culmination of 11 classes showcasing 12 of the wonderful native British breeds.

It’s one of the most hotly contested championships of the equestrian calendar, bringing together top class ponies and top class breeders. With 22 ponies in contention, it’s also the largest by far at HOYS.

Not surprisingly, judges Alex Kelly and Antony Bell had quite a decision on their hands.

Their winner was Andrew Vine’s homebred New Forest stallion Vynnes Magical Edition, who had made the journey from the Isle of Wight for his HOYS debut with Pip Smith. The victory was made even sweeter for breeders Andrew Vine and Laura House, as this was their first pony to get to HOYS.

Pip took the ride on the bay roan stallion last spring. He was previously Champion In-Hand as a three-year-old at the New Forest Show and went Ridden Champion last year before qualifying first time out this year. Mr Ed, as he is known at home, has been to just two shows this season ahead of HOYS.

“He’s had some really big wins, but he’s just sort of under the radar,” said Pip.

“He just hacks around the Isle of Wight,” she said. We do a bit of cross country to keep him sweet and happy. He went to British Dressage a couple of weeks ago, he just does normal pony things.

“We won’t show him on the flat again now; he might come back jumping in time. He’s just amazing.”

Sarah Weston’s Dartmoor stallion, Westown Wild Fire, stood Reserve Champion. Ridden for the past three seasons by Sarah Parker, the seven-year-old reclaimed the Dartmoor title from two years ago and went one better this year to take the Reserve.

Sarah [Parker] has had a super two days with a number of placings already, but this was a very special win for her.

“He is super special to me. He really does own the ring, he’s a little showman and he loves an atmosphere.”

The combination are looking forward to coming out over jumps in the future.

The class winners in the National Pony Society/Baileys Horse Feeds Mountain &

Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year Championship were as follows:

Welsh Section D – Thorneyside Guardsman ridden and owned by Katherine Marks

Welsh Section C – Blaencila Rhodri ridden by Vikki Smith and owned by Kyle McClements

Welsh Section B – Rushhill Diplomat ridden and owned by Sarah Parker

Welsh Section A – Lledrith Nemesis ridden by Samantha Roberts and owned by Sue Kernan

Dartmoor – Westown Wild Fire ridden by Sarah Parker and owned by Sarah Weston

New Forest – Vynnes Magical Edition ridden by Pip Smith and owned by Andrew Vine

Fell – Greenrivers Luke ridden by Sarah Parker and owned by Sarah Weston

Highland – Marksman of Mendick ridden and owned by Amber Thorpe

Connemara – Castle Kestrel ridden by Lucy Glover and owned by Amanda Sharman

Dales – Langrigg Thomas ridden by Emma Lucas and owned by John Harvey

Exmoor/Shetland –  Somahouse GT ridden by Aaliyah Watson and owned by Nicola Richards