Horse of the Year Show 2025 Rulebook

Horse of the Year Show will return once again to the NEC Birmingham’s bp pulse LIVE from the 8^th-12^th October 2025.

The HOYS team would like to make all competitors aware of the changes to the 2025 rulebook. All changes/additions are in bold for your attention in the full version HERE.

The following changes of particular note have been introduced following meetings with all of the relevant showing and breed societies:

Intermediate Show Riding Type of the Year

The Intermediate Show Riding Type of the Year was first introduced to HOYS as a stepping stone for young riders making the transition from pony classes into the adult horse ranks. To greater support rider development in 2025, the height parameters for the class will change to ‘Animals exceeding 148cm but not exceeding 160cm’.

The class will also be renamed the ‘Intermediate Show Horse of the Year’. The qualifiers will be open to animals of Hack, Riding Horse or Show Riding Type and will now allow for Horses registered with BSHA to contest. Along with this, Riders and Owners of competing horses can be members of the BSHA and Judges may be selected from the Full BSHA panel.

It is hoped that the modification of the Intermediate Show Horse of the Year Championship will complement the existing class structure and enhance the support for intermediate riders transitioning to larger animals. It is the intention of HOYS that the class maintains the original function and continues to provide a platform for both animals and riders to compete without the requirement of a ride judge. The new initiatives have been introduced with the aim of providing more opportunities for young jockeys in the sport and to provide a smooth and natural progression into the Horse classes. 

Split of the M&M Lead Rein Class

The Mountain and Moorland Lead Rein & First Ridden HOYS qualifiers have seen flourishing entries over the past few seasons, with a relatively even split of Welsh and Non-Welsh animals contesting the M&M Lead Rein classes in particular. It is as such that, starting in the 2025 season, the M&M Lead Rein class will be split into the following at Horse of the Year Show:

• Mountain & Moorland Welsh Breeds Lead Rein
• Mountain & Moorland Non-Welsh Breeds Lead Rein

There will be 12 qualifiers running with the same split format across the season, and 12 qualifiers running with the original mixed breed structure, with qualifying animals going forward to the relevant final at HOYS. It is hoped that splitting these classes will help to limit the time both children and ponies are spending in the ring in the constantly increasing M&M Lead Rein classes.

To further prohibit welfare issues, the 12 shows allocated all three of the M&M Mini sections will be asked to run the two M&M Lead Rein classes either side of the M&M First Ridden classes to allow for jockeys with rides in both classes the chance to have a break in-between.

Hack of the Year format at HOYS

The picture of elegance and grace, the Hack of the Year Championship welcomes spectators to reminisce on the rich heritage of Horse of the Year Show each year as an ever-present feature class, right from the inaugural show back in 1949.

In recent years, the number of entries in the Hack qualifiers have depleted significantly, to the point where the classes are no longer justifying the length of time taken in the arena at HOYS. Therefore, going forward, competitors may not be required to perform an individual show in the final at HOYS in order to reduce the Arena time. The four animals forward to the Hack of the Year Championship will have the opportunity to perform an individual show during this performance.

The qualifiers will still run in the normal format, with an individual show being asked of each entrant.

Children’s Riding Pony Classes

The Children’s Riding Pony of the Year is another Championship that is steeped in lavish tradition and history at Horse of the Year Show. For the 2025 season, the qualifying structure will be adapted to give a more extensive qualifying opportunity to competitors. 12 qualifiers will be running as normal and a further 6 will be added to run as a mixed height, combined qualifier, with one qualifying animal going forward to its respective height class at HOYS.  

The aim of introducing these shows with mixed height qualifiers is to expand the geographical spread of the Children’s Riding Pony qualifiers.

JMB requirements in M&M classes

Starting in 2025, the Welsh Section D, Exmoor Pony and Dales Pony breeds will no longer require a JMB height certificate to compete in the M&M Ridden Pony of the Year and the Junior M&M Ridden Pony of the Year at HOYS.

Each of these breeds are not specifically bound by set height requirements, with the Welsh D having no upper height limit and the others mentioned having a suggested height range as depicted by the individual breed standards. It is hoped that bringing forward this rule alteration will help to negate some of the expenses faced by competitors.

CHAPS Junior classes

Following on from the successful introduction of the Junior Ridden Coloured Pony of the Year class last season, next season will see the launching of two extra qualifiers specifically aimed at ponies 138cm and under. Riders are to not have attained their 14^th birthday before the 1^st January in the current year.

The new classes aim to support both the smaller animals contesting in the Junior qualifiers and the younger junior riders within the CHAPS classes.

BSPS ruling

The BSPS have requested for the ensuing proposed pieces of ruling to be adopted into the HOYS Rulebook following internal discussions with their society members:

• The plaited First Ridden Pony of the Year upper height limit increasing to ‘ponies not exceeding 123cm.’
• The rider age for the 148cm Children’s Riding Pony increasing by a year, which will therefore read, ‘not to have attained their 18th birthday before the 1^st January in the current year.’

It has been decided that both pieces of ruling will be trialled during the 2025 season at HOYS Qualifiers and the final.