We are thrilled to announce the official Light Horse judges for HOYS 2025, taking place from 8th to 12th October 2025 at the NEC, Birmingham.
The show horses and ponies competing at Horse of the Year Show are the pinnacle of showing excellence, and the judges responsible for awarding such prestigious titles are no strangers to these high standards of horsemanship.
The showing season is soon upon us, and we look forward to seeing competitors support the qualifiers and vie for those coveted tickets to HOYS. With plenty of exciting announcements to come, make sure to follow us on our social media platforms to be the first to know of all things HOYS, from classes to qualifiers.
HOYS Light Horse Showing Judges 2025:
Class | Ride Judge | Conformation Judge |
British Show Pony Society Children’s Riding Pony of the Year | Fiona Cabrol | Chris Walker |
The Harrod & Coles Family Cob of the Year | Margaret Hopkins | Faith Ponsonby |
Coloured Horse and Pony of the Year sponsored by CHAPS (UK | William Murray | Mark Fuller |
The Andrews Family Hack of the Year | Lucinda Sims | Lesley Jones |
Harness Champion of the Year | Araminta Winn (Drive) | Andrew Counsell (Stationary) |
Intermediate Show Hunter of the Year | Tim Wiggett | Jill Godden |
Intermediate Show Horse of the Year | Tim Wiggett | Jill Godden |
Thor Atkinson Steel Fabrications Ltd. Mountain & Moorland Junior Ridden Pony of the Year | Clare Dew | Fiona Cabrol |
Mears Flooring Ladies’ Side Saddle Horse of the Year | Susan Oakes | Sarah Smith |
Enablelink LTD Lead Rein Pony of Hunter Type of the Year | David Dixon | David Dixon |
Colne and Sweet Dreams Show Confectioners M&M Mini | Erik Mackechnie-Guire | Erik Mackechnie-Guire |
National Pony Society/Baileys Horse Feeds M&M Ridden Pony of the Year | Heidi Davis | Gillian McMurray |
Jacksons of Yorkshire M&M Working Hunter Pony of the Year | Sue Hughes | Erik Mackechnie-Guire |
The Leeman Family Maxi Cob of the Year | Margaret Hopkins | Faith Ponsonby |
Annabel’s Deliciously British Mini Show Pony of the Year | Tim Wiggett | Tim Wiggett |
Miniature Horse of the Year | Jill Godden | Jill Godden |
The Binks Family Ridden Partbred Pony of the Year | Clare Dew | David Bennett |
NeedleSmart, John Illingworth and Cliff Kirby Ridden Purebred Arab of the Year | David Bennett | Crispin Mould |
Riding Horse of the Year | Aubrey Chapman | Pippa Moon |
Catplant Group of Companies Show Hunter of the Year | Kevin McGuinness | David Dixon |
Show Hunter Pony of the Year | Stuart Stafford | Jill Godden |
Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year | Aubrey Chapman | Pippa Moon |
The Price Family Supreme In-Hand Championship | John Ferguson & Jayne Stuart | |
The Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain Working Hunter of the Year | Susan Oakes | Sarah Smith |
The National Pony Society/Mole Valley Farmers Working Hunter Pony of the Year | Helen Sloan | Chris Walker |
Please note that there may be some changes from previous years’ timetables – further announcements will be made as they are confirmed.
Horse of the Year Show takes place from 8th – 12th October 2025, we can’t wait to see you there! To stay up-to-date with the latest HOYS news and to be the first to know what’s happening, sign up to our newsletter here: https://hoys.co.uk/newsletter-sign-up/
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2025, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk