Sunday evening at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) draws the week’s showing Championships to a thrilling close in the final showdowns of the Supreme Products Supreme Horse of the Year and Supreme Products Supreme Pony of the Year Championships.
With everything to play for, the field was open for every Champion to impress this year’s judges, Olympic eventer Laura Collett MBE and Edwin Prosser of the Mintfield Stud.
This was a particularly special experience for Laura as she won the Supreme Pony Championship at HOYS in 2003 when she was just 13 and said, “I know how much it means to qualify for HOYS and to stand in that arena on the final evening. Edwin has his own fond memories of judging The Price Family Supreme In-Hand Championship in 2022.
The horses were up first and after much deliberation, the spotlight fell on Loraine Homer’s Tidy Town ridden by daughter Alice Homer, winner of the Small Show Hunter of the Year on Thursday. With a flawless go round and powerful gallop, 24-year-old Alice showed her best friend Guinness, as he is known at home, off at his very best.
Overjoyed Alice said: “I cannot believe it – you watch Jayne Ross, Rob Walker and all these idols and you can’t imagine you can be in the same Supreme as them, let alone be on a horse good enough to go and beat them.
“I went in with no expectations at all. I just wanted to have a nice time. He’s incredible to do a show on.
“My grandad bought him as a foal for some good friends of ours. He was supposed to be an eventer – which is maybe what Laura Collett liked – and he did a bit of eventing until he was six but he didn’t grow big enough, so he came back to us and over the last four years he’s done everything.
“I can’t imagine he has anything left to prove here in the flats [flat showing at HOYS]. He’s jumped here lots of times but I’ve never clocked a clear round, so maybe that’s on the agenda for next time!
“His head will not fit in our lorry on the way home – he thinks he’s incredible and he’s right!”
Reflecting on Alice’s busy week – qualifying for the Intermediate Workers and Intermediate Show Hunter, and taking the Hamilton Tarmac Small Show Hunter of the Year Championship – Loraine said: “I feel she’s had her just reward with her best friend and he’s an absolute pet, so it’s just special.”
“What’s nice about being crowned Supreme Horse is that he really is a supreme horse. He’s one of the few horses that crosses the board; he jumped incredibly on Friday and he went beautifully on Thursday.
“And I thought today he really stood out. He can really gallop – he’s by a Thoroughbred sire – but he can come back to the one handed canter just like that.”
Martin Wood’s six-year-old Welsh Section A mare Thistledown Wood Owl proved what a superstar she is, as she added the Supreme Pony crown to her impressive resume, having won the Mountain & Moorland Mini Pony Championship on Thursday.
By Thistledown Esteem out of Thistledown Snowy Owl, Birdie, as she is known at home, was ridden by Martin’s granddaughter Gracie-May Whitaker; the daughter of HOYS Champions Michaela Whitaker (nee Wood) and international showjumper George Whitaker.
Proud dad George said: “Everyone who comes to the Show wants to do that centre line under the lights, and it’s amazing she’s done it.”
With Gracie-May adding another line to the famous Whitaker history books, mum Michaela said: “I turned round and all the Whitakers were stood there… I can’t ever explain the feeling.
“That pony is absolutely amazing… she just floated and looked after her [Gracie].”
Birdie has been produced by Craig Elenor and Sara Parrott since they had her as a three-year-old for breaking.
“It’s her first time here and she’s taken everything in her stride. She’s been fantastic,” said Craig.
“She started with us as a baby so it’s special seeing her all the way though,” added Sara.
“I can’t thank Craig and Sara enough, they’ve made our dream come true,” concluded Michaela.
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2026, please contact:
Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd.
Tel: 02476 858205
Email: press@hoys.co.uk
Image: 1st Class Images