Horse of the Year Show – or HOYS as it is more commonly known within the British equestrian world – is complete for 2026.
Mini M&M champion Thistledown Wood Owl, led by her producer Craig Elenor, landed the supreme ridden pony title under seven-year-old Gracie-May Whitaker.
Tidy Town became the first small hunter to claim the HOYS ridden horse supreme in more than 40 years for Alice Homer.
Riding pony stallion Seywoods Royal Dancer took the prestigious Price family supreme in-hand championship, led by Simon Charlesworth.
Showjumping fans also enjoyed top-class action throughout the week, including a shared win in the puissance.
Jodie Hall McAteer rocketed to victory in the leading showjumper of the year grand prix with the brilliant mare Hardessa and a HOYS debutante walked away with a fabulous Foxhunter win.
William Whitaker produced a win with a catch-ride he'd never ridden in competition before and a rider who broke her wrist straight after qualifying landed her HOYS title seven weeks later.
In other sports, North Herefordshire branch of the Pony Club came out on top in the Prince Philip Cup competition.
Alison Osborne stood both champion with her small ponies Woody & Buzz and reserve with her large pair Chip & Dale in the Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry Championship.
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Your essential guide
For competitors
What date is Horse of the Year Show 2026?
The Horse of the Year Show 2026 (HOYS) was held place from Wednesday 7 October until Sunday 11 October.
Where is Horse of the Year Show held?
The Horse of the Year Show is held in October each year at the NEC in Birmingham. Some 50 acreas of the exhibition centre is transformed into a home-from-home for those taking part, including stabling for some 1,600 horses and ponies, while around 60,000 spectators can be expected to attend across the five days.
Is HOYS held at Olympia in London?
No. The horse show that used to be held at Olympia in December each year is called the London International Horse Show. It is a different horse show to HOYS. The Olympia show has now moved to the Excel in London’s docklands as the Olympia exhibition centre in Kensington is being redeveloped.
Does HOYS support any charities?
The official charity of Horse of the Year Show 2026 was Redwings Horse Sanctuary.
Latest HOYS news
‘An exceptional little model’: meet HOYS supreme champion Tidy Town
‘There was a massive gulf between the people who could ride and the people who couldn’t,’ warns William Funnell
Top riders speak up in debate over changes to 128cm pony showjumping finals
‘Some of the judging appointments were surprising, but the choice for the working hunter ponies was a masterstroke,’ says Stuart Hollings
This jaw-dropping, top-of-the-wings leap was my HOYS highlight, but Jodie vs John Whitaker thrilled us all
Incidents at HOYS prompted rules reminder on behaviour, underage drinking and unaccompanied children
Horse of the Year Show live results from all the showing classes
‘Such a buzz!’: HOYS grand prix results in edge-of-your-seat jump-off between British elite
HOYS supreme pony win for young Whitaker with not a fence in sight!
Harlow White leads Connemara clean-up in HOYS junior mountain and moorland showdown
‘I can’t believe it’: rider takes second HOYS championship in two days
‘I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to have him’: emotional win as a small hunter takes HOYS supreme for first time in 40 years
‘Seriously special’ mare and former in-hand reserve champion wow judges in HOYS intermediates
‘I slept about four hours in the last two days’: HOYS first-timer and seven-time victor share puissance spoils
‘I had no intention of buying another one. I fell in love’: riding pony stallion crowned Price family supreme champion at HOYS 2026
‘I just thought I’m going to go in and enjoy it’: HOYS cob championship for surprised second-placed combination
‘Nothing compares to this’: a little Whitaker takes M&M mini title on last ride with ’unbelievable’ pony
‘He’s my life’: Connemara springs to plaited workers title at HOYS 2026
‘It’s what we’ve always wanted to do together and we’ve done it’: 73cm working stallion lands American miniature sash at HOYS 2026
