The Horse of the Year Show is over until next year and we can’t quite believe it! The Naylors Equestrian team had an amazing time at HOYS, and we wanted to share some of our favourite things that happened during our time at the show…
Day 1
Opening day was the day where we we finally got the chance to see the real Puissance wall at our stand, and size ourselves up against it's starting height of 1.80 metres! It was incredibly exciting as this was the first year that we have sponsored the highly anticipated Puissance class. As soon as the doors opened loads of people visited to take selfies in front of the towering red wall, and to enter our grand prize draw.
One of our favourite classes that we managed to watch that day was in the TopSpec arena. Clare Fitch and her horse Mirv were called forward to take the Purebred Arab of the Year Championship. Someone got a little too excited for the lap of honour and we caught it on film – https://goo.gl/D8QP1M
Day 2
Thursday might as well have been called Charlotte Dujardin day as that was the name on everyone’s lips. HOYS introduced the new live zone this year which meant we got the opportunity to watch a Q&A with Charlotte herself as well as a rider signing. Here’s our marketing assistant Roseanne with Charlotte…
Visitors also got the opportunity to watch a masterclass with the double Olympic Dressage champion in the packed out Andrews Bowen International Arena.
And the Charlotte day didn’t end there! She also claimed a victory in the Dressage Future Elite Championship riding eight-year-old Mount St John Freestyle. Maria Eilberg finished second on Sarotti 57 with British Paralympic medallist Sophie Wells taking third on C Fatal Attraction.
Day 3
We had an amazing position in the retail village, which meant we were right next to the Meet The Horses! The breeds under the spotlight this year were the Haflinger, the Caspian, the Eriskay, the Fresian and the Arab. The owners of the horses and the societies representing them provided information and history about each breed, whereas the horses provided strokes and cuddles to those passing by. This also meant we had a couple of cheeky visitors at our stand in the morning to get their own picture with the wall!
The International Showjumping Grandstand Media Five Fence Challenge was our first stop of the day. Holly Smith, Shane Breen and Helen Tredwell decided to share the top prize after all 3 going clear in the fourth round.
Next, we headed over to the TopSpec Arena to catch the Miniature Horse of the Year Championship. Hannah Bradley’s Ujeniks Dudes Sombrero returned to HOYS for the first time in 3 years to successfully reclaim the title after winning back in 2014. Click here to see our video of them.
Day 4 – PUISSANCE DAY!
The penultimate day of the show, and the day of the Puissance. The NEC was filled to the brim with visitors as soon as the doors opened, and we had many heading to our stand to get a glimpse of the wall before the evening class.
We asked a few people why they were looking forward to it…
We also managed to have a sneaky look at those competing in the Puissance when they were warming up. So many beautiful horses!
The start list revealed 14 combinations going forward, including last year’s winning pair Holly Smith and Quality Old Joker. However, newcomer Irish rider Padraic Judge riding Citi Business won the title after being the only combination to clear the wall at 2.14m. It was an incredible atmosphere, and as always, had everybody on the edge of their seats.
Watch our interview with Padraic Judge…
Day 5
The final day was the day of champions, and for most people to get the last bit of shopping done!
We went to see the Coloured Horse and Pony of the Year Championship where some stunning coloured horses were on display. It ended up being a family affair with father and daughter taking Champion and Reserve Champion!
Martin Wood’s five-year-old Irish Sport Horse Doorleys Prince scooped the title, with Martin’s Login Lucky Lad, ridden by daughter Michaela, standing Reserve.
And those were our favourite moments from the Horse of the Year Show 2017. The dates for next year’s show have been set, Wednesday 3rd – Sunday 7th October, which will be the show’s 70th anniversary! We’re already looking forward to it.
