Heavy horses shine at HOYS

There was a spectacular display of heavy horses on display on the final day of the Horse of the Year Show at the NEC Birmingham.

09 October 2023 • 3 min read

Clydesdales and Shires filled the arena at this year's Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), all hoping to take the title of Ridden Heavy Horse of the Year, but top honours went to the Shire gelding, Cotebrook Sgurr Alasdair.

The eight-year-old bay by Moorfield Edward out of Cotebrook Loch Carron, ridden by Will Morton, was bred by Alistair King and is owned by Gemma McClorey, who rode him at HOYS last year, finishing sixth.
Standing reserve was Stobilee Zac, an 11-year-old bay roan Clydesdale gelding by Great American GW Carver out of Stobilee Ruby, owned by Brian Bisset and ridden by Lucy May Stewart.
In its inaugural year, the Driven Heavy Horse of the Year championship treated visitors to a presentation of 11 qualified heavy horses, including Shires, Percherons and Clydesdales, driving a two-wheeled show cart.
The winner was Wendy Toomer Harlow, driving her 14-year-old Clydesdale gelding, Walton Bomber, by Caeberllan Buskot out of Walton Lees Laura.

Wendy Toomer Harlow driving Walton Bomber

The reserve championship went to Ailsa Noble, driving her five-year-old Clydesdale, Doura Lizzy by Doura Aird Ambition.
Alongside the ridden championship, it is hoped this new driven championship will help further support the work of the societies in promoting these breeds, some of which continue to feature on the rare and endangered breeds list.
Claiming the title of Shire Horse of the Year was Batley Pepper Gray, a three-year-old black filly by Toc Hill Sir George out of Batley Alison Gray, which has been a big winner this show season. It is owned by Richard Bedford and was handled by Robert Bedford.
The five-year-old stallion, Herkules Catching Fire, a son of Moorland Ted out of West Winds Cari Ann, owned by C. Paulsson and shown by Paul Bedford, took the reserve championship.

Batley Pepper Gray led by Richard Bedford

Supreme Horse of the Year
It was the hack champion, Forgelands Hyde Park, which took the Supreme Horse of the Year title for owners Guy Mears and Isabella Mears-Wood.

The 12-year-old gelding by Kilvington Scoundrel and ridden by Danielle Heath already had three HOYS hack championships and two intermediate championships in its winning tally.

Forgeland Hyde Park ridden by Danielle Heath

Supreme Pony of the Year

The winner of the Part-bred Pony of the Year, Swan Lake, went one better to claim the overall Supreme Pony of the Year title.

The five-year-old by Llanarth Top Cat out of Dance All Night, which was Riding Pony of the Year in 2012, is owned by Jerome Harforth and was ridden by Sophie Staveley.