Our biggest equestrian event of the season is always Horse of the Year Show, which is held in March each year and is the culmination of the season for many. It is a week-long event and by far my favourite show of the season as it combines a variety of disciplines and horses. From show jumping to showing, dressage to games, there is plenty for everyone to watch and amazing trade stands for all your shopping needs.
Horse of the Year is held at the Hastings A&P Show Grounds in the Hawkes Bay and is roughly a 3-hour drive away for us. It’s the show that every pony crazy girl dreams of competing at – and is probably still the dream as an adult competing as well.
The main dressage arena
I was very lucky to be able to take the day off on the Friday of the show so that I could watch the show hunter title classes. Historically these classes were held on the Saturday but with the inclusion of eventing back at the grounds, and cross country day now on the Saturday, a lot of classes have shifted around.
It was a very early start for me on the Friday (4.30am to be exact) so that I could arrive in time for the show hunter classes starting at 8am. It may have been an early start but was absolutely worth it as I spent majority of the day glued to the side of the ring watching each round.
The hack show hunter ring
The first title class of the day was the Amateur Show Hunter of the Year followed by the Junior Show Hunter of the Year and finally the Open Show Hunter of the Year title. The classes are run in the format of two rounds, with only the top 10 being called back for the second-round.
The second round is set over a shorter number of jumps and the rider in 10th after the first round will ride first and the rider in 1st place will ride last. Depending on how the second round goes the overall final placings can change dramatically for the end result, which makes watching the two rounds very exciting.
Laura van Velthooven riding Montbelle Donahue won the Amateur title class, while the Junior title went to Rosa Buist-Brown riding Bellick ST and finally the Open title class was won by Abby Robinson riding Hillman Hunter. It was lovely to watch all of their rounds and congratulations to them and all other place getters.
Place getters in the Amateur Show Hunter of the Year title class
I was also able to watch some of the 6-Year-Old of the Year title class in the main show jumping arena, as well as some of the Rising Star Saddle Hunter classes. It was lovely to watch a variety of classes going on, and to observe some dressage whilst I was shopping as well.
There wasn’t too much on my shopping list this year, mainly because we are saving for our wedding. But I was able to purchase a couple of rugs, some breeches and riding tights from TeQ, a gorgeous plum colored hat from McKenzie & George (via their NZ stockiest South Canterbury Saddlery) and finally some safety stirrups from the CWD stand.
Trade stand walkway around the main show jumping arena
After a lovely day out and with some very weary feet, I headed back to my car for the drive home at about 6pm. It would have been lovely to stay for the Friday Night Extravaganza that they normally hold, but as I wasn’t staying the night I didn’t want to be home too late after my early start. Fingers crossed I will be able to do that next year, or that I might even be back competing!
I hope you enjoyed my wrap up of my day at HOY, given the current environment that we are in I’m not sure when my next horsey event will be which is extremely sad. But I hope this brings a little bit of joy to your day!
Until next time,
L-J x