Horse of the Year Show

Horse of the Year Show would like to reassure exhibitors in the Working Hunter Pony  sections at this year’s show that correct procedures were followed after the submission of an appeal on the result of the 143cm Working Hunter Pony of the Year.

The independent appeals committee reviewed the situation and found the judge’s initial decision to have followed correct protocol and therefore stand as the final result.

At present there is no allowance for video or photographic evidence to be used in the appeals process. This is now being reviewed for the future so where discrepancies in results are found, this form of evidence may be used to verify a result.

The decision taken by both the judge during the class and the appeals committee after the class are independent and are final.

These are the official findings of the report:

Horse of the Year Show Appeals Committee 

1. All Events at HOYS are held subject to the Rules of the Show as published in the schedule.
2. A meeting of the HOYS appeals committee consisting of Mr Alan Jones, President, Mr Brian Williams and Mr Edward Slinger, heard an appeal in relation to the result of class 49b the 143cm Working Hunter Pony.
3. An objection had been raised on the basis that the winning pony Fair and Square II, had been incorrectly awarded a clear round in the jumping phase of the competition.
4. The committee heard evidence from a representative of the objector and from the jump judge and Steward concerned.
5. The judge and steward confirmed their belief that the original decision was correct.
6. There is currently no provision in the rules of the show for consideration of video evidence and the committee upheld the original decision.
7. The appeals committee recommends that consideration should be given to the future admission of official video evidence.
8. The appeal was properly made within the rules and the deposit will be returned.