Show Jumping

Horse of the Year Show features the finals of the most prestigious National show jumping championships and also runs a full programme of International classes, five of which carry world ranking points. It is in the Andrews Bowen International Arena that dreams are fulfilled and heroes are made. The atmosphere is electric as riders and horses tackle the huge jumps and tight turns in a variety of exciting classes.

Britain's top show jumpers will take on a host of leading foreign contenders in an array of entertaining speed and jump off classes including the crowd favourite Puissance, featuring the huge red wall that exceeds heights of 7ft, and the prestigious Leading Show Jumper of the Year. HOYS celebrates the end of the competitive season in true style with five days of thrilling action packed classes.

Show Jumping highlights include:

The Puissance is probably considered to be the most famous show jumping competition in the world. The competition’s name 'Puissance' literally means 'Power' in French and is designed to push both horse and rider to their limits. For this very reason the Puissance has become one of the most popular classes at the Show.  A fantastic line up of riders entered the 2010 class including favourites Ellen Whitaker riding the infamous Ladina B winners of the 2009 Puissance as well as Guy Williams riding grey mare Richi Rich III.  It was a winning performance from the Great British ladies in 2010 with Tina Fletcher and Ellen Whitaker finishing on top, jumping a huge 7ft 2ins daunting red brick wall.  Early casualties included Puissance veteran and newcomer Jessie Drea who both had poles down before reaching the wall, knocking them out in the early stages.  With the drama and popularity of the Puissance increasing every year the sky’s the limit for 2011!  

The Leading Pony Show Jumper of the Year is the biggest junior competition at HOYS. The classic jump-off course is always fiercely contested by some of the country's top under 16 year old riders. Qualification takes place at a number of venues around the country and riders have to come within the top three in these competitions to gain the chance of taking home the title of the Leading Junior Show Jumper of the Year. Some of today's leading British riders have made their way up the ranks by making their mark in this junior competition. The latest young stars to claim the title are John and Michael Whitaker's nephews, William Whitaker (2005), Thomas Whitaker (2006) and George Whitaker (2007). Roberta Roe managed to break the Whitaker take over by winning in 2008 followed by Laura Robinson in 2009.  The 2010 title went to Jessica Mendoza and her two time European Gold medal winning mare Tixylix.

Horse & Hound Foxhunter Championship National Final. This is the 'FA Cup' of domestic show jumping and features the very best of the country's novice horses. From first round competitions at riding centres and competition venues up and down the country only 24 finalists make it through to contest the most prestigious Championship in domestic show jumping. Laura Renwick rode an exceptional round on Parvati De Breve to take the 2010 Horse & Hound Foxhunter Championship, a great achievement for Laura after settling for second place in 2009 to Bruce Menzies after a lightning round on Sultan V. 

HOYS Leading Show Jumper of the Year. This is the climax of HOYS international show jumping.Nine of the international classes throughout the Show carry qualifying points towards this Final. The top twenty-two horse and rider combinations will compete for the chance to battle it out on this challenging course and gain a share in the prize fund of £22,500. Riders who have qualified more than one horse must nominate just one to ride. This is the biggest course of the week and tests both horse and rider to their limits. The top six or all clear rounds will go onto the second round of the competition. The second round is a jump-off against the clock, where all first round scores are carried forward.  Laura Renwick after qualifying with Oz De Breve went on to beat crowd favourite Tim Stockdale by a mere two seconds in the second round jump off to take the 2010 title of Leading Show Jumper of the year from 2009’s winner Ellen Whitaker.