Ponies and Riders Shine in HOYS Qualifiers at the First Summer Pony Premier Show of 2025

Tuesday 20 May 2025

This weekend, Arena UK hosted the first HOYS Pony Qualifiers of 2025 at their Summer Pony Premier Show, including the Enablelink 128cm HOYS Qualifier, the CT Equine Collection 138cm HOYS Qualifier, and the Demolition Services Pony Showjumper of the Year qualifier. Riders and their ponies were not only jumping for the win but also vying for their ticket to the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) final in October.

First up on Saturday was the Enablelink 128cm HOYS Qualifier, where 24 competitive riders took on the challenging 1.10m track.  In this hard-fought class, only two combinations managed to finish clear in the first round; Annabel Widdowson, riding Whinney Lass, and Poppy Dorise, piloting Bellismo Spartacus, both successfully navigated the course and opted to share first place.

Sunday saw the 138cm ponies take to the ring for the CT Equine Collection 138cm HOYS Qualifier. Thirty-six starers for round one became 14 for the final jump-off, where Alex Leggott rode a fast and clear round to take top spot with The Blossom Stud’s Blossom’s Letterkeen Bettyn. Crossing the finish in 34.93 seconds, Alex finished just over a second ahead of runner-up Tabby Morgan-Evans and Karan Dawson’s Churchfield Tulla Bluebell. Lucia Caroline rode Lee Caroline’s Houla Oups Ed’s into third place with fourth placing going the way of Christina Cotton and Monica Cotton’s Mayfly Black Pennel.

Twenty-seven combinations came forward for Sunday’s Demolition Services Ltd Pony Showjumper of the Year Qualifier, the challenging track meant that five would advance to the jump-off. With four of these jumping clear again, results would come down to the clock and it was Nellie Lock who led the way with Dulcie Chambers’ Catho Van De Langvelden Z. The pair zoomed through the finish in a time of 38.97 seconds, 2.09 seconds faster than second placed Cate Kerr who was piloting Nicola Rogers’ Queen Star. Ruby Payne and Russell Payne’s Zee Tech slotted into third place, with Ella Spencer and Emma Spencer’s Gilton Des Islots coming home in fourth.

A huge congratulations to all the riders and ponies who competed this weekend. We look forward to seeing the qualified riders compete at the HOYS finals in October.

NB: Results pending official grading.

Images: ATG Photography

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