Your complete list of HOYS 2026 qualifiers for all of your plaited ponies

John Harvey leads Elmswood Spring Parade and Florence Rendall at HOYS 2025.I’ve collated your need-to-know information for all the HOYS 2026 plaited pony qualifiers all in one place because I know that working out where to go to attempt to secure Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifications for you or your child’s ponies is no mean feat. While the HOYS qualifiers list has been announced […]

‘He’s a dream – a true kid’s pony’: Welsh pony and 10-year-old rider take Windsor title

Posy Lindsay and Heniarth Stand Up, the mini M&M champions at the 2026 Royal Windsor.In the mini mountain and moorland (M&M) classes at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, a “true kid’s pony” gave a beautiful performance to be crowned 2026 mini M&M champion. Posy Lindsay, 10, partnered Welsh section B Heniarth Stand Up (Stan) to win the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) M&M first ridden class en route…

‘It’s taken me a long time, but it’s all worth it’: runaway success for teenage rider at Windsor

Thistledown Runaway and Beau Belle Crossley are PP M&M champions at the 2026 Royal Windsor Horse ShowA 16-year-old rider netted the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Pretty Polly mountain and moorland (M&M) championship at the 2026 Royal Windsor Horse Show. Home-produced Welsh section C stallion Thistledown Runaway and his teenage rider Beau Belle Crossley first won a hotly contested Pretty Polly…

From the teeniest tiny tots to the impressive intermediates: meet 17 champions from the 2026 BSPS Winter Championships

Despite worries over how the fuel crisis may affect entries, the turnout at the 2026 BSPS Winter Championships was impressive, both in numbers and quality. The British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Winter Championships always attract a strong field due to the number of Royal International (RIHS) and London International (LIHS) tickets on offer as well […]

‘If a horse doesn't perform, we have to look at ourselves and do better,’ says showing producer Gill Thompson

North of England Summer Pony Show 12.07.15 Supreme Ridden Coloured Champs. Champion No. 515 line up lining up

Leading pony producer Gill Thompson has her say on good behaviour and schedule changes for this season

We made our season debut at North of England Spring Show recently, and I was very pleased to see strong classes with generally good entries across the board – especially in the…

Read more →
Marking systems in showing – their benefits, flaws and what the future may be

Some 30 years after the marks system hit mainstream showing, many are debating whether it still provides the transparency and consistency competitors seek. Bethan Simons investigates in this exclusive article for H &H subscribers

A casual conversation sparked a revolution in the show ring: the introduction of marks in the assessment of classes. “It was 1994,” says pony breeder Tom Best.…

Read more →
Everything you need to know about body protector standards – and what’s accepted for your discipline

Not only are body protectors required by some governing bodies, they must meet a particular standard to be accepted.Body protectors are designed to absorb impact from a fall, a kick or being stepped on by a horse, and certain body protector standards are compulsory for competitions under the rules of governing bodies. The body protector standards were originally developed by the British…

Meet the eight outstanding individuals presented with awards at the 2026 BSPS conference

John Harvey leads Elmswood Spring Parade and Florence Rendall at HOYS 2025.From the children and ponies with outstanding results to the behind-the-scenes heroes of showing, eight outstanding individuals were crowned 2026 BSPS awards winners. The winners were revealed and presented their trophies at the British Show Pony Society’s judges’ conference and AGM on 6 February by BSPS president Pat…

Page 1