Horse of the Year

Horse of the Year Our 71st show will be on hold till 2027. Dates to be released in the new year. What would a horse show be without a little shopping and hospitality?

Horse of the Year
March 4th 9th March 2025

Celebrate Equestrian Excellence at Horse of the Year! Join us for an unforgettable experience at the Horse of the Year, where we bring together 1,400 of the country’s finest riders to compete for prestigious titles. This event is not just about the competition; it’s about creating lasting memories in the heart of the equestrian community. At Horse of th

e Year, explore a diverse marketplace featuring everything from exquisite gin to sparkling diamonds, stylish clothing, and more. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere with ringside seating that puts you right in the action. Refresh yourself in our hospitality tents, where you can sip on a glass of bubbly while overlooking the Dressage Oval or enjoy a delightful cheese board paired with a refreshing gin and tonic at The Stables, located next to the show jumping arena. If variety is your trick, tickle your taste buds by sampling some of the region’s world-renowned wines at the Great Wine Capital tasting room. Make a day of it! Indulge in our fabulous hospitality options, offering a perfect blend of equestrian excitement and luxury. With 15 different disciplines, including the iconic Cross Country working its way through the grounds, and over 200 trade sites, Horse of the Year promises an extraordinary experience. For edge-of-your-seat entertainment, don’t miss our standout showcases: Cup Day Saturday and Cross Country Sunday. On Sunday, the Waikoko Garden Bar situates you right at the lake's edge with a prime view of our world-class, renowned Cross Country course. Mark your calendars and join us for an exceptional celebration of equestrian sport!

This is not the post anyone wishes to write or read. We have had to hit pause on HOY 2026. That by no means is the end o...
02/12/2025

This is not the post anyone wishes to write or read. We have had to hit pause on HOY 2026. That by no means is the end of our iconic and very special show and we want to reassure you we are already looking at what the 2027 event may look like. It is a joint decision made by our board and our shareholders Hastings District Council and Equestrian Sports New Zealand.
Our small team has chased every avenue possible to secure financial support to meet sustained cost pressures that come alongside reduced commercial and trade partnership revenue. We are not alone in this struggle – numerous large scale entertainment all over the country have been cancelled in recent months. Without that financial buffer, we just don’t feel we can deliver the event to the standard expected of New Zealand’s premier equestrian show.
We’ve had to make the call now because December 1 was when our schedules were due to go out, tickets go on sale and we push go on some big infrastructure contracts.
This is as devastating for our team as it is for everyone who loves the show as much as we do but we will be back!
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our show. We appreciate each and every one of you and let’s all look forward to hearing the HOY anthem ‘Stand up for the Champions’ in 2027.

📸 KAMPIC

Here’s the full press release 👇

https://hoy.kiwi/

24/11/2025

Katie Meredith is making the long trip up from North Canterbury to HOY to chase some of the biggest showjumping titles in the land . . . and she reckons it could go ok.



🎥 Stride Media

Cuteness overload incoming 😍 . . . if there is one thing you can ALWAYS guarantee to get in spades at the Horse of the Y...
18/11/2025

Cuteness overload incoming 😍 . . . if there is one thing you can ALWAYS guarantee to get in spades at the Horse of the Year Show, it’s cuteness. Our passionate wee riders 🏇 start young and take their craft very seriously – aided of course by their hugely supportive mums and dads. Then there are those who have convinced their parents to bring them to the show so they can soak up their future sport from the sidelines.

📸 The Art of Michelle Clarke

15/11/2025

"It’s all my dreams come true,” says Tracy Crossan of winning the 2025 Saddle Hunter Horse of the Year aboard her homebred horse Zak. “It is the pinnacle – it is what I have been aiming for all my life,” she says.
It may take her three days to get to Heretaunga Hastings but she’ll be there with bells on in 2026 to defend her crown.
We caught up with her on another winning streak at the Royal Canterbury A&P Show.



📸 Stride NZ

09/11/2025

Say what 🙀??? There’s just 20 weeks until our next Olympic Cup winner 🏆 is crowned?! Whether you are a competitor 🏇 or a spectator, start locking and loading those plans for March 24-29 and make sure you are ringside Sunday afternoon to watch a little history be made.
We celebrate 🙌 every single one of our previous Olympic Cup champs and cannot wait 🤩 to see what the 2026 class brings.
Bring it on! 🏇

🎥 Stride Media

Ever wondered 🤔 what it would be like to be the one presenting the rugs or ribbons or trophies 🏆 to the winner of a clas...
03/11/2025

Ever wondered 🤔 what it would be like to be the one presenting the rugs or ribbons or trophies 🏆 to the winner of a class sponsored by yourself or your business? Dream no more! HOY 2026 has class sponsorship packages from as little as $150 for a non-title showing, breed or show hunter class, through to some of the main title classes in the premier dressage and showjumping arenas. Just think – your name on the sash and rug . . . awarding them to the very best in the country. Drop us a line – [email protected] - if you think this is a bit of you! 💗

📸 The Art Of Michelle Clarke

02/11/2025

You could call Georgia Allison the queen of show hunter these days . . . she’d probably duck and dive on that, but the tale of the tape tells a different story. Last season was a cracker and included the Amateur Show Hunter of the Year crown with Carabawn Comet at HOY as well as the Open High Points Series on Sandow Jacob and the Adult Equitation Series. What makes this superstar rider tick and what’s this year got in store for her and her fabulous team?

🎥 Stride Media

Well that was a bit of a ‘remember who’ in the Premier League class at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Show last week. Did anyone el...
29/10/2025

Well that was a bit of a ‘remember who’ in the Premier League class at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Show last week. Did anyone else clock that the class contained four previous Olympic Cup winners in Julie Davey, Sophie Scott and Brooke Edgecombe . . . and not forgetting Maurice Beatson who has won the cup an impressive five times over a 30-year period. In case you wondered . . . here’s the list –

🏆 Julie Davey and LT Holst Freda (2025)
🏆 Sophie Scott and Waitangi Skynet (2024)
🏆 Brooke Edgecombe and LT Holst Andrea (2020)
🏆 Maurice Beatson and My Gollywog (2013), Minalinka (1991), Jefferson Junior (1986), Nationwide (1983 and 1984)

Roll on March and let’s see whose name will be added to this very prestigious and historic trophy.

📸 KAMPIC

26/10/2025

TRADE 🛍️
Looking forward to that shopping fix at HOY? Well, start your planning because with more than 70% of sites already sold out – and listed at www.hoy.kiwi – there will be plenty to choose from. If you’re on the fence about whether to have a trade site or not . . . best get a shuffle along because she’s filling fast! Be there!

📸 Stride Media // stride__nz


Ahhh . . . a little glass of chilled rosé or a cheeky G&T while enjoying the action in the main area sounds just the tic...
21/10/2025

Ahhh . . . a little glass of chilled rosé or a cheeky G&T while enjoying the action in the main area sounds just the ticket. Or maybe grab a snack from one of our many foodie outlets and do a spot of people-watching between shopping missions. It’s the perfect place for a girls’ weekend catch-up with plenty to do at the show or out and about around Hawke’s Bay.


📸 Stride NZ

18/10/2025

🥳 Mark it in your diaries 📔. Put it on the white board! Tie a piece of string around your pinkie even. Just don’t forget the date . . . March 24-29, 2026, at the Tōmoana Showgrounds in Hastings. Start making your plans! 🏇



📸 Stride NZ

We are proud to once again support New Zealand Pony Clubs ! Keep an eye out for our HOY2026 activation, building on the ...
03/10/2025

We are proud to once again support New Zealand Pony Clubs ! Keep an eye out for our HOY2026 activation, building on the success of our very popular KidZone of the last two years.

So many of us built our equestrian talents at Pony Club.
🐎What are your memories of your Pony Club days?
🐎Which Pony Club did you start out at?

It will be no surprise to learn that many of our 2025 champions came through the Pony Club ranks. 🏆Here are a few . . .

🥇Annie Baird riding Maximus Z – Harrison Lane Junior Show Hunter of the Year 2025, Waimea Pony Club

🥇Julie Wylie-Parkinson riding Bon Garcon – Duwell Showing Hack of the Year 2025, Upper Valley Pony Club

🥇Sophie Laws riding Goldpark The Magician - Total Control Electrical Ltd Paced and Mannered Arabian of the Year 2025,
Blenheim Pony Club

🥇Wendi Williamson riding Don Vito MH – Dressage Horse of the Year 2025, Taranaki & Katikati Area Clubs

🥇Julie Davey riding LT Holst Freda – Olympic Cup Horse of the Year 2025,
Maraekakaho Pony Club

Let’s get behind our clubs. Support HOY and celebrate our community together.
Make your vote count – vote for your favourite Pony Club.

https://shophoy.kiwi/

📷Photographers: Michelle Clarke / Rachel Stringfellow / Kampic Photography

Address

Tōmoana Showgrounds, Kenilworth Road
Hastings
4122

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