The Life of Riley claims Coloured Horse honours at HOYS

A busy final day of showing saw the final champions of 2016 crowned at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

The Coloured Horse & Pony of the Year Championship, sponsored by CHAPS (UK), saw Hayley Sankey’s Tobiano gelding The Life of Riley stand champion ahead of Martin Wood’s Login Lucky Lad in Reserve, ridden by Michaela Wood.

Vicky Smith rode 10-year-old The Life of Riley, who is home produced, with owner Hayley and Vicky sharing the ride at shows.

Riley has been to HOYS five years in a row, but has never made it to the prestigious coloured championship before.

“I couldn’t watch when the judge was riding him, I didn’t take a breath,” said Vicky. “At home we’ve spent a long time on the gallops to keep him fit and we generally do a little bit of everything including jumping and hacking.”

Allister Hood picked up his third win of the week with Annabel Jenks’ Large Riding Horse, Diamonds are Forever in the Riding Horse of the Year Championship.

The seven-year-old by Diamond Hit was bred by Annabel.

“He never goes in the school. He hacks out every single day. Everything is so natural; his balance, rhythm, everything,” said Allister, who went on to take the Supreme Horse title with his cob champion.

Reserve Riding Horse of the Year went to Samantha Coates’ Large Riding Horse Bronte.

The 143cm winner, 10-year-old Wycroft New Dimension, went on to win the Topham Barnes Show Hunter Pony of the Year in the championship.

Owned by Anne McKay, the pony has only been ridden by jockey Jessica Renshaw-Smith for a few months.

“We’ve had him on loan since May. This is our first win at HOYS and what we dream of! He’s such a versatile pony and a real gentleman,” said Jessica’s mother, Karen.

Reserve went to the winner of the 122cm section, Emma Edward-Brady’s eight-year-old Gryngallt Page Too, ridden by Liberty Rebecca Grota.

Rupert Till’s Rotherwood Rainmaker won the Equissage Pulse Ridden Partbred Pony of the Year, ridden by Rupert’s daughter India, while Chloe Chubb’s Welsh Section B Laithehill Flute (pictured below) was the first ever winner of the LEGO Friends Junior Mountain & Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year Championship, ridden by 14-year-old Kinvara Garner.

Horse & Country’s coverage of HOYS is brought to you in association with TopSpec. Watch HOYS action on Catch Up on H&C Play.