The Titans Battling for Horse of the Year
View Point
What can we say about Jill Day’s View Point, or Sean, that hasn’t been said before?! With Robert Walker in the saddle, Sean has had an incredible career, starting with a win at the National Hunter Championships aged just four years old. He’s since on to stand supreme at the RIHS, scored an incredible four consecutive championships at Royal Windsor Horse Show, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house at HOYS when he stood supreme horse for the second time consecutively and was led down the centre line by Rob. Now retired from the ring, Sean will enjoy a time hunting instead with nothing left to prove.
Fuerty Emperor
Fuerty Emperor, affectionately known at home as Angel Gabe, was the rank-outsider that shook up expectations to take the heavyweight hunter class at the Horse of the Year Show, delighting crowds as he carried young rider and producer Lauren Brill down the centre line following her first win in the horse ranks. Owned by Jono Ryer, Gabe is pure Irish Draft, but in an affectionate nod to his affable character, is described in one nomination as ‘a giant Labrador’!
Forgeland Hyde Park
Guy Mears’ Forgeland Hyde Park – William – is another uber-talented and consistent horse with an impressive tally of wins. After standing champion at HOYS in 2021 under producer Danielle Heath and champion intermediate show riding type under Guy’s daughter Isabella, William continued his stellar form to stand hack and intermediate champion at Windsor, take the first HOYS tickets of the season to his respective finals, stand hack champion at the RIHS. This was the fourth time that Will had won the large hack class at the RIHS having done so previously under producers Robert Walker and Jayne Ross, and the third time for him to take the supreme hack accolade. Danielle and William also gave a masterclass in manners and elegance in the supreme ride-off at the RIHS, ultimately finishing reserve.
Little Joe
At 17.2hh, Little Joe is actually rather big, and makes big jumps look little! Ridden by Alice Homer, the nine-year-old Kec Maximum Joe gelding is another to have retained superb form through the season, winning the heavyweight division and standing champion working hunter at Royal Windsor Horse Show and capping the year by taking the working hunter of the year title at HOYS.
First Receiver
First Receiver touched the hearts of his connections and onlookers when he took the Racehorse to Riding Horse final at HOYS under producer Katie Jerram. It was a poignant moment, as he would have been the late Queen Elizabeth II’s first HOYS winner, something she dearly wished to achieve. Instead, he became The King’s first recipient of HOYS glory. The five-year-old was also champion novice at the Jockey Club’s ROR championships at Aintree and took the last ticket to HOYS after winning a strong class at Burghley.
Legend in Manhattan
Legend in Manhattan, or Harry, is owned by James Woodington but was bred by his producer Victoria Hesford and the late Claire Twiston Davies who was a great supporter and friend to Victoria, meaning he is also of great sentimental value to the team around him. Disaster almost struck when Harry had a nail through his foot and had nothing short of a gaping hole threatening to cut short not only his career, but also his life. Several vet clinics condemned him, but Vicky and James persevered and pursued surgery. He has mare a remarkable comeback from injury and despite being just lightly campaigned and in his first season, he won the large riding horse at the RIHS and stood reserve champion.
