Action underway at HOYS 2011

 The 63rd Horse of the Year Show is off and running, with thousands heading in through the doors and the first of the classes thrilling the crowds. For the first time ever the show has been extended to six days, running from 4 to 9 October.

First in the international arena today was the jumping phase of the Cuddy Working Hunter of the Year championship.

Working Hunters can be mares, geldings or stallions and should jump fluently at a good hunting pace over a course of rustic jumps. The best rounds then go forward for further judging where they are ridden by the judge and assessed for conformation and action.

Nine horses went through to tonight’s final, with particularly strong performances from ‘Keep Talking’ ridden by Derek Morton and ‘Anchor Man’ with Carolyn Stevens.

Highlights later this evening include the Express Eventing Cross Country and crowd-favourite, the Household Cavalry.

The Sunday gala evening performance will bring the curtain down on the NEC-hosted show, with the much-loved Pony Club Mounted Games, formerly sponsored by NFU Countryside, and international show jumping certain to set the arena alight.

Find out more, including results, on the HOYS website here.