With film-star looks, superb ringcraft and manners to burn, the show horse who gives both an impeccable ride and wows the spectators.
For the third year in a row, we will crown the best horses in their individual sports based on your votes as part of the annual Horse & Hound Awards. See who’s made the shortlist and place your votes below…
Show Horse of the Year 2025 shortlist
KBF Lucia
8yo coloured mare, by Free Spirit out of Seabourne Swansdown
Owner: Diane Stennett and Lucy Cameron
Rider: Jayne Ross
Breeders: Tony Reynolds and Michael Cook
Known as Poppy at home, this young mare has had an incredible run in the show ring. She stood overall supreme at this year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), where she’s now won five times as either a coloured horse or a ladies’ show horse.
Poppy also has an enviable record at the Royal International (RIHS), where she has won her coloured class several times and gone on to stand champion horse and overall supreme coloured. At Windsor, Poppy has won her coloured non-native horse and the ladies’ show horse classes, and was second this year in the riding horses.
As versatile as ever, Poppy has qualified for the RIHS and HOYS in the riding horses, too, and was second at the Hickstead final.
Mulberry Lane
10yo gelding, by OBOS Quality 004 out of Lisnaree (by Hermes De Reve)
Breeder: Brian Clinghan
Rider: Craig Kiddier
Owner: Susan Tennant
Not content to win the overall supreme horse title at the RIHS once, Mulberry Lane – known as Obi at home – returned to Hickstead this summer to land the working hunter championship for the third time consecutively and successfully defend his supreme horse crown.
Last year, he also topped the middleweights at HOYS and claimed the hunter championship before matching his place at Hickstead by taking the supreme horse title at HOYS, too.
Stoneleigh Showtime
8yo 128cm British Riding Pony gelding, by Cusop Dimension out of Trelawn Gaiety Girl
Owner: Helen Davies
Breeder: Stephanie Horton
Rider: Isabella Walker
Stoneleigh Showtime is nothing short of a pony of a lifetime for his young rider Isabella Walker. Known as Charlie at home, he’s accumulated an impressive tally with Isabella, including lifting the coveted show pony championship at Royal Windsor three times consecutively.
Last season, he was reserve champion show pony at both the RIHS and at HOYS, and went one better earlier this summer to claim the Hickstead championship and overall supreme pony titles. The pair also won this year’s 128cm title at HOYS.
Tremarl Timpani
7yo sport horse mare, by Timolin out of Exclusive III (by No Submission)
Owner/ breeder: Jane Davies
Rider: Vicky Smith
Tremarl Timpani – or “Kate” – is a young mare already making waves in the show ring, and set to do much more. In just this season alone, she has notched up a superb tally of results, winning the large riding horse class and standing reserve champion at Royal Windsor, the RIHS, and the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) Championships. She went one better at HOYS, where she was champion riding horse.
Voting closes at 5pm on Thursday 30 October and the winners will be revealed at a star-studded ceremony on 26 November, and featured online, on social media and in the following week’s magazine (4 December). Read the H&H Awards 2025 terms and conditions
Previous Show Horse of the Year Award winners
The previous winners of the Show Horse of the Year Award are:
- 2024: Mulberry Lane, the working hunter who was crowned supreme horse at both Royal International and Horse of the Year Show
- 2023: Forgeland Hyde Park, one of the most consistent hacks of the past decade
Prior to 2023, the Horse of the Year Award ran across all equestrian disciplines, and the winners include:
- 2022: Vanir Kamira, the much-loved veteran mare, who added Burghley to her previous Badminton win
- 2021: the world’s best showjumper and Olympic champion Explosion W, ride of Ben Maher
- 2020: the legendary Valegro was crowned the horse of the decade (2011-2020) by H&H readers
- 2019: Piggy French’s ride Vanir Kamira may be “a pain in the arse 352 days a year”, but this true five-star horse “comes into her own at Badminton and Burghley”
- 2018: Arctic Soul, the former racehorse turned elite eventer, ridden by Gemma Tattersall
- 2017: Nip Tuck, Carl Hester’s outstanding equine partner
- 2016: Valegro, the elite dressage star and world record breaker, ridden by Charlotte Dujardin
About the Horse & Hound Awards 2025
The Horse & Hound Awards are celebrating their 10th year, being held in partnership with NAF and Agria.
As ever, the Horse & Hound Awards winners will be nominated and voted for by you, with the exception of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award, which is decided by a Horse & Hound panel. We will recognise both the big names who have made 2025 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at every level.
The ceremony will take place at Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire, where some 300 people, including stars of this summer’s European Championships, will enjoy a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, Oscar-style speeches and dancing on Wednesday 26 November.
