‘No fat ponies will be getting top marks from me’: meet HOYS mountain and moorland mini and working hunter judge Erik Mackechnie-Guire
In our latest exclusive article for H&H subscribers on what the judges will be looking for in specific classes at HOYS, M&M judge Erik Mackechnie-Guire explains what he will be prioritising in both the mini and working hunter classes, what his pet peeves are to avoid, and offers some important advice for those riding at the show for the first time
With the 2025 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) just around the corner, we catch up with mountain and moorland (M&M) mini and working hunter judge Erik Mackechnie-Guire to find out what he’ll be looking for.
Who is mountain and moorland mini and working hunter judge Erik Mackechnie-Guire?
“During my early years, my involvement in ponies was through a local trekking centre, which kept a mixture of native and native crosses. That’s where I first became interested in the native breeds and at around 16 years old, I had a native of my own for the first time – a Shetland pony,” says Erik.
After finishing school, Erik decided to pursue working in the equestrian world, and trained via the British Horse Society (BHS) system before embarking on his career. A period of working on various good training yards and facilities ensued, including over 20 years as head trainer at Gleneagles.
He has competed to advanced level in dressage, and is an experienced coach who has worked with the British para-equestrian dressage team and as para-equestrian high performance manager with Team Australia.
In May 2019 he was appointed as the BEF’s new pathway manager for para-equestrian dressage, and has since become a Fellow of the BHS.
Erik joined the Highland Pony Society in his teens, and progressed onto the judging panel in his early twenties. His involvement in the breed has continued to this day and he now keeps a small herd of ponies, and breeds under the Dunstaffanage prefix.
As well as the Highland Pony Society’s breed panel, Erik sits on the UK Ponies & Horses (UK P&H), the National Pony Society (NPS) and the British Show Pony Society (BSPS).
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Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.
