Heavy Horses

Single Trade or Agricultural Heavy Horse in harness with a vehicle

Agricultural Turnout Vehicles, which should have none of the following:
A) Headboard
B) High Seats
C) Commercial Advertising other than the name of the owner or vehicles
D) Springs

Ladies Cart - Single Heavy Horse in harness with a ladies or stallion cart

Pair of Trade or Agricultural Heavy Horses in harness with a vehicle

Agricultural Turnout Vehicles, which should have none of the following:

A) Headboard
B) High Seats
C) Commercial Advertising other than the name of the owner or vehicles
D) Springs

In Hand Agricultural Horse Gelding, 4 years old and upwards

In Hand Agricultural Horse Brood Mare with Foal at Foot

In Hand Agricultural Horse Foal, Colt or Filly

In Hand Agricultural Horse Yearling, Colt, Gelding or Filly

In Hand Agricultural Horse Two Year Old, Gelding or Filly

In Hand Agricultural Horse Three Year Old, Gelding or Filly

In Hand Agricultural Horse Mare, barren, 4 years old and upwards

Any Other Agricultural Horse Breed in Hand (other than Shire)

Shire Horse of the Year Qualifying Class - This class is a qualifier for the Shire Horse of the Year Championship supported by the Shire Horse Society, to be held at the NEC, Birmingham, 7-11th October 2026. This class is open to pure bred fully registered shires of two years old and over that are entered and exhibited in their appropriate breed classes at the Show.
Horses must be registered in, and complying with the showing requirements of the Shire Horse Society. Members of the Shire Horse Society. This class will be run in accordance with the Shire Horse Society guidelines, which for the avoidance of doubt will be considered rules for Horse of the Year Show and its qualifiers, however the general rules as set out within this Rule book will take precedence.
Qualification will not pass below 5th place. Horses must be entered in the name and ownership in which they are registered. Horses should be turned out in a traditional manner, with flights. Horse's docks must be covered with a fan of hair in accordance with the Shire Horse Society rules. The turning up of coats is not permitted, in accordance with the Shire Horse Society rulebook.
At the final and qualifiers, horses may have foot inspections carried out by a Shire Horse Society farrier and vet. Horses must be correctly shod in accordance with the shoeing standards, as detailed in The Shire Horse Society Rulebook. Horses may be unshod.
Horses that are part bred or from the Grade A, B or C registers of the Shire Horse Society are not eligible to compete. Geldings must be registered in the Shire Horse Society Non-Breeding Register and must be pure bred e.g. not out of Grade B mares, and parentage verified.

Exhibitors please note that the HOYS contribution fee of £20 is payable for this class and the HOYS entry form is required in addition to that of the show.
The show reserves the right to share membership data with Grandstand Media Limited in compliance with the Horse of the Year Show's Rules and Regulations. This sharing is for the purpose of HOYS, matters to include, but not limited to; qualification or disciplinary. For further details regarding the use of data for Horse of the Year Show qualifiers please refer to www.hoys.co.uk.

Ridden Heavy Horse - open to all breeds and levels of heavy horses, 4 years old and upwards.