'The change was refreshing to watch'

H&H's showing editor on the new judging format at HOYS 2024

- Alex Robinson

THERE was plenty of anticipation ahead of the 2024 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), mainly around how the judging format adopted for the 75th-anniversary edition of the show would play out.

On this occasion, a list of respected judges from across the globe was revealed at the start of the year. However, exactly who would be officiating each final at HOYS wasn’t known until the night before each class.

There was definitely some apprehension about the change, mainly as it was the unknown, something different to what we were used to. Usually, at the beginning of the season, many decide if HOYS is a show they want to aim an animal for given who will be judging them in October.

Throughout the year, there has been very little speculation about who was set to take to the centre line, and a few surprise, yet thoroughly deserving, wins and placings were sprung in real-time during our week at the NEC.

It made for an interesting and engaging watch, and the general consensus among spectators was that the change was refreshing and it revitalised viewing.