Top teamwork

Back in August 2025, Staff College and Sandhurst Pony Club mounted games team became the final team to secure a place at this year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). And guess what? The team will be visiting the PONY mag stand there (stand K10). So, if you’re going to HOYS, be sure to keep an eye on our social media updates to find out when you can meet these awesome riders.

We caught up with the riders and trainers to find out more…

Thirteen-year-old Arthur started doing games in 2018 and he’s had several games ponies, including Jack (who he started on), Mystic, Bart and Kitty. Arthur qualified for HOYS on Mystic, and he tells us: “I didn’t bond with Mystic at first and I lost a lot of confidence for a while, but second time round it worked, and we’ve had a cracking season. I can’t wait for HOYS where I’ll be riding Kitty, as it will be very exciting for me and my friends to experience it together for the first time.”

Ava, who’s also 13, started games when she was 10 and fell in love with it straight away. She’ll be riding Buttons who she says she owes everything to. “I’ve been riding Buttons for almost two years now and while we didn’t click at first, I soon gained confidence and we began to achieve amazing things together,” says Ava. “To qualify for HOYS is a dream come true for me, my teammates and all the adults who have supported us all season.”

Leah, who’s 15, will be riding Sparky at HOYS and says: “Qualifying for the show on my once-in-a-lifetime pony is one of the most surreal experiences. I will forever be in debt to Sparky  – he isn’t just my pony, he’s my teammate and my best friend. We were in third place until the last race but still managed to win by two points, showing the competition truly isn’t over until the last whistle is blown!”

Fenella is Arthur’s twin sister, and she says: “The pony I qualified for HOYS on is called Biscuit, although I’ll be riding Mystic at the show. We have many achievements together, including being in the South of England team, European Indoor Cup champions and now qualifying for HOYS. Riding through those purple curtains in October is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I would never have believed it could be possible.”

Aidan is 14 and will be riding Fuzz at HOYS. “I haven’t been riding Fuzz for very long, but we bonded straight away and now we’ve achieved my dream together,” Aidan tells us. “I am so grateful to my parents and the whole team for making this happen. The bond between us has become unbreakable, creating friendships that will last a lifetime.”

Fourteen-year-old Seth is the team’s sixth rider and will be attending HOYS as reserve. “I’m super-excited to be going to HOYS and it’s even better that my best friend, Aidan, is riding Fuzz because I ride him in the B team,” Seth tells us. “None of us has ever qualified for HOYS before, so I’m sure it will be a brilliant experience and I’m so grateful for this opportunity.”

Team trainer Emma is incredibly proud of the youngsters who have worked so hard with dedication and determination to qualify for HOYS. She tells us: “Qualifying is an experience I will never forget because it all rested on the last race. The tension, excitement and determination shown by the team made it a day to remember for ever. Mounted games is about so much more than speed – it’s about trust, confidence and teamwork. I know our team will do us proud when they ride into the HOYS arena.”

For more information about the show, visit hoys.co.uk