HOYS confirms supreme judges for 2026: Laura Collett and Edwin Prosser to select final champions

# What happened Organisers of the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) have named the two judges who will select the supreme horse and pony champions on the final night of HOYS 2026 (11 October). The appointments pair multi-medal event rider Laura Collett with experienced Welsh pony and cob judge and breeder Edwin Prosser.

# Who the judges are

• Collett is described in the announcement as a European champion who also won world team gold and individual bronze this year. She has a direct HOYS pedigree: she won the supreme pony title at HOYS in 2003 on Penwayne Ryan, a Welsh section A.
• Collett said HOYS holds "very special memories" and called returning to the final as a supreme championship judge "a real honour." She said she understands what qualifying for and standing in the arena on the final evening means to competitors and is looking forward to the role.

• Prosser runs Mintfield Stud and is noted for significant judging experience with Welsh ponies and cobs. He has judged at high-profile HOYS classes before, including the Price family supreme in-hand championship in 2022.
• He said it is "a great honour" to be invited back to judge the supreme championships and that the appointment means a great deal to him and everyone at Mintfield Stud.

# What will happen at HOYS 2026

# Why this matters to competitors and spectators For competitors, having two judges with both top-level performance experience (Collett) and long-standing breed and showing expertise (Prosser) means the final will be assessed through complementary perspectives: performance record and classical showing criteria for ponies and cobs. For spectators and owners, the appointments bring recognizable names and experience to the final judging panel.

# Practical takeaways for entrants

• Expect a judge panel that values both showing tradition and high-performance experience. Collett's background as a former HOYS supreme pony winner gives her an inside understanding of what the final arena experience is like for young riders and handlers.
• Prosser's particular expertise with Welsh ponies and cobs could be relevant for those section contenders in those breeds.

• Edwin Prosser: "It is a great honour to be invited to judge the supreme horse and pony championship at Horse of the Year Show... It means a great deal to me and everyone at Mintfield Stud, and I'm very much looking forward to being part of such a prestigious championship."

# Bottom line HOYS 2026 will close with a familiar mix of pedigree and performance on its supreme judging panel: an Olympic-level event rider and former HOYS champion alongside a seasoned Welsh pony and cob breeder-judge. The appointments were announced ahead of the show and both judges framed the role as an honour they are pleased to accept.