Year of The Horse Show

The 2026 Year of the Horse Show (YOTH) is a new, inclusive equestrian event organised by Margo Lawrence as a grassroots alternative after the national Horse of the Year (HOY) show was cancelled. The event is themed “Fire Horse Edition” to celebrate the Chinese Zodiac’s Year of the Fire Horse—a symbol of passion, bold action, and transformation. YOTH is designed for everyday riders and focuses on fun, affordability, and community.

The event features a wide range of activities, including jumping, in-hand and ridden classes, demonstrations, trade stands, and a night show. The only requirement to participate is to “love your horse,” making it accessible to all. This will attract a diverse range of equestrian customers and the general public.

This show is not an elite equestrian event. It’s for grassroots, everyday riders. The focus is on having fun, enjoying being with horses, friends and family, and celebrating participation, not just winning. We are planning on 200 competitors spanning all ages (from tiny tots to seniors) and an additional 400 mums, dads, children, grandparents, partners and friends, as well as 400 members of the public.
Competitions include the “Longest Tail”, “Combination Who Has the Most Fun”, hilarious Hobby Horse events for non-riders and teams’ events with medals, anthems and podium presentation.
We are fundraising for Hato Hone St John, with a gold coin donation for the public to enter. Everybody will be able to shop at and browse our horse-related indoor shopping mall, the covered MarketPlace, and eat at the delicious food trucks. We will also have free tours for the public to learn about equestrian competitions and Kyrewood Equestrian Park’s history and future.

In addition to the competition aspect, a key feature of the show is “Ask the Expert”. Experts in their fields will give demonstrations, talks and walking tours - including question and answer sessions which will begin on social media and our website. These will start on the hour, every hour on Saturday and Sunday.

The highlight of Saturday night is an exciting dusk show - the Arabian Spectacular. This features the magnificent Arabian stallion, Kashami Shehaab, leading a team of Arabian horses galloping around the main arena in full costume to stirring Arabian music. Our commentator will guide us through the mesmerising history of the Arabian horse breed, including how and why the horse and rider costumes developed. Arabians are the foundation breed for many of today’s modern horses, including the Thoroughbred and the Lipizzaner (the Spanish Riding School horse).

The dusk show commentator will also elaborate on the unique horse-human bond developed between Arabians and the Bedouin. This bond developed over thousands of years as they lived side by side in the Arabian desert. The Arabian horses lived inside the tents with their Bedouin families, especially during sandstorms, gathered around the fire with children and babies present. To the Bedouin they are more than horses - they are family. Arabians are the most magnificent of all the horse breeds and, because of this history, their temperament is one of kindness, sensitivity and courage. They are the epitome of the horse of our dreams – the Fire Horse.

Saturday night will also bring people from all over New Zealand to the Kyrewood Reunion BBQ. This celebrates the life and legacy of Fred and Pauline Gorton, the founders of Kyrewood. Since the 1950s, this special couple mentored and nurtured generations of horse-mad kids and adults. This includes the 1983/84 trio of Bruce Herd (little Bruce - who became a successful international jockey, and whose son, Josh was awarded the prestigious 2025 Sunline Trust Scholarship); Bruce Bryan (big Bruce), a farrier in Cambridge, and Margo Bebb (now Lawrence) who became a professional equestrian and horse show manager at Tielcey Park Equestrian Centre, in Aokautere, Palmerston North. Margo leads the team that brings YOTH to life.