Getting Show-Ring Ready for Finale Season

It's that time of year - the qualifiers are done or nearly done, the diary's filling up with the last big shows of the season, and for a lot of you, all roads are leading to one place: the NEC in Birmingham, for Horse of the Year Show.

HOYS 2026 runs 7–11 October, marking its 25th anniversary and bringing together the season's national championships across showing and showjumping. Whether you're heading there yourself or just riding out your own season finale at a local show, this is the stretch where all those months of work either come together - or come apart at the seams if the prep isn't right. So here's our rundown of what's worth thinking about as finale season approaches.

Coat and turnout - start earlier than you think

By early October, days are noticeably shorter, and that's exactly the trigger that starts your horse's winter coat growing - daylight length, not temperature, is what kicks the process off, and it can begin as early as August or September. If you're aiming for that sleek, show-ring finish in October, this is worth factoring into your prep timeline now, not the week before.

Keeping your horse rugged sensibly and out of the worst of the weather in the run-up helps keep the coat lying flat and looking its best, rather than fighting a coat that's already starting to thicken and stand up.

Protect the coat you've worked all summer for

You've likely spent the whole summer keeping that coat gleaming - don't lose it in the last few weeks. Sun bleaching, rain, and mud in the run-up to a big show can undo a lot of careful work fairly quickly. A well-fitting rug during turnout in this transitional period helps protect coat condition and colour ahead of the show, without you needing to keep your horse in full-time.

Fly protection isn't quite done yet

Midges and flies don't pack up for the season just because the calendar says October - they can still be active into September and sometimes beyond, particularly in a mild, damp autumn. If your horse is prone to rubbing or irritation, it's worth keeping fly protection in the routine right up until you're confident the season's properly turned, rather than assuming you're in the clear the moment autumn officially starts.

Travel and leg protection

Getting to the show in one piece matters as much as how you look once you're there. If you're travelling any distance - and for a lot of qualifiers and HOYS itself, that's a genuine trek - decent leg protection for the journey is worth double-checking well before the day itself, not packed in a rush the night before.

A few practical pointers for the run-up:

●        Start (or review) your grooming and coat-care routine a few weeks out, not the week of the show

●        Keep turnout rugs on hand for changeable autumn weather, even if you don't need them every day

●        Don't drop fly protection too early - check conditions rather than the calendar

●        Pack and check travel gear well ahead of time, especially if it's had a summer off

●        Build in a buffer day or two before a big show for any last-minute prep, rather than cutting it fine

The bottom line

Finale season has a habit of creeping up - one week you're still deep in summer routines, and the next you're packing the lorry for HOYS. A bit of forward planning on coat care, turnout, and travel now will save you a scramble later, and give you (and your horse) the best shot at heading into the ring looking and feeling ready.

Good luck to everyone heading to qualifiers, finals, or HOYS itself this season - we'll be cheering you on.