Monday 10th of November 2025
Showing

The first pair in 15 years to take top spot

Richard Lanni’s super pair of Chestnut geldings Symen and Vinney took the honours in the Sankey Property Maintenance Ltd Harness Horse and Pony of the Year Championship on day one of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at Birmingham’s NEC.

© 1st Class Images

© 1st Class Images

This is the first time in 15 years that a pair has won the prestigious title. Previous years have seen single horses or ponies crowned champion.

Having won five championships already this season, Richard commented on how this sixth win is the “crowning glory” for Symen and Vinney.  Richard made the leap from driving Shetland ponies to horses around 10 years ago. 

Richard says:

“I’m always a bit concerned that the arena is a little tight for a pair of horses and might not suit them, but they were beautifully balanced and got better and better the more room they had into the final eight.”

He continued:

“I’ve been driving for just over 30 years and to achieve this pinnacle is just fabulous.”

In one of the first showing championships here at Horse of the Year Show 2016, Symen and Vinney took the top spot over last year’s champion Aghaderg Stand and Deliver, owned and driven by Jessie Dudley Apicella. Paul Atkinson’s Black Boy took third.

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