Australian equestrian champion Steph Barrington has been named to the judging panel for the Horse of the Year Show 2026. The event organizers announced a core panel of 17 judges, continuing a format praised for its fairness. The show is scheduled for October 7-11, 2026.
The Horse of the Year Show 2026 will feature a distinguished judging panel, including Australian rider Steph Barrington, known for her successes in the show arena. Barrington has won the Garryowen Championship twice, in 2012 and 2025. She expressed enthusiasm about her role, stating, “I’ve heard wonderful things about the Horse of the Year Show; it has been on my bucket list to go and be a spectator. I am very honoured to have been asked to judge at such a prestigious show, and am very much looking forward to it.”
Organizers are retaining the judging format introduced in previous years, which received positive feedback from competitors and stakeholders in 2024. Under this system, judges for each section will be announced only the evening before the finals, a measure aimed at promoting fairness and transparency. Emma Williams, the Event Director, commented, “We received an abundance of positive feedback when we introduced this judging format previously, and it was clear that competitors valued this fresh approach. By confirming a world-class panel while withholding individual allocations until the finals, we are able to maintain transparency and ensure every competitor enters the arena with confidence in the process.”
The core panel includes: Mrs Deborah Alderson, Ms Stephanie Barrington, Mr Jonathon Carnduff, Mrs Glenis Cockbain, Miss Lucinda Elliott, Mr Hayden Hankey, Mr John James, Miss Rachel Moore Rooney, Ms Meg Nicholls, Mrs Tina O’Brien, Mr Jim O’Brien, Ms Ann Rushton Green, Mr Randy Robertson, Miss Sacha Shaw, Mrs Helen Starkie, Ms Julie Templeton, and Mr Chris Yates. Additional judges will be announced closer to the event.
The show emphasizes horse welfare, urging competitors to review guidelines in the official HOYS Rulebook. The event runs from October 7 to 11, 2026, and aims to welcome competitors, owners, and spectators to the championships.