Air Napier 2026 Show Hunter Championships will give riders a second chance after Horse of the Year cancellation

Show hunter rider Pippa Petro, 11, with her pony Waima Gin at the Horowhenua Wellington Championships in December. She was “devastated” by the cancellation of Horse of the Year 2026.

Eleven-year-old show hunter rider Pippa Petro was “devastated” when she learned Horse of the Year (HOY) 2026 had been cancelled.

The Hastings rider had been preparing for her final appearance at the prestigious event on her Category A pony.

Instead, the nation’s premier equestrian show was rel="" title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/horse-of-the-year-cancelled/6JV6KKBHPRCFTDON7PRJHKTWLA/"> called off late last year after organisers failed to secure the funding required to deliver the $2.2 million event.

Now, a new three-day competition at the Tōmoana Showgrounds aims to give riders like Pippa an end-of-season opportunity.

The Air Napier 2026 Show Hunter Championships will run from March 27 to 29 in Hastings helping fill the gap left by the cancellation of HOY.

For Pippa, who has competed in show hunter for the past three years, the loss was significant.

“Everyone was gutted and devastated, and so was she,” Pippa’s mother, Anna Petro, said.

“If you don’t have your pinnacle, what are you riding to?”

Show hunter, she said, is a discipline focused on rhythm, balance and precision rather than speed, teaching riders correct leads, smooth corners and ring etiquette before they transition to show jumping.

Pippa, who began riding at just 3, competes on two ponies: Waima Gin and Thin Lizzie. With family ties to equestrian figures and a mother who competed herself, horses were always part of her world.

“She only knows one way, and it’s forward,” Anna said.

“She’s extremely competitive and very confident.”

The 2026 championships were developed by a small group of volunteers within the equestrian community to deliver an alternative championship show that allows the season’s effort, preparation and achievement to be recognised.

The event will also host the Show Hunter National Series Finals.

Championship spokesperson Ashleigh Mitchell-Forde said the event was built “from the ground up, starting with a zero budget”, within about 14 weeks of approval.

“While we are not attempting to replace HOY, this event has been created to provide riders with a meaningful and exciting opportunity to conclude their season,” Mitchell-Forde said.

The weekend show will feature National Series Final classes and an awards evening on Saturday, while Sunday’s Championship Day will include gold, silver and bronze divisions in the Hack Ring, and Category A, B, and C divisions in the Pony Ring.

Additionally, a new “Air Napier Super Derby” will bring ponies and hacks together in one combined class, capped at 30 riders, with a $1000 winner’s prize.

Air Napier operations manager John Hamilton said supporting the event “felt like the right thing to do” after seeing the impact HOY’s cancellation had on riders and families.

“Events like this matter because they give riders and enthusiasts something to work toward and celebrate,” he said.

Organisers expect at least 100 horses, with competitors travelling from across New Zealand, and say a successful event could pave the way for similar initiatives in future years.