$12.5m horse show in Bay for next 12 years

Amie Bentall of Hastings, NZ mounted games team, training drills on an orchard in Hastings before the Horse of the Year to be held next week in Hastings. Photograph Warren Buckland

Hawke's Bay will remain the home of the Horse of the Year show for the next 12 years - and plans to attract more international riders to help "seal the event as a highlight on the Australasian equestrian calendar".

This year's six-day 2600 horse and up to 85,000-visitor Horse of the Year event is now behind them, and shareholders in Horse of the Year Hawke's Bay (HOY) have confirmed that hosting rights will remain in the region until at least 2027.

"Horse of the Year has a significant impact on our Hawke's Bay economy and it's wonderful to be able to confirm our long-term hosting rights," said Cynthia Bowers, chair of HOY.

"The Horse of the Year show delivers approximately $12.5 million into our regional economy and we know that will only grow and continue to provide significant benefits to our community as a whole."

At a meeting yesterday, it was also announced that Horse of the Year 2016 will target an earlier date of March 1, which the board claims was a better date within the equestrian calendar.

"It gives us a better opportunity to attract Australian riders who also want to ride in the Sydney Easter Show. By bringing HOY earlier we can give them the best of both sides of the Tasman."

The show has been running for the past 18 years.