Schools all around the Hawke's Bay region have put down their pens and picked up their paint brushes to take part in a new Horse of the Year initiative to get local school children involved in the show.
Seventeen local Hawke's Bay primary schools have entered the Resene Colourful 'Horses in Hawke's Bay' Schools Art Competition.
Students will have the opportunity to be part of HOY by sharing what the event means to them and the region through the creation of their own banner.
HOY marketing manager Nigel Chenery was pleased with the uptake on the new initiative, saying that it was the kind of competition that will grow organically year after year.
"We're looking forward to having the schools involved at Horse of the Year. It's such a great event for the community and we really wanted to get local schools involved in the show. It will be great to have their creations on display at HOY in front of thousands of riders."