Breeder of the Year Award Result 

As part of its commitment to encourage and support Shire horse breeders, the Shire Horse Society introduced a new special award in 2024.

The Breeder of the Year Award recognises and rewards breeders through the quality of Shires they have bred based on those horses doing well in the show ring. 

During the showing season points are awarded to pure-bred fillies, mares, colts, stallions and foals (filly and colt foals) that were bred in the UK, reside in the UK and place first, second or third in selected competitive classes at affiliated shows including the National Shire Horse Show and in-hand Shire Horse of the Year Championship.

On the conclusion of the showing season the Society is delighted to announce that Mr T J Yates has won the inaugural Breeder of the Year Award.  Mr Yates breeds Shire horses on his farm in Derbyshire under the prefix Cowerslane and with this prestigious title, a trophy will be presented to Mr Yates at the National Shire Horse Show at Bingley Hall, Stafford (7th -9th March 2025) and a cheque for £500.

Followed closely in second place was F W and F M Richardson (Bewholme) securing a prize of £300 and in third place Mr B Banham (Acle) winning £100. 

Mr David Yates from the Cowerslane Stud at Rutland County Show. Photograph credit:  Sid Diggins.

The idea for this new award came from the Society’s Editing Committee with generous sponsorship gratefully received from Mr J Holder (Colloe Grove Shires), Luke Evans Bakery (David Yates) and Mr J Worthington (Alderley Shires).

‘We are delighted that the inaugural award has been won by a breeder whose name is synonymous with Shire Horses, the Cowerslane Stud have bred horses for generations and it is testament to their dedication to the breed’  Victoria Clayton, CEO of the Shire Horse Society added, ‘the award has been much talked about, and we hope that it will become a feature of the calendar for breeders and showmen, a bucket list win if you like’. 

The award will continue in 2025.

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