Hovis the horse who became national hero and charity fundraiser in line for award
A horse who became a national hero and charity fundraiser, is favourite to earn a major national award.
With a little help from his owner Karen Haggerty, of Caythorpe, Hovis the horse became a diarist, fundraiser, media personality and author until his death earlier this year.
Hovis, a mischievous and lovable part-Clydesdale horse who was owned for 18 years by Karen, attracted legions of fans through his comical weekly diary for Horse & Hound, which grew out of a spur-of-the-moment post his owner wrote on the Horse & Hound online forum.
His antics were eventually compiled into nine books whose profits all went to charity. These funds chiefly supported the rescue and rehoming work of Bransby Home of Rest for Horses in Lincolnshire, but also helped cancer groups, Riding for the Disabled Association and other causes.
Having died suddenly in February 2025, Hovis is considered favourite to win the Agria Horse of a Lifetime award, which is decided by public vote and announced at the Horse & Hound awards on Wednesday November 26.
“Winning the Agria Horse of a Lifetime award would be a beautiful epitaph for a horse who meant a great deal to a huge number of people,” said Karen.
Over the years, she took Hovis to equestrian events all around Britain to meet fans, but she also enjoyed cross-country and showjumping with him.
“Hovis could work a crowd all day long — he loved people and people loved him,” Karen said.
The diaries Karen wrote for Hovis — typed up around her day job “on trains, planes, perched in bushes and even, on one occasion, by a campfire in the African bush” — raised over £100,000 for charity. And Hovis was even selected to be the official supporter mascot for the British eventing team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Everything I wrote about Hovis was true, albeit with a little bit of humour added,” adds Karen.
“Losing him was devastating, and it’s been a difficult year for my own health too, so being shortlisted for this award has been marvellous.
“All the shortlisted horses are so deserving but it would be an amazing swansong and immensely moving if he wins.”
Animal insurer Agria UK’s CEO, Vicki Wentworth, says: “At Agria we have always recognised that the horses who have the biggest impact on society are not always the ones who win medals and rosettes, as Hovis and others like him testify. We share Karen’s immense pride in him, and wish them luck.”