Horse of the Year show heads to city arenas

The event is across five days in Birmingham

What is claimed by organisers to be "the biggest week for equestrian entertainment" is taking place in Birmingham.

The Horse of the Year Show is at the NEC in the city from Wednesday to Sunday.

Included in the line up of events are equestrian competitions, shopping and displays.

Here is all you need to know about the event:

What can I see at HOYS?

There will be stunts and displays as well as equestrian competitions

Display acts are set to include things like trick ponies, vaulters, pyrotechnics and motorbikes.

Eight young vaulters from the British Vaulting Team will perform on gymnastics on a moving horse controlled by a lunger in a 15-metre circle.

There are also meet and greets with online equestrian influencers - including Harlow White, and This_Esme.

The Pony Club Games sees teams take part in a series of races involving turns, handovers, skill, vaulting and galloping against other teams.

There is also a retail village for shopping.

Across the five-day event are dozens of competitions, including shire horse of the year, international show jumping, miniature horse of the year, and supreme horse of the year.

What is the timetable?

The event runs from Wednesday to Sunday, and there are two different arenas - one in the NEC itself and the other at bp pulse LIVE on the same campus.

Events start between 06:50 and 07:40 BST every day, with the TopSpec arena finishing earlier, rounding up before 20:00 each day.

The Andrews Bowen International Arena finishes later - just before 23:00 every day.

You can find the full timetable on the event website.

Can I still get tickets?

Tickets are available on the door, but many events sell out so pre-booking is recommended.

How do I get to the NEC?

If you are travelling by car, the arena is signposted from all motorways and major routes, and it is recommended once you are on site, you ignore sat nav instructions and follow signage to the car park.

Once parked, there are free shuttle buses, or signposted footpaths to the venue.

By train, the NEC is a five-minute walk away from Birmingham International station.

National Express and Megabus coach services run to the nearby Birmingham Airport.

If you are local and travelling by foot or bike, you should use the shared cycle footpath route to Birmingham International - the NEC is about 10 minutes away.