SOME of the most prestigious names in the equestrian world are among the judges for the horse section of this year's Great Yorkshire Show.

The show, which this year runs from July 8-10, always attracts entries from some of Britain's leading owners and riders and the 2003 event will be no exception.

Quality horses and ponies, plus well-filled classes, will ensure that the judges have a difficult task in selecting the best at Harrogate.

Once again, there will be top class showjumping, superb in-hand classes, ridden hunters, mountain and moorland ponies and a wide variety of young stock.

The increasing number of ponies which come forward underlines the importance of the Great Yorkshire in the equestrian world.

Horse of the Year Show qualifying events, including classes for light, middle, heavy and working hunters, will again feature and it is hoped that the range of qualifiers will increase in future years.

New for 2003 is the riding horse class, which will take place on Wednesday, July 9.

Among the judges who will be officiating at the show is Ann Hooley, who will be judging ride and conformation across several of the hunter classes.

Mrs Hooley, who was born and bred in Yorkshire and now produces eventers, racehorses and point-to-pointers, is a popular and well-respected face.

She said: "I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to judge at the Great Yorkshire. I have strong ties with the area, so it's always been special to me.

"In addition, it's such a fabulous ring to ride, there's plenty of room to show off the horses. The Great Yorkshire is one of the top shows - it's everyone's dream to win there."

John Chugg will have the task of judging the ride in the light, middle and heavyweight hunters. He is well-known in judging circles and has judged at Dublin on many occasions.

In charge of conformation in the weights classes and hunter breeding is Brian Higham, who has supplied, kept and produced the Duke of Beaufort's hunt horses for a decade.