HOYS was first held in 1949 at Harringay Arena in Harringay, London. It was held as an annual event which moved to Wembley Arena, London, ten years later. The show again moved to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre in 2002 due to the impending closure of Wembley Arena for reconstruction, where it is now held every October. The event has become larger and more complex each year in its larger venue, including the introduction in 2003 of an extensive Equestrian Retail Village.