The issue was discussed at a council meeting on 4 February and the change was confirmed to judges the following day at the society’s annual judges’ conference and AGM held at the Marriott Hotel in Lincolnshire.
“It’s important that we listen to our members,” said new BSPS chair Paul Cook who chaired the judges’ conference for the final time before he hands the reins over to the new BSPS vice-chair Joanne Pybus. “If we realise we haven’t got something right we must endeavour to fix it.”
The rule to increase spread widths was introduced into the 2022 rulebook and prompted huge reaction from competitors, especially those who rode, owned, bred and promoted the larger, heavier breeds such as the Fell, Dales and Highland, and the smaller breeds such as the Shetland and Exmoor.
Members discussed the issue at the virtual BSPS members’ conference on 19 January. At the time, championship show vice-chairman Philip Hilton confirmed that the reason for the change had come from “pleading course-builders, judges and competitors” who had made note of the lack of challenge in Heritage working hunter classes at championship shows.
But owing to the reaction from competitors, the society said it would take the issue to council at the judges’ conference in February and that they would be “taking into account the members’ feelings and advice from native breed societies as well as judges.”
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
