New classes for show ponies

The National Pony Society celebrates its 110th anniversary by announcing some major new competitions in mountain and moorland and riding/hunter pony sections.

The NPS Summer Championships will now be held over three days at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern. New classes for M&M ponies include an open ridden showing championship, with qualifiers being held at area shows.

For budding M&M working hunter riders, there is the NPS Stevenson Brothers Rocking Horse Stakes, specially designed for five to 12-year-olds.

Riding ponies and hunter ponies have plenty to play for, too. A mini title has been designed for registered riding and hunter ponies, kindly sponsored by Eqvalan. Their larger cousins can aim for the Balanced Horse Feeds riding and show pony, SHP and WHP.

The British riding pony breed committee has teamed up with the Berkshire Agricultural College to create a new championship for in-hand ponies. Riding/hunter ponies, sports ponies and M&Ms will be assessed by Robert Oliver, Stuart Hollings and Dionis Macnair to find the most suitable “competition pony”.

All in-hand entries can also aim for the Breeders’ Challenge HOYS qualifier. Riding pony and hunter pony breeding classes are open to all-comers, be they registered riding/hunter pony or Thoroughbred, Arab, Anglo Arab or M&Ms.

Information from the NPS, Willingdon House, 102 High Street, Alton, Hants GU34 1EN or visit: www.nationalponysociety.org.uk

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