New Hickstead hopes for natives
Mountain and moorland ponies now have an early-season championship at aim for at the RIHS next year
Native pony enthusiasts can look forward to competing in their own British ShowPony Society championship at next year’s Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.
The championship finals will take place on the Thursday of the show, which is expected to be held on 23-27 July 2003, with finalists forward from around 25 qualifying shows nationwide.
The new series will be called the BSPS Heritage Mountain and Moorland Championship and will include open leading rein, open first ridden, mini championship, three open ridden classes and an open ridden championship.
The open ridden classes will split by breeds into:
- Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland and Welsh Section A
- Welsh Section B and C
- Fells, Highlands, Dales, New Forest, Connemara, Welsh Section D
Jim McTiffin, chairman of the BSPS, says: “This Heritage Championship is really something special. Mountain and moorland classes are enjoying huge growth at present and these classes will be really popular with our members.”
Hickstead hopes the series will encourage native enthusiasts to take part in early-season competitions around the country.
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“The addition of these M&M classes to our schedule means that the Royal International Horse Show now caters for most British breeds of horse and ponies,” said Hickstead owner Douglas Bunn.
The RIHS successfully introduced coloured classes to its schedule in 2002.
To find out more about the RIHS visit www.hickstead.co.uk
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Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.