Top winter pony shows clash

Hundreds of showing competitors will have to choose between riding at the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) and the Ponies (UK) Winter Championships next April when the two competitions clash.

The BSPS show, at which more than 1,500 ponies competed last year, is always held the weekend after Easter, while the Ponies (UK) equivalent, which attracted 750 ponies in 2003, takes place on the middle weekend in April.

In 2004, Easter falls on 10-12 April, and the following weekend, 16-18 April, is when the clash occurs. Last year the shows were held on two consecutive weekends.

Both societies insist that they are committed to their respective venues and dates at Solihull, West Mids, and The College Equestrian Centre, Beds.

Norfolk-based show producer Allister Hood, who exhibited at both shows this year, says: “It’s stupid to have the shows on the same dates, and these societies just seem to try to work against each other. Surely they could have come to some agreement so as not to clash?”

To read the full story, including the views of the two societies on the clash, see today’s issue of Horse & Hound.

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