Updates for the 2005 show season

£1,000 mini championship

A fifth £1,000-to-the-winner competition has been introduced by the North of England Show organisers.

The McDonald Supreme Mini Pony Championship, sponsored by the Nottingham-based McDonald family, will hold 27 qualifying rounds throughout the season for mini show pony (previously included in the Gill Genders competition), mini M&M and lead-rein pony of hunter type.

The final, with a £1,000 first prize, will be held at the North of England Summer Pony Show on 16 July at Osbaldeston, Lancs. Judges for the final will be Anne Leaver and Mark Tamplin.

Boost for Royal Cornwall

A new cup is to be presented at this year’s Royal Cornwall Show, 9-10 June, to the champion of the small hunter broodmare and young stock classes. The Becky Chapman Perpetual Cup is named for the widow of Ron Chapman, who served for many years as jeweller to the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association.

Also for the first time in 2005, there will be 12 classes in the Shetland section, with the introduction of new mare and foal classes for both standards and miniatures. There were 76 entries in the Shetland classes last year — out of a horse section total of 1,649 — compared with just eight entries in 1983.

“This is a good, healthy set of classes and the new additions strengthen it further. It’s pleasing to see how numbers have grown so well over the years,” said show secretary Christopher Riddle.

Pony societies come together

The National Pony Society, Ponies (UK) and the British Native Pony Breed Societies are holding a joint seminar focusing on the “British native pony” at Warwickshire Agricultural College, Moreton Morrell, Warks this Saturday (19 February) from 10am to 4pm.

The day will cover a range of subjects including: marketing the British native pony; judging the British pony; the British pony as a sports pony, equine biomechanics, specialist saddlery and feeding tips. All are welcome.

BSHCRHA News

Showing amateurs can look forward to more opportunities at the prestigious Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead this year, with the amateur owner riding horse class split for the first time into large and small sections with a championship. The amateur owner cobs will also be judged in two sections — light and heavy weight — with the Muriel Bowen Memorial Trophy to the champion. The hacks will remain the same.

The BSHCRHA also has good news for owners of maxi cobs as they will now be eligible to enter all ladies side-saddle classes affiliated to the society.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now