London International Horse Show, which this year takes place from 18 – 22 December, is delighted to announce the return of the London International Horse Show Showing Series following the hugely successful introduction of the classes last year.
Zoe Gould riding Musical Legend winners of The Rising Stars Racehorse to Showhorse Championship Credit: London International Horse Show/Real Time Imaging
Running across the length and breadth of the country, 52 different Agricultural and County Shows will host 547 qualifiers between them. The series of qualifiers kicks off with the Wiltshire Spring Show this coming weekend on the 30 and 31 March.
Working with the British Show Pony Society (BSPS), the British Show Horse Association (BSHA), and the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), the series consists of 21 different classes which cover everything from Hunters to Riding Horses to Coloured Ponies. The finals of the Series will once again be held in the Show’s New Horizon Plastics London Arena.
The London International Horse Show Showing Series is designed to not only be more inclusive, involving competitors from a wide range of levels, but also to be more interesting and informative for spectators.
Organisers are also thrilled to announce a new class for 2024 – the BSPS Heritage First Ridden Working Sports Pony. Consequently, a new Championship will also be introduced to the schedule – the Heritage Working Sports Pony Championship – which will include the first and second-placed ponies from the BSPS Heritage First Ridden Working Sports Pony and the BSPS Heritage Lead Rein Working Sports Pony.
Paul Cook, BSPS National Chairman, added: “We are delighted to be working with LIHS and ASAO again in 2024, for this brilliant showing series. Those who qualified for the final last year had a fantastic experience. The Cradle and Nursery Stakes WHP offer our younger riders the chance to compete at a major indoor final, the five Performance Classes reward good riding and training, and the Heritage Lead Rein Working Sports Pony Class was so popular last year. The addition of the new First Ridden class and championship have already been well received – there is lots to look forward to this year”
Chairman of the BSHA, Simon Somers commented: “The Board of the BSHA is looking forward to another successful year with this series and giving our exhibitors the opportunity to compete at the LIHS finals. We also look forward to supporting all the Shows that hold the qualifiers and value their input into making this a truly memorable series.”
Paul Hooper, Secretary of the ASAO, continued: “Agricultural Shows throughout the Country hosting the qualifiers hope that the series encourages competitors to compete and set their sights of going to the finals in London as a stepping stone to progressing up the showing ladder both for themselves as well as their horses.”
A list of shows holding qualifiers can be found here.
More information on 2024 tickets to the London International Horse Show will be released shortly. In the meantime, please subscribe to emails if you wish to receive updates.
