NEXT Wednesday, April 8th, the Irish Pony Society is holding trials at Coilog for the European Working Hunter Pony Championships which take place at Grantham, England in late August.

The trials will follow the Championships (Gold Cup) format of dressage, followed by working hunter and then show jumping. Forty-one combinations are due to be assessed after which a long list of 24 will be announced. Training will be provided for those selected.

Ireland can put forward two teams of four for the Championships preferably with one animal at each height, 133cms, 143cms, 153cms and 158cms, although two ponies at one height will be allowed. A small number of riders have two mounts listed for Wednesday’s trials where boys will be very much in the minority.

Most of the country’s top working hunter ponies will be in action at Coilog, representing all nine IPS Areas. There are eight new members of the Society, no doubt attracted by the opportunity to represent their country, and 10 combinations which are new for this season. Further details can be found on the Europeans 2015 page on the IPS website.

Hopefully two teams will also represent Northern Ireland at the Championships and training for those riders is now being scheduled.