THE 2018 Sport Pony Challenge, hosted by the hunter pony committee of the Irish Pony Society, was launched at Horse Sport Ireland’s offices on Wednesday.

This is the second year of the Challenge which is bigger and better than last year with the Connemara section divided into riders aged under and over 16.

Combinations will be judged in dressage, working hunter and show jumping – using a scoring system similar to that in Gold Cup competitions – with an emphasis on correct production and training.

The Challenge consists of four qualifiers with three animals from each of the six classes going forward to the final which will be held at Barnadown on Thursday, July 12th. There will be a total prize-fund of €3,000 on offer at the final where the winners will be presented with perpetual trophies. TRI Equestrian are sponsoring rugs for the League winners.

The qualifiers are open to both members and non-members of the IPS. However, to be eligible for the final and for League prizes, competitors must be IPS members, their ponies have to be registered with the governing body and, apart from those competing in the Connemara classes, must hold a current measuring certificate.

“The series proved extremely popular last year and was considered a great success,” said Dorothy Guilford, chairman of the IPS’s working hunter and show hunter committee. “It was introduced to get more riders interested in the IPS and to improve the standard of riding and production of ponies. There was an overwhelming request to run again.

“Any new venture like this takes at least two years to settle in so we decided not to change things too much,” continued Guilford. “However, there was such a large range in the ages of those competing on Connemaras that we decided it would be best to introduce an over 16s section. Anne Stanley has kindly donated a new trophy, the Bob Marley trophy, for the final of this class.

“There will be combined training classes at the qualifiers for starter stakes riders but their final will be held during the IPS championship show at Cavan in August – not at Barnadown.”

The venues and dates for this year’s qualifiers are Killossery Lodge Stud (Tuesday, April 3rd), Wexford Equestrian (Saturday, May 12th), Ravensdale (Sunday, May 20th) and Limerick Area Show (Saturday, June 2nd).

Three training clinics have been organised. Coaching with Lorli Higgins (flat) and Anne Stanley (performance) will take place at Castle Hill EC on Wednesday, February 14th and has been booked out as has the day with Kay Nolan and Johnny Kyle at the National Sports Arena on Saturday, March 24th. At time of writing, some places remain for this day fortnight at Gurteen College when training will be delivered by Philip Scott and Tony Ennis.

Full details regarding the 2018 Sport Pony Challenge can be found on the Irish Pony Society website.