THE popular Stepping Stones to Success League continues in 2019 at Wexford Equestrian but with new sponsors for all classes and some new names among the line-up of judges.

First launched in 2013 by Órla Roche and husband Pat Peare, the league has, as it states, proved a stepping stone for young horses, mainly those heading for an eventing career but some successful show jumpers have also started out at the Tomhaggard venue.

Dam Easy, Heidi Hamilton’s winner of the first five-year-old league, subsequently competed at international three-star level, while, last season, the Co Wicklow rider landed the four-year-old league with Johan-Some. That Lexicon gelding then went show jumping and finished fourth in the Irish Breeders’ Classic four-year-old championship final at Barnadown.

The bulk of the €10,000 prize-fund on offer this year will be designated for the four and five year-old classes and leagues which are now being sponsored by Childéric Saddles UK.

“We are delighted to be working with such a passionate team,” commented Roche. “Their saddles are being used by some of the top riders in Britain and Ireland and further afield.

“Tricia Bracegirdle, who is at the helm of the company, prides herself on providing a custom-made experience for anyone buying a saddle. She will be on site with her team throughout the league.”

As usual, the highest-placed young rider will be presented with the Jessica Harrington trophy and receive a week’s training bursary with British event rider, J.P. Sheffield. Another British company, Nupafeed will be sponsoring this season’s thoroughbred class while the event pony class will be jointly-sponsored by the on-site shop, Doagh Equestrian, and the Dutch horse and rider product range, QHP.

Last year’s thoroughbred league was won by Rachel Power Wall-ridden Test Pilot. Roche was delighted to relate that the 2012 Getaway gelding, who ran once in a bumper and three times over hurdles when trained by Jonjo O’Neill, has since joined the Izzy Taylor yard.

A rug and rosettes will be presented on each day of this league but there will be no cash prizes on offer for the thoroughbred class until finals day when there be an extra prize for the highest-placed ex-racehorse sponsored by the Irish Horse Welfare Trust.

A similar prize structure is in place for the pony event class and league which is confined to ponies aged four to seven from 138cms to 148cms.

Anne-Marie Dunphy continues to oversee the dressage phase but sharing the role with Liam Maloney, Mark Ruddock and Sasha Stewart while head jump judge Ian Fearon will be joined by either Dag Albert, William Fox-Pitt, Jennie Loriston Clarke, Detlef Peper or J.P. Sheffield. The jumping track will be designed as usual by Dereck Hamilton who, if the weather permits, may the extra space of a new sand arena at his disposal.

The Stepping Stones to Success League commences on Wednesday, March 27th and continues each Wednesday up to and including April 24th.

For all rules and further information, check out the League’s website.