Showing World Issue 172 February/March 2023 www.showingworldonline.co.uk
Issue 172 - February/March 2023
Re-Riding History: the Connemara pony and side saddle
Reports from London International Horse Show, Thames Valley Welsh Show, Royal Welsh Winter Fair and more!
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2 | Showing World | February/March Issue 2023 | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
A Note From Our Editor Dear Reader, I can scarcely believe that it is February 2023 already! Is it too late to wish you a Happy New Year?! Possibly, so I’ll wish you a Happy New Season instead! Some of you will have your preparations well under way for this season, but if you haven’t decided on a proper plan yet, take a look at our feature on goal setting. It’s certainly made me think carefully about my own plans! It’s exciting that the 2023 brings so many new opportunities for amateurs this year beyond the wonderful Search For A Star series and the esteemed classes at the Royal International Horse Show. TSR and Grandstand Media are set to bring over 100 new opportunities for amateurs to compete at Horse of the Year Show, and the BSPS, BSHA and ASAO have announced that there will be a completely new amateur showing section at the London International Horse Show. This means that more amateurs than ever will be able to enjoy competing at the biggest and most prestigious shows in our calendar. I cannot praise organisers more! As ever, social media has revealed its ugly side to our showing community. I will not spend much time on it here, but please remember to be kind to each other. If you have been on the receiving end of hurtful comments, then hold your head up and take little notice. While you’re preparing for the season, our plans are also under way for this year’s SEIB British Showing World Awards in December. Keep an eye out on our social media for details of voting opening in the summer, and in the meantime, save the date: December 2nd 2023! Meanwhile we want to hear from you! Don’t forget to keep us up to date with your results and your breeding news. Also, if you are interested in joining our little team of writers, get in contact with me directly. We have big plans afoot! Now go get showing…! Good luck!
- Beth
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | February/March Issue 2023 | Showing World | 3
Contents 6
Royal Welsh Winter Fair
16
SEIB British Showing World Awards 22
50
London International Horse Show
66 Vicky Smith on the season so far 72
Thames Valley Welsh Show
86 Search for a Star at Your Horse Live 97
Exclusive insights with the HOYS Judges
53
76 Front cover: Castle Kestrel ridden by Lucy Glover Photo by: Real Time Imaging
76
Editorial: Beth Simons
beth.simons@showingworldonline.co.uk
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or Showing World Ltd and while every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained is correct and current at the date of publication, Showing World Ltd will not be help responsible for the appearance of photographic material supplied without the necessary consent, copyright and/or photographer’s details. In addition, Showing World Ltd offers no guarantee of publication and reserves the right to edit any reader’s letters, press releases, reports and articles submitted. Showing World Ltd 2023. All rights reserved. No part of Showing World may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, transmitted or shared in any form or by any means, including but not limited to: electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of Showing World Ltd.
4 | Showing World | February/March Issue 2023 | info@showingworldonline.co.uk
Tom Page
The Showing Register and Grandstand Media announce 112 exclusive opportunities for Amateur Competitors! Grandstand Media and TSR have announced exciting opportunities for amateur and home-produced competitors aiming to compete at HOYS in the upcoming season. In a joint statement, Grandstand and The Showing Register revealed that The Showing Register Summer Show, taking place on 15th and 16th July 2023 at Stoneleigh Park, will be made an exclusively amateur and home-produced show featuring a full set of Horse of the Year Show ridden showing qualifiers.
each amateur or home-produced combination. The eligible combination with the greatest number of points from their top five placings, which has not already qualified for HOYS, will gain qualification for Horse of the Year Show 2023. Combinations that top the Premier Amateur League will also see their consistency rewarded with exclusive TSR prizes.
In addition, further opportunities will be provided to amateurs that support the Horse of the Year Show showing qualifiers throughout the season via the new Premier Amateur League, which will be administered via The Showing Register. This new League will replace the recognised HOYS La Liga League, and will instead offer an additional HOYS 2023 ticket in every HOYS ridden showing class for eligible amateur combinations.
Together, these exciting initiatives will see a significant total of 112 places across the ridden showing classes at Horse of the Year Show 2023 dedicated to amateur and homeproduced combinations.
The Premier Amateur League will work to reward amateur combinations regularly placed in the top eight at HOYS qualifiers with points towards the league table. In similarity to the previous HOYS Showing Wildcard, the top five results from the season will be totalled to give an amount for
This is a significant development to the qualification process for HOYS, underpinning Grandstand’s support for TSR’s ethos of providing development opportunities in showing across all levels. To provide further support for amateur and home-produced combinations, TSR will be providing further training clinics for all levels both in-hand and ridden, HOYS preparations days and exclusive training and advice for TSR members.
info@showingworldonline.co.uk | February/March Issue 2023 | Showing World | 5