45 Agricultural and County Shows to Host LIHS Qualifiers
The drive to increase opprtunities for amateurs in showing doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Organisers of The London International Horse Show have announced that 45 different agricultural and county shows have been assigned 494 qualifiers between them for the new series of showing classes that will have finals held at the famous London event.
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 20 different classes which cover everything from Hacks and Riding Horses to Coloured Ponies and Cobs, with horse classes primarily aimed at grass roots and amateur competitors.
The Shows that are holding qualifiers include those from England, Scotland and Wales and range from Perthshire in the North to Stithians in the South and Cardigan in the West to Lawford Park in the East. A full list of participating Shows is shown below.
Paul Hooper from the ASAO commented: “We are delighted that so many shows have come forward to apply to be a part of this new series and are particularly pleased with the wide geographical spread of the participating shows. ”
Paul Cook of BSPS said: “One of the reasons for launching this new series was to bring showing to a wider audience and increase the number of Agricultural and County Shows that hold equestrian classes which has sadly been diminishing in the last few years. These Shows between them have an audience of over half a million which definitely helps us to achieve our aim of finding a route to present equestrian showing to new audiences.”
Nigel Hollings of BSHA said: “We are determined to make these classes an enjoyable experience for competitors and the watching public alike by requiring the commentators to explain to the audience what the judges are looking for and why one horse or pony may win points over others. This will present showing in a new light and make it much more accessible and entertaining.”
Many of the shows that have come forward are long established events – some over 200 years old – and are prized by their local communities. Christine Knipe of Westmorland County Show, which is 224 years old in 2023 said: “We are delighted to be holding qualifiers for all the 20 classes on offer. The traditional agricultural shows are where equestrian showing originally started. We know our audience will participate in and enjoy this new range of classes.”
Participating Shows:
Alresford Agricultural Show; Ashby de la Zouch Agricultural Society; Blakesley & District Agricultural Show Ltd; Bridgend Country Show; BSPS Scottish Branch; Burwarton & District Agricultural Society; Cardigan County Agricultural Show; CHAPS UK South East Regional Show; Cumberland Agricultural Society; Dorset County Show; Dumfries and Galloway Horse Show; Dunster Show Society; Durham County Show; Garstang & District agricultural & horticultural society; Gransden and District Agricultural Society Show; Great Eccleston Agricultural Show; Hanbury Countryside Show Society; Heathfield Agricultural Show; Hertfordshire Agricultural Society; Lawford Park Show @The Tendring Hundred FC Show; Liskeard & District Agricultural Association; Llanedi Agricultural Show; Malton Agricultural Society; Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society; Norfolk Show Jumping Club; North Tyne & Redesdale Agricultural Society; Orsett Horticultural & Agricultural Society; Penistone Agricultural Society Show; Perthshire Agricultural Society; Prospect Farm Show; Puddledub Spring Shows; Romsey Agricultural and Horse Show Society; Royal Welsh Agricultural Society – Smallholding & Countryside Festival; Rutland County Show; Ryedale Show; South of England Agricultural Society; Suffolk Show; Stithians Agricultural Association Limited; Stokesley Show; The North Devon Agricultural Society; The Cheshire Horse Show; The South Suffolk Agricultural Association; Tynedale Agricultural Society; UK Ponies & Horses Limited; Westmorland County Show
