Young horse classes are traditionally a great way to showcase a producer’s abilities, expand a horse’s training or bolster its CV before sale. And competing a young horse against its peer group rather than older horses or against the clock is a great learning experience.
In this week’s issue (5 April) you can find our expert guide to the championships across the disciplines and listed below is where you can qualify.
Dressage:
There are three major British Dressage affiliated young horse series and the prestigious Badminton championships.
- Shearwater potential international dressage horse
Qualifiers:
Myerscough, Lancs, 8-11 March
Hartpury College, Glos, 25 March
Keysoe, Beds, 11 April
Kingswood, Staffs, 25 April
Rowallan, Ayshire, 28-29 April
Addington Manor EC, Bucks, 1-3 May
Sheepgate EC, Lincs, 24 June
Fry’s, E. Yorks, 9 June
Wellington Riding, Hants, 9-12 June
Oldencraig, Surrey, 1 July
Championship: British Dressage National Dressage Championships, Stoneleigh Park, Warks, 13-16 September 2012 TBC - Shearwater young dressage horse
Qualifiers:
Bishop Burton, Yorks, 11 March
Stilebridge, Kent, 30 March
REC, N. Yorks, 6 April
Beaver Hall, Staffs, 11 April
Merrist Wood, Surrey, 12 April
Moreton, Dorset, 25 April
Bury Farm, Bucks, 5 May
Crofton Manor, Hamps, 7 May
Keysoe, Beds, 30 May
Ingliston, Renfrewshire, 11-12 May
Vale View, Leics, 3 June
Hunters, Glos, 5 June
Championship: Hartpury Festival of Dressage, Glos, 4-8 July - British young horse championships
Qualifiers:
Hartpury, Glos, 25 March
Keysoe, Beds, 13 April
Addington Manor EC, Bucks, 1-3 May
Myerscough College, Lancs, 6 May
Ingliston, Renfrewshire, 11-12 May
Hickstead, Sussex, 19 May
Somerford Park, Cheshire, 25-27 May
Frys, N Yorks, 9 June
Wellington, Hants, 9-12 June
Sheepgate EC, Lincs, 1-2 June
NOTE: additional rounds may be added
Championship: Dressage at Hickstead Premier League and Dressage Masters Championship, Sussex, 18-21 July - Badminton young dressage horse of the future
Qualifiers:
Aston le Walls, Northants, 8 April
Swallowfield, Warks, 22 April
Abbey, Glos, 27 April
Hunters, Glos, 29
East Sole, Berks, 29 April
Patchetts, Herts, 5 May
Sheepgate, Lincs, 7 May
Burrows Court, Glos, 10 May
Kings Equestrian, Hereford, 15 May
Stretcholt Farm, Somerset, 17 May
West Wilts EC, Wilts, 17 May
Kingston Mauward, Dorset, 20 May
Summerhouse, Glos, 25 May
Rowallan, Ayrshire, 26 May
Norton Heath EC, Essex, 26 May
Beaver Hall EC, Staffs, 30 May
Hickstead, E.Sussex, 1 June
Badgworth, Somerset, 2 June
Arena UK, Grantham, 7 June
Sparsholt, Hants, 9 June
Oldencraig, Surrey, 9 June
Hartpury, Glos, 10 June
Frys, E.Yorks, 10 June
The College, Beds, 16 June
Tall Trees, Cornwall, 16 June
Myerscough, Lancs, 17 June
Addington, Bucks, 21 June
Newark, Notts, 23 June
Solihull, Warks, 28 June
Championship: Badminton Park, Glos, 25 July
Showjumping :
British Showjumping runs four championships for young horses. This year they have incorporated the seven-year-old and eight-year-old classes with a Talent Seekers Championship.
- Four-year-old championship
Qualifiers: None
Championship: Cushionbed British Showjumping Scope Festival, Staffordshire, 26 August – 1 September - Milton championship for five-year-olds
Qualifiers: None – shows can schedule a Milton class but the final is direct entry
Championship: Cushionbed British Showjumping Scope Festival, Staffordshire, 26 August – 1 September - National Six-year-old horse championship
Qualifiers:
Welsh Masters, Monmouthshire, 18-22 April
Weston Lawns, Warwicks, 11-14 May (6 year-old on 14th)
Hand Equestrian Centre, Somerset, 13-17 June (6 year-old on 13th)
Arena UK, Lincs, 27-30 July
Championship: Cushionbed British Showjumping Scope Festival, Staffordshire, 26 August-1 September - BS talent seekers (incorporating seven-year-old championship)
Qualifiers:
Addington Manor, Bucks, 26-29 April
Bolesworth, Cheshire, 2-4 June
Hand Equestrian Centre, Somerset, 13-17 June (TS on 14th)
Ingliston Equestrian Centre, Renfrewshire, 20-22 June (TS on 20th)
South View Equestrian Centre, Cheshire, 2-5 August (TS on 4th)
BS SCOPE Festival, Staffordshire, 26 August – 1 September
Hickstead, Sussex, 6-9 September
Championship: HOYS, West Midlands, 3-7 October - Addington Manor British young horse showjumping championships
Qualifiers:
Addington, Bucks,16 August
Addington, Bucks, 17 August
Championship: Addington, Bucks,16-19 August - Weston Lawns young horse championships
Qualifiers:
4,5,6,7-year-olds: Weston Lawns, Warks, 11-12 May
4 and 6-year-olds: Weston Lawns, Warks, 24 June
5 and 7-year-olds: Weston Lawns, Warks, 25 June
Championship: Weston Lawns, Warks, 6-9 September
Eventing:
There are three young event horse championships. The first was the Burghley young event horse series which started in 1987.
- Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials 8/9yo CIC***
Qualifiers: none
Championship: Blenheim, Oxfordshire, 6-9 September - Lycetts British Eventing young horse championship
Qualifiers:
Four-year-olds:
Brand Hall, Shorpshire, 1-3 June
Berkshire College of Agriculture, Berkshire, 16-17 June
Stonar School, Wiltshire, 26-27 June
Nutwell Court, East Devon, 3-4 July
Tweseldown (3), Hampshire, 3-5 July
Great Witchingham International (2), Norfolk, 13-15 July
Hatherleigh, Devon, 14-15 July
Dauntsey Park (1), Wiltshire, 17-18 July
Stafford, Staffordshire, 20-22 July
Hendersyde Park, Borders, 4-5 August
Chilham Castle, Kent, 4-5 August
Skipton, North Yorkshire, 4-5 August
Homme House (Much Marcle), Herefordshire, 7-8 August
West Wilts (2), Wiltshire, 7-8 August
Bold Heath, Cheshire, 11-12 August
Shelford Manor (2), Notts, 15-16 August
Solihull (2), West Midlands, 18-19 August
Richmond (2), North Yorkshire, 18-19 August
Burnham Beeches, Bucks, 18-19 August
Milton Keynes, Bucks, 25-26 August
Five-year-olds:
Little Downham International (1), Cambs, 18-20 May
Brigstock International, Northamptonshire, 18-20 May
Mount Ballan, Monmouthshire, 19-20 May
Eridge, Kent, 1-2 June
Nunney International Horse Trials, Somerset, 15-17 June
Catton Park, South Derbyshire, 16-17 June
Berkshire College of Agriculture (1), Berks, 16-17 June
Rackham, West Sussex, 23-24 June
Buckminster Park, Lincs, 7-8 July
Upton House, Oxon, 11-12 July
Great Witchingham International (2), Norfolk, 13-15 July
Stafford (2), Staffordshire, 20-22 July
Hendersyde Park, Borders, 4-5 August
Skipton (2), North Yorkshire, 4-5 August
Homme House (Much Marcle), Herefordshire, 7-8 August
Bold Heath, Cheshire, 11-12 August
Solihull (2), West Midlands, 18-19 August
Richmond (2), North Yorkshire, 18-19 August
Burnham Beeches, Bucks, 18-19 August
Firle Place International, Sussex, 25-26 August
Championship: Osberton, Notts, 27-30 September - Dubarry Burghley young event horse
Qualifiers:
Badminton Horse Trials, Glos, 3 May
Chatsworth International, Derbyshire, 11 May
Houghton International, Norfolk, 24 May
Hambleton District Show, Yorkshire, 27 May
Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials, Yorkshire, 8 June
Yorkshire Sport Horse Show, Yorkshire, 13 June
SHB GB (North West) Summer Show at Leyland, Lancs, 16 June
Milton Keynes Horse Trials, Bucks, 23 June
Barbury International, Glos, 28 June
Richmond Equestrian Centre, Yorkshire, 30 June
Glanusk Horse Trials, Powys, 6 July
Burgham Horse Festival, Northumberland
Gatcombe Horse Trials, Glos, 13 July
Chard Show at Bickenhall, Somerset, 15 July
Field House Equestrian Centre, Staffordshire, 19 July
Border Union Show, Roxburghshire, 27 July
Carlton Horse Trials, Beds, 27 July
Ryedale Show, Yorkshire, 31 July
Hartpury Horse Trials, Glos, 8 August
Championship: Burghley Horse Trials, Lincs, 31 August
NOTE: All dates are subject change
To read our full guide to young horse championships plus features on the dressage stallion Jazz, Woodlander Stud and advice on how to buy at the sales see the sport horse special of H&H (5 April) out now
