More entries at national show (From Worcester News)

More entries at national show

11:20am Monday 5th September 2011 in Equestrian By Sara Pawsey

THE number of entries at the National Pony Society (NPS) summer show were up nearly a quarter this year – a huge boost for the equine charity set up to protect and promote native breeds.

Nearly 2,000 ponies and horses converged on Malvern’s Three Counties showground – an increase of 23 per cent on 2010, with the number of exhibitors up 32 per cent on last year.

Peter Durrant, who is chief executive of the NPS, was delighted with the number and standard of entries.

He said: “This reflects the popularity of our show which is complimented by the wonderful facilities and setting of the showground – one of the best venues in the country.”

This year saw the introduction of a substantial number of additional qualifiers for the Horse of the Year show which is to be held at the NEC in October.

Mr Durrant said: “We are very grateful to Grandstand Media and the Horse of the Year show for allocating these qualifiers to the National Pony Society which included ridden hacks, hunters, riding horses, Arabs and coloureds.

“I feel the support shown by the volume of entries – 1,813 – has proved the popularity of the show, not only in the pony section but across the entire horse classification.”

He said that plans are already in hand for next year’s championship show to be held at Malvern in August.

The autumn festival will take place at Hartpury College, near Gloucester, on October 29.