What are they?
The Irish Pony Society sets standards for ponies through the improvement and protection of pony breeding promoting and encouraging classes and competitions for Show ponies, Working hunter ponies, Show hunter ponies, Youngstock and Breeding ponies.
What do they do?
The Irish Pony Society organises a wide range of activities such as shows, meetings, conferences, seminars, demonstrations and maintains a Pony Register.
How do I get involved?
The Pony Society is administered in Ireland by Irish Pony Society. To find out more about getting involved in the Pony Society at national level, click here.
Who do I contact?
Irish Pony Society
c/o Horse Sport Ireland
1st Floor Beech Hse, Millennium Park, Naas,
Co. Kildare
Tel: +353 (0) 45 850800
Fax: +353 (0) 45 850850
Email: irishponysociety@eircom.net
Secretary: Siobhan Nugent
‘Pony Champion of Champions’
Horse Sport Ireland, in conjunction with the Irish Pony Society, are delighted to announce a new initiative, the ‘Pony Champion of Champions’. The aim of these classes is to support our pony breeders by offering them the opportunity to showcase their youngstock at shows throughout the country.
The ‘Pony Champion of Champions’ will be sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland and run under the auspices of the Irish Pony Society and in conjunction with the Irish Shows Association. There will be 12 qualifiers held, throughout the 32 counties, leading to a final. A total prize fund of €5,000 is on offer for this championship.
The championship is open to all registered yearling (colt/gelding/mare), 2 year old (colt/gelding/mare) and 3 year old (gelding/mare) ponies, providing they are registered with the relevant breed society and were born in Ireland. As with all equines, it is compulsory for all ponies to have a passport. Entire 3 year old colts cannot compete.
12 qualifiers will be held throughout the country at the following venues (3 per province):
~ Claremorris Agricultural Show – 25th May 2008
~ Kenmare Agricultural Show – 01st June 2008
~ Ballymoney Agricultural Show – 06th June 2008
~ Armagh Agricultural Show – 14th June 2008
~ Cork Summer Show – 22nd June 2008
~ Enniscorthy Agricultural Show – 28th June 2008
~ Charleville Agricultural Show – 28th June 2008
~ Athlone Agricultural Show – 29th June 2008
~ Bannow & Rathangan Agricultural Show – 10th July 2008
~ Wicklow In-Hand Show – 12th July 2008
~ Sligo Agricultural Show – 19th July 2008
~ Clogher Valley Agricultural Show – 30th July 2008
The final will be held at the Irish Pony Society Championship Show at Cavan Equestrian Centre, which runs from 2nd to 3rd August 2008. The ‘Horse Sport Ireland Pony Champion of Champions’ final will take place on the evening of 2nd August.
The pony champion at each of the above qualifiers will be invited to attend the final. In the event of the champion already being qualified, the ‘invitation’ will be passed down to the reserve champion. It is hoped to showcase as many champions as possible at the ‘Horse Sport Ireland Pony Champion of Champions’ final. Therefore, if the champion from any of the qualifying shows cannot appear at the final the ‘invitation’ will be offered to the reserve champion or the second reserve champion to fill the qualifying place.
Horse Sport Ireland are delighted to be able to support the ‘Pony Champion of Champions’ by providing a prize fund of €5,000. The breakdown of the prize fund is as follows:
~ €100 to the winner at each of the twelve qualifiers
~ Final: 1st €1,000, 2nd €600, 3rd €400, 4th €300, 5th €200, 6th €100, 7th €100, 8th €100, 9th €50, 10th €50, 11th €50, 12th €50
~ Rugs, rosettes & sashes - €800
Horse Sport Ireland would like to thank the Irish Pony Society and the Irish Shows Association for their support. It is hoped that this new championship will provide support for our pony breeders and offer a means of showcasing quality pony youngstock.