The judging of the Veteran Horse Society’s Veteran Horse/Pony of the year will take place at this year’s Olympia International Show Jumping Championships in London on Sunday 22 December.
This year Olympia runs from Thursday 19 December to Monday 23 December and the Veteran Horse Society Veteran Final will take place on Sunday, 22nd December.
The VHS was established two years ago and ran its first veteran show last year. The problems with FMD were a contributing factor in the final being judged via photographs.
Sponsored for the first time this year by Dodson & Horrell, the VHS held 78 regional qualifiers around the country at a variety of competitions from small riding club events to large county shows.
The first and second placed horse or ponies in each section then qualified to compete at one of nine regional finals, the champion of each of these then secured their place at the Olympia final.
Caroline Griffin of the Veteran Horse Society National Show Office said: “This new format of showing veterans has been very well received by shows and competitors around the country.”
“We hope that this showing series has proved that just because a horse or pony reaches the age of 15 and above they need not be written off, but can carry on and live useful happy lives.”
Julianne Aston founder of the VHS said: “I am really looking forward to the final at Olympia and hope that itraises the profile of the VHS and show the public our wide range of members.”
For more information on the VHS contact the Veteran Horse Society (tel: 01239 881300) or visit www.veteran-horse-society.co.uk
