THE Irish Pony Society (IPS) Sports Pony Challenge is set to make a welcome return to the calendar in 2024. The Working Hunter Committee of the IPS have confirmed three qualifiers plus a final and the dates are Boswell (March 26th), Killossery (April 2nd ), Marlton Stud (April 21st) with the Final set for May 11th with the venue to be confirmed later.

Involving, as it does, the three phases of dressage, working hunter and show jumping, this competition is a great test of the all-round pony and also provides an introduction to the sport of eventing.

It also provides a pathway for competitors to be selected to represent Ireland at the International Working Hunter Championships, which run under the same format as the Sports Pony Challenge.

In 2023, two teams of four represented Ireland in Scotland with huge success. The Sports Pony Challenge is a key event in the selection process for teams and is now more important than ever, as Ireland will be hosting the championships in 2027.

The Committee is looking forward to support for this competition from previous competitors and also to welcoming new participants who would like to give this interesting and challenging competition a go. Full information can be found on the IPS website.

In other IPS news, the society will be hosting Jayne Ross, who is a multiple RIHS and HOYS winner, for a Q&A coffee morning in the Mullingar Park Hotel at 10.30am on Sunday, March 24th. This is a unique opportunity to get inside the head of one of the showing world’s top producers and will give attendees the knowledge to help maximise their potential this showing season. This event is open to all, tickets are limited and can booked using this link: itsplainsailing.com/org/ips#event-47200