THE schedule for this year’s Balmoral Show (May 15th to 18th) won’t be published until later this month but we have been alerted to some changes in the horse and pony sections.

The traditional ladies’ side saddle class is being replaced by the Balmoral Classic Competition which is open to riders, male and female, aged 18 and over on January 1st riding side saddle on horses exceeding 148cms.

The class will be judged 25% conformation and action, 25% manners and way of going, 25% rider and 25% turnout of horse and rider. After the ride around, competitors will be called forward to do an individual show displaying walk, trot and canter on both reins with a canter extension on one rein.

The judge will not ride the exhibits nor will horses be stripped.

There are changes too in the ridden hunter section with the ‘smalls’ set to have their own championship following their two classes in the outside ring while the supreme championship in the Main Arena will be restricted to those who finish first and second in the six weight classes.

There are two additional classes in the Connemara division with the show set to stage the first qualifier in Northern Ireland for the high performance championship at Clifden in August. The usual qualifying rules apply but entries will be limited to the first 14 received with a maximum of six stallions.

In a response to requests from exhibitors, there will be a third flat ridden class for Connemaras.

Confined to riders who have attained their 10th but not their 16th birthday on January 1st, the class is open to mares and geldings aged four or over.

This year, there will be two private driving classes, divided into animals not exceeding 138cms and those exceeding that height. Both will be open to singles and pairs.

Finally, a parade of heavy horses will take place in the Main Arena on the afternoon of Thursday, May 16th.

The schedule is due to be published on Wednesday, February 20th.

Entries will also open that day and close four weeks later, on Wednesday, March 20th.