ENTRIES close on Monday week, March 27th, for the first qualifier of the Stepping Stones to Success League which will be held two days later at Wexford Equestrian, Tomhaggard.

Continuing weekly from then until the final on Wednesday, April 26th, the league caters for four and five-year-old young event horses, thoroughbreds of any age and, for the first time, ponies.

All details can be found on the competition website but owners should note that horses competing in either the Botanica International four-year-old section or the Shires Equestrian five-year-old division can be registered with any studbook worldwide but must have documented pedigree details. Passports should be available for inspection at all qualifiers and the final.

The Irish Horse Welfare Trust thoroughbred class, which offers a change of career for thoroughbreds, has been opened up this year to include animals which haven’t raced. However, at the conclusion of the series, there will be a special €200 bonus to the highest-placed horse in the league who has raced either on the track or in point-to-points.

This year, centre owners, Orla and Pat Peare, are introducing a new pony League which is being sponsored by Oulaartleigh Equestrian. This class, which is open to four to seven-year-old ponies (138cms to 148cms), will be run later in the day to accommodate those going to school but ponies can be ridden by adults of a suitable height. Ponies do not require documented breeding but must have a valid measurement at 148cms or under by the time of the final to compete for the prize-fund.

Eventing Ireland president Jessica Harrington, a patron of the IHWT, is once again supporting to the Stepping Stones to Success League by sponsoring the leading young rider award which offers a week’s training with J.P. Sheffield at his yard in England. Harrington, who will present her trophy to the winner, became the most successful woman trainer at Cheltenham on Wednesday when sending out the Robert Power-ridden Supasundae to win the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle.