AN exciting initiative, the SJI Pony Academy 2023, was launched this week and will take place, for qualified pony riders, on Friday, April 21st next at Mullingar Equestrian Centre.

The Equijump Ltd Pony and Children on Horses Spring Tour is supported by the SJI and the RDS, in association with The Irish Field.

Jumping, along with high performance (mindset for competitions), course-walking (strides and related distances) will be the focus of the agenda on April 21st.

Riders qualify to take part in the April Pony Academy by accumulating points over the following Spring Tour qualifiers, according to the points table below.

  • Six Connaught riders will be chosen at Ard Chuain and Galway EC
  • Six Leinster riders will bechosen at Mullingar and Coilog EC
  • Six Munster riders will be chosen at Roscrea and Maryville Stables
  • Six Ulster riders will be chosen at The Meadows and Portmore EC

    • From results at the Equi-jump Ltd Pony Spring Tour, six riders will qualify from each region, with a total of 24 riders as follows:

  • Four 128 Under 10
  • Four 128 metre
  • Four 138 1.10
  • Eight 148 1.20
  • Four COH

    • Points will be awarded as follows: 10, 9, 8,7 ,6, 5,4,3,2,1 for the 10 highest-placed regional riders from each leg.

    The best score on day one, of each region’s Spring Tour, will be the deciding score if there is equality of points. A rider may only qualify one pony and the pony that qualifies first is the one that goes through to the academy.