Home–Produced classes to be introduced to equine section at 2023 Smallholding & Countryside Festival for Welsh Pony & Cob Society (WPCS) registered animals

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society are delighted to be able to launch brand new classes within the equine section at this year’s Smallholding & Countryside Festival with the support of the Welsh Pony & Cob Society (WPCS).

The Festival due to take place over the weekend of the 20^th & 21^st May 2023 at the start of the summer showing season will introduce new classes to those starting their careers within the equine show ring. With the introduction of this new and exciting section, thought to be the first of its kind for Welsh breed exhibits being launched at this year’s event, both Societies see this as a way to provide a platform as a stepping stone for those who are new to the showring. The new classes at the Festival will also encourage novice individuals to learn about show ring preparation and etiquette.

The classes will be open to Welsh Section A, B, C, D and Welsh Part Bred horses to which the exhibitors must satisfy the home-produce ruling as follows;

Home-Produced Rule

Open to ponies which are either stabled at home or in a Livery yard and which since 1^st January in the current year, have not been shown by a professional during the current season or stabled in a Professional yard at any time in the current year. Ponies must be Owned, Produced and Shown by members of the immediate family only. Immediate Family is defined as, a Mother, Father, Grandmother, Grandfather, Brothers, Sisters or Step-Relations.

All animals entered within the home-produced classes will need to be registered with the WPCS and the Society’s rules are deemed to be understood and adhered to by ALL competitors within this new section. It is hoped that these classes will be entered in the spirit in which that are intended and that all competitors enjoy their time in the ring at the Smallholding & Countryside Festival.

Steve Everitt – Chair of the WPCS Judging and Showing Committee shared;

“This initiative by the RWAS provides the opportunity for new converts to the Welsh breeds to compete with and learn from established home producers on a level playing field and hopefully restore some of the joy and camaraderie enjoyed in earlier showing times.”

Geraint James, Honorary Director of the Smallholding & Countryside Festival added;

“We are excited to be able to launch this new section at this year’s Festival with the support from the WPCS and very much hope it will give new equine exhibitors the confidence to step into the Show ring. There is an appetite for these new classes at a Royal Welsh Show event and we belief that this section can continue to grow and be used as a stepping stone for exhibitors who maybe one day will be showing in the main ring at the Royal Welsh Show”

It is very much hoped that this grass roots competition will encourage equine enthusiasts to give showing a go in a prestigious Royal Welsh event and encourage a new generation of equine exhibitors at the Smallholding & Countryside Festival before maybe one day exhibiting in the Royal Welsh Show.

Schedules for this year’s competitions can now be found here.

Entries for the equine section open at midday on Wednesday 1^st March 2023 and will close at 11.59pm on Monday 3^rd April. For more information about this new section please contact the RWAS livestock team on 01982 5544 04/13/14 or email livestock@rwas.co.uk