Young Horse Championships make the move to West Sussex

The All England Jumping Course at Hickstead is new host venue for British Young Horse Championships

Running from 9–12 August 2024, the British Young Horse Championships, with a total prize fund of nearly £80,000, will take place on Hickstead’s all-weather arenas to include qualifiers and finals for four-, five-, six- and seven-year-old horses. Additional prizes, sponsored by British Showjumping, will be awarded to the breeders of the top five British-bred horses in their respective finals, and there will be generous bonuses for horses jumping clear throughout the week.

The finals will also act as the UK qualifier for the prestigious World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Lanaken in Belgium, which takes place each year in September.

Hickstead Director Lizzie Bunn said: “We’re really pleased to be the new hosts of this prestigious championships, which will be a showcase for the very best young showjumping horses in this country. While there are a few other open classes at this show, ranging from 1.10m up to a 1.40m Grand Prix, the focus is very much on our young horse classes and celebrating the up-and-coming equine talent in this country.”

Riders in the Prestige Italia Six-Year-Old Championship will compete for the Big Star Trophy, awarded in honour of Nick Skelton’s 2016 Olympic gold medal winner. Any horse jumping a treble clear in one of the four Big Star qualifiers held between May and July will automatically be eligible for the £1,000 Big Star bonus, which will be awarded in the final.

Chief Executive of British Showjumping Iain Graham said: “The Six-Year-Old Championship is one of the most important championships in this country for young equine stars of British Showjumping. We’re delighted that the final will form part of the British Young Horse Championships in its new home at Hickstead.”

William Funnell, who has won countless Hickstead titles over the years, is to sponsor the Billy Stud Auction Five-Year-Old Championship and he is also putting forward two special £5,000 prizes for the highest-placed horse bought in a Billy Stud auction in both the four- and five-year-old championships. William said: “As a breeder, shows like the Hickstead Young Horse Championships are invaluable for producing young horses and highlighting their abilities. Having chaired the committee that established and spearheaded these championships 15 years ago, I think the move to Hickstead is an excellent choice.”

Al Shira’aa, already a major sponsor of Hickstead, including the iconic Al Shira’aa Derby, has taken naming rights for the Four-Year-Old final. Al Shira’aa’s director, Alicia MacDonald, said: We’re happy to support the Four-Year-Old championship at the first ever young horse championships at Hickstead. We thoroughly enjoy the production of young horses and look forward to being a part of this event.”

Hickstead-based Breen Equestrian has also taken on sponsorship of one of the young horse finals. Chloe Breen said: “Breeding future superstars has always been the goal of Breen Equestrian and, as such, we are delighted to sponsor the British Seven-Year-Old Championship at its new home at Hickstead.”

Photo: Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves Photography