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OLYMPIA FINDS THIS YEAR’S CHAMPION VETERAN HORSE
It has taken over 100 shows, 600 classes and over 4,000 horses to find the 10 top veterans that have made their way to this year’s Veteran Horse Society’s Supreme Final at Olympia.
What makes a Champion veteran?
This year the Society has 10 superb horses and ponies all competing to gain the Minty Memorial Trophy and be titled Supreme Veteran 2005. The youngest of the horses competing is just 18 and remarkably the oldest is 42 years of age. To qualify for Olympia, the judge gives individual scores for not only condition in relation to age, but also personality and turnout, which are marked together to give a final position. To qualify for Olympia takes hours of love, care and dedication by the veteran owner to achieve the high standards of showing required. Linda McLintock, who runs the VHS Showing office spoke on how the judging works: “The Society’s marking has been successfully adapted to assist the full potential of each veteran, so each horse is judged individually, sometimes not even the judge knows the winner until all the scores are added together. The scoring has been extremely high this year and there is literally just 1 point between the Champions and Reserve at this year’s Regional Finals. We have a range of horses and ponies going to Olympia from Shetlands to Irish Draughts and lead rein to side-saddle, our oldest pony is just remarkable for his age at 42.
“This year’s Winter and 2006 Series will again be sponsored by Blue Chip, and we hope to encourage many more owners of all sorts of veteran horses and ponies to register with the Society and enjoy being part of this unique organization and to perhaps even compete at Olympia. Our Membership runs for 12 months from the time we receive an application, unlike other showing organisations which run from January to January”.
The Veteran Horse Society have also recently launched the new winter showing classes, inviting shows of all sizes across the UK to participate. To obtain details of these classes please contact Mrs Linda McLintock at the VHS showing office on 0870 2426653 or email showing@veteran-horse-society.co.uk.
Non-competing veteran owners who are interested to find out more about the care and welfare issues of veteran horses and ponies can contact the Veteran Horse Welfare – the sister charity organisation of the VHS.
The Veteran Horse Welfare charity is inviting anyone interested in veteran welfare to become a supporter, to help the charity undertake further research into issue’s relating to the veteran, such as insurance, feeding and livery care.
If you would like more information on all aspects of the VHS or the VHW please contact them on 0870 2426653 or visit their award winning websites www.veteran-horse-society.co.uk or www.veteran-horse-welfare.co.uk
www.veteran-horse-society.co.uk
www.veteran-horse-welfare.co.uk
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