The RBST Versatility Showcase

Last year as part of our Native Equine Project we asked you to tell us about your wonderful animals and what you do with them. The response was astounding with hundreds of owners and breeders up and down the country and beyond sharing the myriad of activities our natives can take part in and excel at and the joy that comes with our native breeds.

Now we want to show the world what our natives breeds can do and showcase the amazing achievements of our equine friends and their owners, riders, drivers and handlers.

The RBST Versatility Showcase is a performance points scheme which will run throughout 2024.

Points can be backdated to the 1^st of January this year and can be submitted up until the 31^st of December with winners being announced by the end of January 2025.

Points will be awarded from 1^st – 6^th place with additional points being awarded for champion, reserve champion and supreme. National and international level events will be worth additional points. Results will need to be signed by the show secretary or committee member or be verifiable via photos or online.

This scheme is open to all equine breeds listed on the watchlist including the Welsh, Shetland, Irish Draught and Connemara. There is a category for partbreds as well ( Animals must be registered in their respective stud book and have a minimum of 12.5% native blood).

We want to encourage people to get their amazing equines out and about and celebrate their success.

Categories will be split into junior and senior sections and include: showing, dressage, eventing, showjumping, driving, hacking/ driving miles, overall versatility, veteran, mares, geldings, stallions handlers, riders and breeders. You can also gain points by attending events such as pony club, hunting and public displays with your horse or pony.

Celebrating the successes of our native breeds and their partbreds is a vital part of breed promotion and conservation. Without the knowledge of what our intelligent, adaptable and versatile breeds can do they can often be overlooked and without a market breed often end up declining.

All you need to do to enter is either download the recording form which is below

Please send us an email if you require further information or any guidance: [email protected] .