What is the earliest I can arrive?
Because these Championships take place just four days after the Longines Royal International Horse Show, no horses / ponies will be admitted to the showground before 4pm on the Tuesday (gates close at 8pm and open again at 8am the following morning). As it is, this only allows us one day to clear up the Stable Field and muck out all of the stables!
Are forage & shavings available to buy on site?
Shavings will be available to buy from the Stable Manager: please ask at the Stable Manager’s Office at the entrance to the Stablefield when you arrive at Hickstead. Regrettably, feed, hay and haylage will not be available to buy on site, so please ensure you bring enough with you.
Is there somewhere I can exercise my horse / pony if I arrive the day before the competition?
Yes. You are permitted to exercise your horse and pony in either the Bunn Leisure Arena or the International warm-up arena (both all-weather). All grass arenas are strictly out of bounds.
Are tickets required for entry to the showground?
No, tickets are not required. Entrance is also free to the general public, if so please do encourage friends and family to come along and watch (there's a fair, delicious ice cream and a few lovely shops, so it's a great day out).
Are there places to eat and drink on the showground?
On the day of the competition there will be catering outlets open serving a selection of hot and cold food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. You will also hear the jingle of our ice cream van! Please be aware that the there will be no catering outlets open on the showground on either the Tuesday or Wednesday.
Can I buy a memento?
Yes. We have a new and exciting range of merchandise featuring your team name. Don’t forget to get a copy of the programme to see yours and your pony’s name in print.
Is there clear round jumping?
Yes, clear round jumping will be open from 2-5pm on Wednesday, in Ring 5.
Are we required to qualify before we can enter?
Teams competing in the junior and senior school divisions are not required to pre-qualify in order to enter. Pony Club teams however are required to pre-qualify. Please contact Pony Club headquarters on +44 2476 698 300 for details of regional qualifying competitions.
How do we enter?
Both the schedules and entry forms are available to download from the Competitor Zone. Please submit your entry form via post, signed and completed in full, to The Secretary, The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, West Sussex, RH17 5NU. Regrettably, entries received on anything other than the correct entry form will be returned and we cannot accept entries made by telephone, fax, email or social media messaging.
How old do I have to be to compete?
Riders in the schools' junior division must be under 14 years of age and riders in the schools' senior division must be under 19 years of age, on 1st January, and have attended the school entering the team during the previous summer term.
Are we required to declare?
Yes, every team must declare at the Show Office either in person or by telephone (+44 1273 834 315) on the day before the competition by 5.30pm. At the time of declaration you must please let us know of any horse or rider substitutions, and confirm the order in which each of your team members will jump.
Is the order of starting drawn?
Yes, the drawn order will be published within the official show souvenir programme available for purchase on your arrival at Hickstead. Otherwise, you will be informed of the draw at the time of declaration. Alternatively you may telephone the show office from the Monday before the competition. Unfortunately we will not be able to take calls concerning this earlier than this Monday, as we will be in the middle of the Longines Royal International Horse Show!
How many competitors are there per team in the schools' divisions?
Both divisions are open to teams of three competitors. Teams may enter a reserve rider who will be able to jump hors concours in the preliminary round once all the competitors in the division have jumped and join their fellow team riders in the presentation in the International Arena that follows the championship of each division. There is no drop score: every team member's score will count. No horse or rider may compete in more than one schools' team (junior or senior) and no horse and rider may compete more than once in the same team.
How many competitors are there per team in the Pony Club division?
The Pony Club division is open to teams of four competitors, with the three best scores in the team counting towards the overall team score (one drop score).
Can you compete as an individual?
Regrettably, you are not able to compete as an individual. Whilst individual prizes are awarded, the placings for this ‘individual’ competition are determined by each individual team member’s faults and time achieved in the team competition. Only those riders who qualify for the International Arena are eligible for individual awards.
How high are the jumps?
In the preliminary round, junior school teams jump 1.00m, senior school teams 1.05m and Pony Club teams 1.15m. The jumps may be raised by approximately 5cms for the championship.
