Dates &
Criteria for Horse & Rider
Requirements for Horse & rider to compete in this league
QUALIFIER DATES 2026
TUESDAY 31ST MARCH 2026
TUESDAY 7TH APRIL 2026
TUESDAY 14TH APRIL 2026
TUESDAY 21ST APRIL VIEWING DAY
TUESDAY 28TH APRIL FINAL
SEE STEPPING STONES HOME PAGE FOR ENTRIES ON LINE or Click here to get redirected
Entries will open at 8pm the evening of each qualifer for the following week and close at 8pm friday prior
Entries for the first qualifier on 31ST MARCH will open 8pm TUESDAY 24TH MARCH on line and close 8pm friday 27TH MARCH – THERE ARE LIMITED PLACES FOR COMPEITION ENTRIES EACH WEEK SO PLEASE ENTER EARLY TO SECURE A PLACE
The criteria of the horse & rider to PARTICIPATE in this League
Young event horse 4&5 yr old class criteria 2026****
SPONSORED BY CHILDERIC SADDLES
Breeding: All horses registered with Sire & Dam recorded ( this is all that is required) – must have passports for inspection at all qualifiers and finals and checks will be done for microchips to match passports.
Age: 4 yr old & 5 Yr old – classes for both ages (Matron system applies to mares – they may have had a foal and compete up to age 6 )
Height: Over 14.2hh or 148cm without shoes ( or measured out as per passport)
Thoroughbred Club Class 2026 – SPONSORED BY TREO EILE with additional prize fund in every qualifer 1-3rd total €150
THE TREO EILE TB CLASS IS ONE CLASS RUN ON A HANDICAPPED SYSTEM WITH TWO HEIGHTS AND CATAGORIES – OPEN & NOVICE TB
The Thoroughbred class will run as before in 2025 offering a platform for those wishing to offer a TB an option to change career !
Criteria for the class
* The horse can be any age to compete and DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE RACED
OPEN TB SECTION IS FOR A TB THAT HAS COMPETED UP TO AND INCLUDING 1M – (EXCLUDES HORSES JUMPING 1.10M IN COMPETITION AND ABOVE ) The competition will offer a competition for all those who have previously competed in this league or eventing ireland or sji or EI to this level , as long as they are not competed above 1m . The OPEN TB will compete the BE92 2009 test in a 60/20m arena followed directly by the 5 yr old 90cm sjump track and then the 5 yr old 90cm XC track. This track will be raised to 1M at the final.
NOVICE TB SECTION IS FOR A TB THAT HAS NOT COMPETED AFFILIATED PRIOR TO THIS COMPETITION other than in the past year or less of unaffiliated eventing or show jumping on the record however any amount of Showing.( Jan previous year until april of the year of competition) An affiliated eventing record / Dressage record or SJI record is then permitted from sept of the last year until now in preperation for this class. The Novice Tb will compete in the same dressage class as the open Tb with the BE92 2009 test in a 60/20m, folled directly by the 4 YR OLD 80CM cm sjump track and then the 4 yr old 80cm XC track , this track will be raised to 90CM at the final.
PRIZE FUND AT QUALIFIERS
Treo Eile offer prizes 1st €75 2nd €50 and 3rd €25 each day to those who place 1-3rd on the day total of €150 ( Horses must be registered with Treo Eile to be eligible for prize fund)
The results on the day will therefore consist of both the Novice and Open Tb Judged as one class accordingly competing over the tracks outlined above at the different heights.
PRIZE FUND AT THE FINAL
The overall League will run from week 3 – April 14th , April 21st and April 28th 2026 with Points and half at the final day. week 3 & week 4 only points at the following 10 points 1st , 9 second, 8 third, 7 fourth , 6 fifth, 5 sixth, 4 seventh, 3 eight and 2 ninth and 1 tenth. with points and half on the final day tuesday 28th April. leader boards will be posted after week 3 quailifers on line.
IHWT will also offer a prize to the best placed RACED TB EITHER POINT TO POINT OR AT THE TRACK at the final . bonus raced prize will be sponsored by IHWT for the best placed RACED tb at the final .
The format for the TB will be judged in the 3 arenas giving only clear round scores or penalties as appropriate the same as a normal event – There is a lack opportunities for TB horses , especially those retiring from racing for whatever reason , to return to competition.” “We wanted to offer something for owners, riders and trainers to aim these horses for giving them an opportunity to judge whether maybe an eventing career could be a future for some of the animals” owners Pat & Orla explain. “ Bearing in mind that most of the horses availing of this will have had a racing career until recently , the judging will take into consideration that they most likely are being retrained particularly in their flatwork , and judge accordingly” The OPEN section will offer those owning TB horses to have a competition annually for them to aim at before the season commences.
A Generous Prize fund of €2000 will be on offer for this section alone making it appealing for all !
League prizes over all league 1st €700 2nd €400 3rd €200 4th €100 5th €50 6th €50
Bonus to the Highest placed Novice TB Horse is €200 & William Codd Trophy
€250 RACED bonus offered by IHWT
All prize fund for the league is for eligible combinations and they must compete at the final.
***EVENT PONY CLASS *** 2025 – open to 4-6yr old ponies only see competition criteria below
SPONSORED BY DOAGH EQUESTRIAN
Event Pony Class IS Sponsored by DOAGH EQUESTRIAN and will offer €1000 prize fund in vouchers for this new exciting class . It is Open to 4 – 6 yr old 138 – 148 ponies that are deemed suitable for eventing . This class is not unlike the horse classes to offer owners, riders and buyers a platform to produce and train in the correct manner a young pony that may be suitable to go eventing. They will compete as follows
· Ride the 4 yr old test for the stepping stones league
· Compete at the 4 yr old height for jumping approx 80cm/ AND XC raised to 90cm at the final
· Rider can be any age however suitable to ride the height pony ( under 16 require a trainers letter of competence or macky bar training level 1 completed
· No more than 1 competition year affiliated previous years to competition on their record in any discipline and 2 years unaffiliated competition in any discipline
· Classes will be accommodated later in the day for those attending school who are riding BUT this can not be guaranteed so please note at time of entering
· All classes will follow the same format & points system as the horse classes and will include video footage on viewing days and final Dates for 2024
The ponies DO NOT REQUIRE Breeding recorded for this year but do require a valid measurement at 148cm or under to compete by the final for prize fund – if measuring is possible
1-3RD LEAGUE PLACED WINNERS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS MAY NOT COMPETE IN THE PONY LEAGUE (even if they satisfy the age criteria)
Age of Riders: All riders age 16 yrs or over – no affiliations required for riders to compete (However under 16 riders must provide a letter of competency signed by an approved riding instructor or EI/HSI Trainer before being allowed to compete ) No Affiliations with any equestrian society is required – This is a stand alone competition.
Young Rider Award – 2025 SPONSORED BY JESSICA HARRINGTON
Delighted to announce that there will a Young Rider award for 2025 . This award will be perpetual award that renowned race horse Trainer Jessica Harrington will sponsor. As a very successful Trainer and horse woman , as well as being passionate about promoting the young rider in the equestrian world ,We are delighted to have Jessica as part of the Stepping stones league for 2021 More details of this will be published soon with criteria. It will be open to 25yr old under riders that compete in the league and will be Judged based on the rider ability, talent and over all horsemanship . This award will be presented at the final to the chosen rider who must be present to receive it. each week riders are judged by judges in both arena during their competition and given marks for postition & balance, natural talent and overall impression and a final choice will be made between the judges at the final based on the proceeding weeks and the final. this result is announced at the final however feedback can be given each week to those riders whom wish to receive it and improve in areas outlined as needed. THIS PRIZE IS ONLY OFFERED TO A RIDER ONCE AND RETURNING RIDERS ARE INELIGIBLE
