Stepping Stones To Success 

Upcoming Dates for 2026

We cant wait to welcome you back to Wexford Ec. We sincerely thank all our sponsors for standing behind us and making this happen!!!

Dates 2026

We are delighted to Announce that we have scheduled  dates for 2026  thanks to our loyal sponsors support.

ALL DATES  published are subject to change should circumstances dictate but we do hope that our plans should not change . Our riders, owners and producers need a goal to work towards and we hope that this at least we can offer this to prepare for the season,  Please ensure to monitor our social media for all updates – ENTRIES will not be taken until the week prior to each qualifier and final on our on line links.

YOUNG EVENT HORSE CLASSES – Sponsored by CHILDERIC SADDLES – €6,000

WITH ADDITIONAL €4000 supported by Department of Agriculture , Food and Marine add to give a total of €10,000 in these classes

4 YR OLD YOUNG EVENT HORSE CLASS – Open to all horses age 4 – Inc Matron scheme if mare has had a foal –

Overall league prize fund is €5,000 – 1-8th place see breakdown in prize fund section

Trophy Sponsored by Varna Studios to Overall 4 yr old League winner

5 YR OLD YOUNG EVENT HORSE CLASS – Open to all horses age 5 yr old – inc matron scheme if mares have had a foal

Overall league prize fund is €5,000 – 1-8th place see breakdown in prize fund section

criteria and judging info please check relevant pages – Open to all Passports except white – No breeding recorded

CONTINUING THIS YEAR 2026 FORMAT AS FOLLOWS TUESDAYS

QUALIFER 1   TUES MARCH 31ST  & QUALFIER 2  TUES APRIL 7TH  WILL HAVE PRIZE FUND ON THE DAY OF €150 1ST, €75 2ND AND €50 3RD – results publised only 1-3rd – jumping not judged and no league points – However will count as one of your qualifying dates to attend the final

QUALIFIER 3 TUES 14TH APRIL , QUALIFIER 4 TUES 21ST  APRIL ( VIEWING DAY )  AND FINAL TUES 28TH APRIL ( VIDEO TAKEN ) WILL HAVE LEAGUE POINTS

WITH POINTS AND HALF AT THE FINAL

Thoroughbred to Competition Horse class  – Sponored by TREO EILE €2,000  Prize fund **additional added for 2025  – ALSO €150 PER DAY PRIZE FUND -you must register with Treo Eile for this to be claimed 

ADDITIONAL PRIZES – Supported BY IHWT – raced TB winner receives €250 bonus prize

William Codd Trophy Presented to the overall NOVICE league TB Winner

As well as the 4 & 5 yr old eventing class , Wexford Equestrian owners Pat & Orla Peare have introduced a “ Thoroughbred  to Competition” horse class. The outline of this class is that it will offer any TB horse the opportunity to compete in a class similar to the existing 4&5 yr old classes. The format will include an INTRO Eventing Ireland dressage test followed by the 5 yr old jumping course that will be judged in both arenas only BASED ON CLEAR ROUNDS / FAULTS –  it will not be judged on Conf0rmation either as the young event horse class is.  . “ We feel 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.

**We are delighted to announce that TREO EILE are once again on board to offer the overall prize fund but this year are introducing an additional €150 to each qualifier and final day competition *** this will run as part of their new initiative with a grand slam bonus of €500 with Treo Eile – see the info on this on their own website !

RULES OF THE CLASS – 

THE CLASS IS RUN AS  ONE TB CLASS WITH ONE PRIZE FUND OF €2000 PLUS weekly prizes 1-3rd

However  operates a handicap system for OPEN  and NOVICE TB HORSES – LIMITED NUMBERS IN THESE CLASSES SO EARLY ENTRY IS ADVISED

NOVICE classification 

1, The class will not have an age restriction

2, Open to TB horses that have NOT  already competed in

A Affiliated dressage shows ,B-  Eventing or show jumping  Affiliated in previous year to the competition   ( but may be registered for the year they compete in the stepping stones league Prior to competition  Sept Previous  –  April of the competition in order to gain experience ) .

3. They may have competed for a year prior unaffiliated – Jan – Sept year prior )  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.

OPEN Classification  

1. The Class will Not have an age restriction 

2. Open to TB Horses that HAVE an affiliated record , have competed previously in the stepping stones league or are registered with sji or EI but MUST NOT have competed higher than 1m jumping height  in any discipline.

**PLEASE NOTE ENTERING UNDER YOUR CORRECT CLASSIFICATION IS IMPORTANT AND IS SELF POLICING – should there be any objections during the league those affected risk elimination. Any queries can be answered by us if desired prior to entering

JUDGING –

The class will run as one class on a handicap system for prize fund and prizes

Novice classed TB will compete during the league with Intro test as outlined and jump 4 yr old track of 80cm show jumping and xc 5 yr old track moving to 90cm show jumping at the final

Open classed TB will compete during the league with the intro test as outlined also and jump 5 yr old show jumps at 90cm and  xc 5 yr old track and move to 1m sjump at the final.

PRIZES AND PRIZE FUND  – TOTAL PRIZE FUND INC BONUS PRIZES – €2,000 AND TROPHY TO WINNER NOVICE SECTION overall 

Generous Prize fund  has been sponsored by TREO EILE for the league final places from 1-6th place as well as Media Promotional videos for TB class and Photography.

*** NEW – €200  BONUS prize will be given to the HIGHEST placed NOVICE TB  & The William Codd perpetual Trophy will also Be presented to the NOVICE TB placed highest in the Class.

WINNER of the Overall Class each week will Receive a Rug and the €150 prize fund from Treo Eile €75 1st , €50 2nd and €25 3rd

The Highest Placed TB that has Raced in a Point to Point/ Track  will also receive a  bonus prize from IHWT at the final  of €250 – his league only presents prizes at the final in cash prize fund.

Those with 4 & 5 yr old TB horses of course can choose now either to compete in the regular classes or the TB exclusive class !!

Event Pony CLass – sponsored by DOAGH  EQUESTRIAN  – €1,000 VOUCHERS 1-6TH PLACE

2026 rules  ***** 4-6 yr old ponies only
see criteria section for more info – open to 4-6yr old ponies  – DO NOT NEED TO HAVE BREEDING RECORDED however must have a valid measurement before the final if questioned on height of pony where a Vet can be called to confirm a height,  to compete for prize fund of €1,000 in Vouchers sponsored by DOAGH  EQUESTRIAN

Additional Prize fund will be added By DAFM if appoved but will only apply to eligible Bred Animals

1ST – 3RD PLACED PONIES IN PREVIOUS YEARS ARE EXCLUDED FROM COMPETITION

Ponies can be ridden by appropriate adults please see rules page for full info.

Places for competition will be limited so we encourage entries as early as possible to ensure a place.

YOUNG RIDER AWARD TO UNDER 25  RIDER – JP SHEFFIELD BURSARY TRAINING

JUNIOR RIDER UNDER 18 – TIGGYS TRUST PERPETUAL TROPHY AND PERPETUAL SHIELD sponsored by Jessica Harrington