An event not to be missed!
The Gallop Equestrian Riding School National Championships is the highlight of the year for all BHS Approved Centres. It’s your chance to represent your riding school and show off the incredible talents of the horses and ponies that taught you how to ride.
All ages and abilities are welcome to take part. With a variety of classes including in-hand showing, equitation, show jumping and even stable management, there’s something for everyone.
This fantastic national event gives any horse lover who doesn’t own their own horse a chance to get involved, experience a competition, have a massive amount of fun with likeminded people and enjoy a day dedicated to celebrating our fantastic riding school horses and ponies.
Fancy getting your riding school involved?
To find out how to sign up, please give us a call on 02476 840509 or email us approvedcentres@bhs.org.uk
The closing date for qualifiers and results submissions is 1 March 2026.
play-circle
Riding School National Championships 2025
Our Sponsor
We’re excited to share that our 2026 sponsor of the Riding School National Championships is Gallop Equestrian!
Gallop Equestrian’s Manager, Head of Marketing & Product design, Amy Drew says: “Sponsoring the Riding School Championships will be a fantastic way of showing our support for, not only to the BHS, but also the grassroots of our industry. For me personally it is wonderful to still be a part of the BHS and support the things I love the most, teaching and horses!”
Gallop Equestrian has been an equine products wholesaler since 2003. They have the most extensive range of rugs from mini-Shetlands of the world right up to the larger breeds. They focus their everyday products on the essentials needed for both you and your horse.
Gallop Equestrian Team
Supporting grassroots riders
Gallop recognise horses are an expensive animal to look after and care for in today’s world. Many of their team have their own horses and ponies, so they understand the importance of keeping the everyday essentials with a price tag we can all afford.
They offer a wide range of products from lead ropes to lunge lines, headcollar sets to hay nets, spring/summer rugs to heavier winter rugs, and riding apparel for both horse and rider.
Amy set up Gallop Grassroots to support all riding schools, training centres, and holistic therapy centres, helping them to purchase equine products at a much more affordable price. This support for grassroots equestrianism made the sponsoring of the main event a foregone conclusion for them.
The partnership between Gallop and BHS is a fantastic move forwards and we’re all very excited about what the future holds.
Claim towards mileage
Getting ready for the big day is all about teamwork and supporting each other. To make the Riding School National Championships as accessible as possible, British Horse Society will cover the cost of stabling your horses and ponies at Pickering Grange Equestrian Centre the night before the event. You can claim towards mileage at 75p per mile for horse transport costs to and from the Championships.
Feedback from our 2025 champs
'A fantastic family occasion to compete and support other riders on a national level. I would highly recommend. The prizes and rewards are super exciting for those competing.'
'I would encourage any centre to attend. It’s always a popular event for us; our riders are already looking forward to next year!'
‘An amazing opportunity for riders, not only to compete, but to support each other, display teamwork and show off their riding skills’
play-circle
Riding School National Championships 2025
Are you interested in running a qualifier?
To host a qualifier or attend the championships your Riding School must be BHS Approved. If you want to run a qualifier, please register your interest here and we’ll send you a qualifier pack for you to download.
Gallop Equestrian Riding School National Championships Schedule 2026
| Class No. | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | In Hand | Fancy dress |
| Class 2 | In Hand | Best Handler |
| Class 3 | All Rounder |
Walk & Trot Equitation 1 (2020) Showjumping – 45cm Stable Management Quiz |
| Class 4 | All Rounder |
Introduction to Canter RSC ITC1 (2024) Showjumping – 60cm Stable Management Quiz |
| Class 5 | All Rounder |
Prelim Equitation D1 (2020) Showjumping – 70cm Stable Management Quiz |
| Class 6 | Equitation | Walk & Trot Equitation 1 (2020) |
| Class 7 | Equitation | Intro to Canter Equitation RSC ITC1 (2024) |
| Class 8 | Equitation | Prelim Equitation D1 (2020) |
| Class 9 | Show Jumping |
Clear round – pick a height: 45cm 60cm 70cm |
Classes 1 & 2 – In-hand
chevron-down
chevron-up
- Class 1 – Fancy Dress
This is your chance to be creative and design a fancy dress costume for both you and your pony.
- Class 2 – Best Handler
A great opportunity for you to demonstrate your handling skills.
- You'll need to ask your pony to walk around the arena in a controlled manner and you’ll need to perform simple handling challenges (e.g., to halt in a required area before proceeding to show a change of direction).
- You don’t have to wear full showing gear, but recognition will be given for your outfit being smart, tidy and clean with the correct PPE for the activity.
- You can also plait your pony’s mane and tail if you are able to.
Classes 3, 4 & 5 – All-rounder
chevron-down
chevron-up
The all-rounder is the perfect way for you to show off your horse knowledge and riding skills. This class has three elements: an equitation test, a show jumping round and a quiz.
There are three different classes within the all-rounder available to enter depending on your experience and level of riding. Horse and rider combinations can only enter one of these three classes.
Equitation Test
Each equitation test is judged on how well you perform each movement as well as collective marks for your rider position and effectiveness throughout the test:
- Class 3 – Walk & Trot Equitation
- Class 4 – Introduction to Canter Equitation
- Class 5 – Prelim Equitation
Show Jumping
Riders will jump around a course of fences, and you’ll gain marks for style and correct and effective riding. Points will be deducted if a fence is knocked down, if there is a refusal, or if you take the wrong course:
- Class 3 – 45cm
- Class 4 – 60cm
- Class 5 – 70cm
Quiz
You’ll be asked to complete a horse knowledge quiz which could include questions about coat colours, parts of the horse, equipment, etc, each class will have a different set of questions to reflect your level of training and your horse knowledge.
The winner will be the highest placed rider over the three sections within each class.
Classes 6, 7 & 8 – Equitation
chevron-down
chevron-up
If you would like to showcase your flatwork skills, the equitation classes are ideal for you. The tests are marked on how well each movement is performed, with collective marks allocated for your rider position and effectiveness. The winner will be the competitor with the highest score in each class.
- Class 6 – Walk & Trot Equitation
This test will not include any canter work. - Class 7 – Introduction to Canter
If you are not quite ready to progress to Prelim, this test is the one for you as it will mainly be walk and trot with a small amount of canter work. - Class 8 – Prelim Equitation
Includes walk, trot and canter.
Class 9 – Clear round show jumping
chevron-down
chevron-up
Clear round show jumping will be run alongside Classes 3-5 show jumping. This class is perfect for the rider who does not enjoy the equitation as much as the thrill of jumping. You’ll jump around a set course of fences with the aim to jump clear. e.g. no refusals, no errors, going off course or poles knocked down.
You can enter at one of the below heights:
- 45cm
- 50cm
- 70cm
Please note that you can only enter at one height range.
Championship prizes and awards
chevron-down
chevron-up
- Every rider who comes first in their class is awarded a trophy.
- Riders placed second and third in their class are awarded a medal.
- Rosettes are awarded up to 10th place in each class, subject to starters on the day.
- Throughout the day an overall accumulative points system will be put in place to recognise the Centres who have so kindly helped and encouraged their competitors to prepare for and attend the event.
- There is a points system in place for the top three placings in each class, subject to starters, for the overall Centre award:
- 1st place = 3 points
- 2nd place = 2 points
- 3rd place = 1 point
Wild Card
For one class only each Centre can nominate one rider to enter under the ‘wild card’ system. The rider must have competed at the Centres’ qualifying rounds and enter in the class that they competed in.
The 2026 rule book
The rule book contains essential information on eligibility, competition classes, scoring and more. Download the rule book.
Additional information
We value equity, diversity, and inclusivity and consider the Riding School Championships an ideal environment to increase participation for all. For adaptation requests, contact the Approved Centre team on 02476 840509 or approvedcentres@bhs.org.uk.