Equestrian Associations

Arab Horse Society
Founded in 1918, the Arab Horse Society is the United Kingdom breed authority for the registration, promotion and welfare of the Arab horse. Registered charity 213366, the society promotes the breeding and importation of Pure Bred Arabian horses and encourages the wider use of Arab blood in light horse and pony breeding

The British Appaloosa Society was established in 1976 for membership and registration of the spotted appaloosa Horse. The Society issues passports and is the oldest appaloosa organisation in the UK. You can join the Society on their website as well as finding information on stallions, horses for sale and shows.

The British Spotted Pony society was formed in 1977 and its aim is to promote and encourage the breeding of quality spotted ponies. There are three distinct types of ponies – miniatures, under 42 inches (107 cm), riding ponies and cobs. Spotted coat patterns are blanket spot, leopard spot, snowflake, spotted roan and few spot. Look on line for the breed characteristics and to register.

British Connemara Pony Society The British Connemara Pony Society, Registered Charity No: 262765, exists to protect and enhance the Connemara breed within Great Britain, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man

British Dressage The official website of British Dressage with several membership levels ranging from a free associate membership up to a full competing membership

British Eventing British Eventing – the governing body for the sport of Eventing in Great Britain combining Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross-Country

British Horse Society The British Horse Society, Registered Charity No 210504, works to improve standards of horse welfare and safety, increase and protect bridleway access, educate riders and horse owners and provides great membership benefits and inspirational riding experiences. The BHS is also the home of British Riding Clubs, the largest movement for amateur riders in the UK.

British Show Horse Association The British Show Horse Association is dedicated to promoting the breeding and showing of Hacks, Cobs and Riding Horses with both amateur and open sections. The British Show Horse Association actively encourages young people with their ‘Rising Stars’ final at the National Championships Show.

British Showjumping British Showjumping is the governing body of show jumping in Great Britain formulating the rules and codes of practice under which all affiliated competitions are held. Their purpose is to improve and maintain standards of showjumping, while encouraging members of all standards and at all levels to enjoy fair competition over safe and attractive courses.

British Show Pony Society Founded in October 1949 the British Show Pony Society is a family orientated society which aims to improve the showing of “The Childrens Riding Pony” by promoting classes and competitions for Children’s Show Ponies, Show Hunter Ponies and Working Hunter Ponies.

British Skewbald and Piebald Association Formed in 1988, The British Skewbald and Piebald Association is dedicated to the promotion and welfare of coloured horses throughout the entire United Kingdom. The Association encourages and supports competitive endeavour, responsible ownership and breeding to maximise the potential of all Skewbald and Piebald equines.

Cleveland Bay Horse Society The Cleveland Bay Horse Society (CBHS), Registered Charity No 293872, regulates, promotes and protects Pure and Part Bred Cleveland Bay Horse. The CBHS is a Defra recognised Passport Issuing Organisation. The Cleveland Bay is England’s oldest breed of horse with a history that precedes record keeping and is an incredibly versatile horse in all disciplines.

Clydesdale Horse Society The Clydesdale Horse is the pride of Scotland and is a native breed. The Clydesdale Horse Society formally launched in June 1877. Worldwide, there are over seven hundred members of the Clydesdale Horse Society and the majority of the members live within the UK and Ireland. Most of the members are Clydesdale Horse breeders.

Coloured Horse & Pony Society To promote the coloured horse and pony in all equestrian spheres. The definition of a “coloured” horse or pony is one whose coat colour is either (piebald) or white and any other colour (skewbald), e.g. bay, roan, chestnut; with a patch of naturally occurring white coat. This white patch must be on the body above the level of the stifle or elbow, excluding any face markings.

Dales Pony Society The Dales Pony Society maintains its own stud book and registers, licenses all approved Dales Pony Stallions and runs a Spring and Summer breed show, Performance show, Annual Points Scheme, Midlands, Southern and East Anglian show plus an Annual Pleasure Ride and Annual Driving Rally. The Dales Pony Society is supported by a grant from the Horserace Betting Levy Board

Dartmoor Pony Society The Dartmoor is recognised as a rare breed by the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST). It has been recorded since the Middle Ages that ponies have been living on Dartmoor and it is the native pony breed of the county of Devon in the south west of England. The Dartmoor Pony Society is the sole representative of the Pedigree Dartmoor Pony on Dartmoor and is the Mother Society of the breed worldwide.

Eriskay Pony Society It was in 1995 that the Eriskay Pony Society was founded and is used to promote the breeding of these wonderful ponies with remarkable temperaments. The Eriskay Pony Society works hard to promote the versatility and spread knowledge of this wonderful pony as well as ensuring that as many shows as possible hold classes for breed. They also stage their own shows. The long term survival of the Eriskay pony depends on their superb qualities being recognised and a demand being created for them. The Eriskay Pony Society is recognised for the purposes of issuing passports.

The Exmoor Pony Society was established in 1921 to ensure continuity of the pure bred Exmoor Pony and to safeguard its existance. The stud book can be accessed on line as can breeder information and progeny lists. The Exmoor Pony Society says that this breed is hard working, trustworthy and fun and is Britain’s oldest breed of native pony.

Fell Pony Society Fell ponies are native to, and have probably roamed, Cumbria in the old counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, since pre-historic times. TheFell Pony Society deals with applications for memberships and the registration of Fell ponies as well giving lots more information, such as events and ponies for sale. Their aim is to keep this breed pure and give knowledge about the breed.

Highland Pony Society The Highland pony Society’s aim is to promote the breed and encourage registration of pure bred Highlands, in the Society’s Stud Book. The Highland Pony Society looks after both the Highland Pony and the member and is a non-profit charity associated to the National Pony Society. Her Majesty the Queen is Patron of the Highland Pony Society and has Balmoral Stud which is a large working Highland Pony Stud.

International Miniature Horse & Pony Society The International Minature Horse and Pony Society is the official passport issuing organisation for minature equines and donkeys. It works hard to promote and offer a large number of shows accross UK and Europe for their members to attend. They also encourage people new to showing, helping gain confidence in a wide range of classes for minatures such as driving and jumping classes.

The Irish Draught Horse Society administers the Irish Horse Register and Studbook and is the official passport issuing organisation for the Irish Draught Horse. The Irish Draught Horse website lists any events, shows and performance results related to the breed as well as news, horses for sale and stallions available. The breed standard and history is also available on the website as well as stud and breeder details. The Irish Draught Horse makes for a fantastic Sports Horse or all rounder.

In 1934 the Joint Measurement Board was established to describe and classify competition horses and ponies. The following equestrian societies are members – British Connemara Pony Society, British Show Horse Association, British Show Jumping Association, British Skewbald and Piebald Association, British Show Pony Society, Coloured Horse and Pony Society, National Pony Society, Ponies Association (UK), Pony Racing Authority, Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain and Welsh Pony and Cob Society.

National Foaling Bank Every year, hundreds of people use The National Foaling Bank to find mares for their orphaned foals.  The National Foaling Bank was founded in 1965 by Miss Johanna E Vardon MBE and she continues to work tirelessly for this extremely worthy cause.  Since its foundation, thousands of mares and foals have been united and remarkably, despite a shoestring budget, The National Foaling Bank continues to operate, relying on donations, sponsorship, fundraising and a membership scheme.

The National Pony Society was formed in 1893, to encourage the Breeding, Registration and Improvement of Riding Ponies and Mountain & Moorland ponies and to foster the Welfare of Ponies in general. The Society organises the maintenance of its British Riding Pony Stud Book and Register and holds National Championships, with qualifiers throughout the country and the Finals held at important events towards the end of the season.

The New forest Breeding and Cattle Society are the official breed society to administer passports for pure and part bred New Forest Ponies and are holders of the stud book. Members can access the stud book on line as well as looking up progeny, pedigrees and show results. There are also ponies for sale on the website

Ponies UK Ltd is an affiliation and becoming registered as a member allows you to compete at the qualifying shows. You have 14 days after qualifying in which to become a member for your qualification to remain valid. Diary dates and news are shown on the website as well as their rule book and list of judges.

The Pony Club is the largest youth equestrian organisation in the world and there are over 340 branches in the UK. It was founded in 1929 and has over 110 thousand members worldwide. The club’s objective is to encourage young people to ride and learn, offer horsemanship to educate and promote sportsmanship to create strength of character and self-discipline. Membership is available to children for the year in which they become 21.

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR as it is known) is the official charity of British Horse Racing and works for the welfare of horses retired from racing. There are several disciplines that retrained racehorses can compete in and they have to have been raced and be a Wetherb’ys registered thoroughbred. They also have to be members of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) as well as be registered with their sports afiiliation i.e BSJA if show jumping.

Riding for the Disabled is a charity that is dedicated to improving the lives of thousands of people. It was founded in 1969 and has nearly 500 members and gives people of all age groups the chance of achievement and therapeutic benefits. It allows riders with all disabilities to achieve personal ambitions as well as experiencing the outdoors and enhancing life skills. Why not become a volunteer ?

The Shetland Pony Stud Book Society is responsible for the registration of all pure bred Shetland ponies worldwide. It was formed in 1890 to promote the breeding and to protect the pedigree and lineage of these ponies wherever in the world they may be and was the first breed society for native ponies in England. It is the second largest behind the Welsh Pony and Cob Society.

The Shire Horse Society has been working since 1878 to protect the breed, that was then known as the Old English Breed of Cart Horse. The Society still works hard to maintain breed standards and inspections of stallions are a mandatory requirement before registration into the stud book. The Shire Horse Society promotes the past and the future of the breed with the general public and the Patron is Her Majesty the Queen. Check out the website to learn more about these gentle giants.

The Side Saddle Association was founded in 1974, is based in the UK and it is the largest association of side saddle riders in the world. Their website gives information about membership and affiliated and national shows as well as news and contact details. There was over 70 classes for side saddle riders at their 2010 show at Addington Manor, Bucks.

Sports Horse Breeding GB is the governing body for all Hunter and Sports Horse classes. It was founded in 1884 and was previously known as the Hunter Improvement Society and National Light Horse Breeding Society. Sports Horse Breeding GB registers and grades all breeds of horses with the purpose to produce a correct sport horse for the disciplines of eventing, show jumping and dressage and has over 3500 members.

The Suffolk Horse society promotes the Suffolk breed of heavy horse. It was founded in 1877 to promote the breed and to prevent a large part of our British heritage from disappearing. The Suffolk Horse society publishes the stud book and presents premiums and grants to encourage correct breeding of this beautiful breed of horse. A part bred register is also maintained separately. New friends and members are always welcome.

The thoroughbred rehabilitation centre is a racehorse charity that rehabilitates ex-racehorses. They are dedicated to the welfare, re-training and re-homing of racehorses that have come to the end of their racing career for whatever reason and offer a loan scheme to give the horse a new life and purpose. Look at their website to learn more about the charity and money raising events. Their trained staff can give advice and offer schooling and retraining clinics to address specific issues.

The Welsh Pony and Cob Society was founded in 1901, is a registered charity and is the largest of Britain’s breed societies. In 1902, the first version of the Welsh stud book was published containing the 4 sections of Welsh ponies and cobs :- section A, not exceeding 12.hh (Welsh Mountain Pony), section B, not exceeding 13.2hh (Welsh Pony), section C, not exceeding 13.2hh (Welsh Pony Cob Type) and section D over 13.2 with no upper limit (Welsh Cob). Patron Her Majesty the Queen.

World Horse Welfare (WHW) is a registered charity, formerly known as ILPH. The Society is totally dedicated to improving horse welfare and giving abused horses a “second chance” in life. There are 4 recovery and rehabilitation centres across Great Britain, one being at Penny Farm, Blackpool. Check out the website for local open days and their horse loan scheme. World Horse Welfare constantly campaigns to improve legislation for horses travelling to slaughter.