Have you got what it takes?
The producers of the show are not looking for four-star event riders or Grand Prix dressage gurus. What they want is real riders, who love nothing better than riding, training, competing and sharing all the details of their equestrian life, and who want further exposure in the horse world and the chance to show off their talent.
You should be at least 18 years old and have your own horse (though loan horses and share horses are welcome too, if you have the owners’ permission). Horses or ponies should be over four years old and fit and able to take part in a busy three-day training camp.
You should be competing at lower affiliated level at least (or an unaffiliated equivalent) and can be doing any discipline – though ideally you should be comfortable doing flatwork and some jumping. Lessons and training sessions will be grouped according to ability. After the initial application process, a select group of eight riders will be invited to take part in a three-day training camp, which will be filmed to be shown on Horse & Country TV.
You’re hired
There will be riding lessons every day of the camp, with Pammy and her son Charlie Hutton leading the training sessions. Olympic event rider Ludwig Svennerstall will also be sharing his expertise when he gives the riders a lesson.
The camp will be held at the Talland School of Equitation in Gloucestershire, with the eight candidates arriving on Wednesday 27 April ahead of a busy three days of riding, training and working through a series of challenges and modules designed to test their equestrian knowledge as well as their media and creative skills.
Pammy Hutton will be the Blue Chip All Star Academy head judge – the horse world’s answer to Alan Sugar. An international dressage rider and former event rider, Pammy is renowned as a trainer and is a Fellow of the British Horse Society. She’ll be watching our candidates throughout and judging their progress.
She’ll be joined on the judging panel by H&C presenter Jenny Rudall. A qualified riding instructor, Jenny managed the Wimbledon Village Stables in London for many years until joining the Horse & Country team and becoming the face of the channel.
Clare Blaskey, Sheffield Business Woman of the Year and founder of the award-winning company Blue Chip Feed, the series’ title sponsors, will also be making the decision about the All Stars, helping to choose the winner. The lucky overall victor will be given a host of products, the chance to co-present an episode of Rudall’s Round-Up, prime position on the Horse & Country All Stars vlogging site, Blue Chip branded clothing plus a year’s sponsorship from Blue Chip Feed, which will include nutritional advice and Blue Chip products.
