evoke All Star Academy returns with eight amateur riders and support from Veredus
Eight amateur riders and their horses will put their training, confidence and equestrian knowledge to the test in the forthcoming evoke All Star Academy, with Veredus, in association with Zebra Products, among the sponsors supporting the series.
Returning for its seventh series, Horse & Country’s equestrian reality competition heads to Hartpury Equine in Gloucestershire, where the contestants will work with leading riders and coaches as they compete for the All Star Champion title. The new series will be available exclusively on H&C+.
Combining the pressures of competition with the opportunity to learn, the Academy follows the riders through practical challenges, expert tuition and the inevitable moments when life with horses refuses to follow the script.
What does All Star Academy involve?
The contestants will be assessed on their ability in the saddle and their understanding of horse care, with horsemanship, rider safety and horse welfare central to the programme.
Riders will receive mentoring from elite equestrian athletes and face a panel of guest judges. Alongside their own horses, some special schoolmasters will also feature, giving contestants the opportunity to learn from experienced equine teachers.
The challenges will call on a range of skills. Horse & Country’s selection criteria sought combinations capable of flatwork, showjumping and cross-country, with a willingness to learn more important than a high-level competition record.
Confirmed elements include showjumping and cross-country challenges, a task involving Great British Racing, and the return of the Diary Room, where contestants can share their reactions away from the arena. The charity Greatwood, which works with former racehorses to support children and young people with additional educational needs, will also take part in the finale.
Who is taking part?
The 2026 line-up brings together riders with different ambitions, from building confidence over fences to progressing through grassroots eventing.
The eight combinations are Justine and Donny, Nic and Lad, Tiger and Alfie, Ben and Aloura, Amelia and Leo, Tegenn and Alice, Becca and Gibson, and Hannah and Seven.
Among them are a paramedic, an aircraft engineer, a child protection detective and an equestrian marketing consultant. Their horses range from Tiger’s 148cm Connemara, Alfie, to Ben’s 17.1hh Thoroughbred cross Irish Draught, Aloura, who was the first horse he ever rode.
Veredus and Zebra Products support the Academy horses
Veredus, in association with its UK distributor Zebra Products, is supporting the series by supplying the equine contestants with TRB Save The Sheep boots.
Handcrafted in Italy, the boots are designed for everyday training, dressage and turnout. Their lightweight, anatomical shape incorporates elasticated straps and hook-and-loop fastenings, with an inner protective structure combining an EVA shock-absorbing membrane and a high-resistance polymer shell.
The sponsorship puts Veredus equipment to work with the amateur partnerships at the centre of the programme, as they tackle unfamiliar tasks and develop their skills under expert guidance.
When and where can you watch?
The evoke All Star Academy will be available exclusively to H&C+ subscribers through Horse & Country, with viewing available via its website, mobile apps and supported connected TV platforms.
An exact premiere date, episode release schedule and full list of guest judges could not be confirmed from the official information available at the time of writing.
For information about the boots and UK stockists, visit Zebra Products.