London – May 7th, 2025 – Leading international equestrian sports network Horse & Country (H&C) today announced the return of its top-rating reality show, All Star Academy, for a sixth series. In an exciting new development, filming will take place at the world-class equestrian centre Hartpury Equine, located in the stunning Hartpury University and Hartpury College campus, Gloucestershire. And, in celebration of their forthcoming fifth birthday, premium equestrian apparel brand, Blackfort Equestrian, are the title sponsors of the 2025 series.
Blackfort Equestrian All Star Academy will feature eight hopeful riders competing for the crown of All Star Champion. This year, for the first time ever, applications will be open to contestants from the Republic of Ireland and mainland Europe, reflecting H&C’s large and growing audience in these markets. Auditions will open on 12th May and run through to 16th June. And, in another innovation for 2025, H&C has partnered with online entries system Horse Monkey. Hopeful entrants will be able to upload their audition videos directly to the Horse Monkey platform.
Following on from her successful presenting debut in the last series, internet sensation (and TV natural), Megan Elphick, will host Blackfort Equestrian All Star Academy, along with co-presenter and H&C favourite, Charlie Hutton. They will be joined by a stellar line up of celebrity riding talent who will coach and cajole the contestants through a series of challenges designed to test their skill, courage and, most importantly, the strength of their relationship with their horse.
Also making a welcome return from the last series, former contestant Tina Wallace (aka Life on the Left Rein), will be on hand to cover events backstage and maybe share a tip or two on what it takes to catch the eye of the judges. And, just in case you were getting worried, rest assured that, as ever, international dressage trainer and H&C legend, Pammy Hutton, will be on hand to keep discipline and make sure that everyone stays on the straight and narrow.
Keep an eye out for the call for audition videos which will be announced shortly on H&C’s social media. The competition is bound to be hot, so no time like the present to start thinking about your pitch to the producers. The successful applicants will be introduced to the world in a live launch on social media in early September. The series will premiere on H&C’s streaming service, H&C+, this Autumn.
Jonathan Rippon, H&C’s Director of Content, said, “I’m delighted to bring back this iconic series in partnership with our friends at Blackfort Equestrian. Viewers can look forward to a whole raft of new, never-seen-before challenges for the contestants that will deliver the tense competition and entertainment the audience has come to expect.”
On behalf of Blackfort Equestrian, founder Molly Kaye, said, “As we celebrate our 5th year in business, the team and I are incredibly excited to join the All Star Academy in 2025. For myself, as an amateur equestrian, taking part is absolutely what matters. Rosettes are an added bonus! We’re not world beating equestrians here at Blackfort, we’re just about the everyday, the ups and downs, the cold mornings, the whicker over the stable door and, most importantly, the love of the horse. We love that our ethos matches that of the All Star Academy and, to celebrate both our sponsorship of the series and our fifth birthday, we have a flash discount of 15% off for 24 hours on our website! Thank you to our customers for all your support in the last five years!”
Phillip Cheetham, Equine Director at Hartpury University and Hartpury College said, “Staff and students are very excited about Hartpury becoming the host venue for Horse & Country’s All Stars Academy. We’re very proud of our world-class facilities, educational programmes, and industry-shaping research, and can’t wait to share part of this with the Academy riders, their horses, and the wider Horse & Country audience.
“This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to lifelong learning, and the importance of always aiming to be better horsemen and women for the good of our horses, whether riding competitively or simply taking care of and spending time around these incredible animals.
“We’re also delighted to hear that Pammy will still be on hand to keep everyone in order!”
As with all the previous All Star Academy series, Blackfort Equestrian All Star Academy will be produced for H&C by Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes’ company, Harkaway Media.
To watch Blackfort Equestrian All Star Academy, make sure you are signed up to H&C+. Annual membership is only £84.99 as a one-off payment and there’s also an option to pay in 12 monthly instalments of £14.99 each.
ENDS
Media Contact H&C:
Richard Burdett richardb@horseandcountry.tv +44 (0) 7768 511702
About Horse & Country: Horse & Country is the leading international sports network for the passionate and active equestrian community. Headquartered in London, it is available globally via connected TVs, mobile and web and on leading digital and pay-TV platforms in the US, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Australia. Horse & Country’s programming line-up includes live coverage from leading sporting competitions in all equestrian disciplines, as well as training and learning shows, documentaries, and entertainment.
About Blackfort Equestrian: Blackfort Equestrian is a premium equestrian apparel brand known for its modern, rider-focused designs that combine performance, comfort, and style. The brand is named after Director, Molly Kaye’s horse Blackfort Boss (aka Marley). Specialising in technical riding wear such as breggings, base layers, jackets, and accessories, Blackfort appeals to ambitious amateur and professional riders alike. With a strong presence in the UK and a growing international following, Blackfort is recognised for its attention to detail, durable fabrics, and sleek aesthetic that transitions effortlessly from stable to street. Their brand is aspirational yet accessible, with a loyal, engaged customer base that values quality and performance.