When you enter a class, you are agreeing to abide by the Club Rules, the Health & Safety Rules and Class Requirements. Copies are available at the Entries cabin and are in the Club handbook. The Class requirements below should be read in conjunction with section 8 of Club Rules ‘Rules for the conduct of competitions and other events’ and the Health & Safety Rules. Please take time to read them.

Spurs: Spurs/dressage spurs must not be worn in any show pony, hunter pony, working hunter pony, mountain & moorland, riding club pony, riding club horse/pony or in ANY junior ridden class.

Whips/canes: Show whips/canes must not exceed 75cm (30”). Plain or leather-covered canes only for lead-rein classes. Show-jumping whips only for SJ classes and working hunter classes—no long or dressage whips.

Bridles: Lead reins must be attached to the noseband and never the bit. Flash and drop nosebands are permitted in equitation classes. In classes for hunters, cobs and M&M competitors should consider using plain leather bridles. In classes for riding horses, riding ponies & hacks competitors should consider using a coloured browband and stitched noseband.

Bits: Only snaffles are allowed in lead rein and novice equitation classes. In classes for
hunters, cobs, M&M, riding horses, riding ponies, hacks and show ponies, snaffles, pelhams or double bits are allowed.

Hard Hats: It is compulsory for all competitors to wear a standardised hard hat with the chin strap securely fastened when mounted. In additional Juniors must also wear a hard hat for in-hand classes. Senior members are strongly advised to do this.

Fall of horse or rider: For health & safety reasons, in ALL classes, the fall of animal or rider shall result in immediate elimination and the rider must not remount (or attempt another fence in classes with jumps) but must leave the ring immediately on foot.
Show-jumping refusals: In clear round, and double clear classes, a third refusal results in elimination. In Intermediate and Open Horse and Pony SJ classes, a SECOND refusal results in elimination. There are special rules for pairs jumping; ask the SJ stewards if you are unsure.

Scoring in Working Hunter Classes: First phase is six or seven jumps. You start with 50 jumping points and lose 10 for each knockdown, 15 for a first refusal and 20 for a second. Crossing tracks on approach to a fence, turning quarters to a fence or completely turning round counts as a refusal. Third refusal, fall of animal or rider, taking wrong course, missing or adding a jump all result in elimination. There are 10 marks available for jumping style. Those with a clear round go through to the next round (the Judge may allow some with jumping faults to go through if there are less than six clear) where competitors do a short show. Competitors may be asked to include a short gallop but only if weather conditions permit. Up to 10 marks are awarded for manners while performing the show and 30 for conformation and type. If scores are tied, phase one total marks take precedence followed by manners then conformation/type. If there is still a tie, the Judge makes a decision which is final.

Please note that the Minimus Working Hunter class is for horses and/or riders new to Working Hunter and the combination can not enter any other class with jumps other than the clear round and the Riding Club Horse & Pony class.

Also the Novice Working Hunter class is for horse & rider combinations who have NOT won a first in any novice working hunter class before 01/01/08.

Mountain & Moorland: Small breeds are Shetland, Dartmoor, Exmoor and Welsh A&B. Large breeds are new Forest, Connemara, Welsh C&D, Highland, Fell and Dales. Eldwick classes include part-bred and there will be some leeway on ‘True to type’ in Judging. Pure- breds should not be plaited. Be prepared to answer question on your animal’s breeding. Do not enter the class just because your pony is hairy! Ridden classes start with a short individual show containing walk, trot and canter on both reins and a halt for which up to 60 marks are awarded. The Judge will then inspect your animal and award up to 40 marks for confirmation and type.

Doing a show. Always listen carefully to what a Judge asks you to do. If the Judge asks for a short show, do just that, You may have a show prepared and the Judge may ask you to do something completely different. If you don’t understand what the Judge wants, ask her again!

Ages: Juniors are 3 –15 years on 1 January of the current year, Seniors are 16 and above on 1 January of the current year. Calculate a horse’s age from 1 January of the year in which it was born. Horses must be 4 or over. ERC does not allow stallions or colts on the showground.
 

top