12 yr old on a cob doing a LR class?

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lucky7

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Another from me this evening!!

My daughter is 12 and has started riding my cob who is 15.1hh, shes just come off the lead rein but hasn't quite established canter but can do her rising trot and has pretty good balance and importantly is confident!! she's been hacking out with me with my other horse and riding in the school walking and trotting. She's desperate to do a class at a show we have coming up (small show) and there is a lead rein class for 7 - 12 yrs old, just messaged the organisers to see if she can do the class - they said they will look into it but there are no rules on the schedule that say its not open to children on horses? she doesnt look small on the cob as the cob is LW and she's pretty tall 5ft5ish? does anyone know if this is possible? they do have another class which is amined at the same age group but i would not feel confident to let her in the ring by herself off the lead rein just incase!!!
There are no other classes she can do as the rest are open ones or jumping! thanks!!
 
Shows differ in their approach to this

Some have a definite height cut off (usually 12hh but some will allow 12.2hh)

Some will allow any pony/horse and have no rules on heights

Some will allow any pony/Horse but if its an affiliated show they will only pass the qualification to the highest placed pony that will comply to the higher show's rules - so any pony/horse can join in but if the qualification will get you in to a championship show class for under 12hh then the winner will not qualify unless they meet this criteria, Equifest for example is strict 12hh or under

Some shows have height rules for ponies but will allow others to complete HC (that's non competitively) so no rosette for non compliant combinations but they usually dig out a 'special' rosette

If no height is actually specified in the schedule and if the show is a very small local one it would take a very hard hearted person to turn away a keen kiddy on any size pony
 
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regardless of the height of the mount, a judge will expect a lead rein pony/horse to be in a snaffle, thats pretty much a 'must'

One more thing to note - lead rein on the noseband, never on the bit

Good luck!
 
They said it's fine for her to take part!
She's going to borrow a tweed jacket. She's got beige jods, brown jod boots, shirt and a tie and a navy silk for her hat :) do I just wear my show stuff? I will be doing classes too so taking it I will be okay in my jods boots and jacket? Do I need to wear my riding hat?
 
Good luck, all of our lead rein classes seem to go up to 10 year old. My daughters 11 but only been riding a couple of months so it's a shame.
 
It sounds like a great low key local type show. You should be fine in your normal show kit but without the riding hat. Have loads of fun!
 
Always always always wear a hat for lead Rein! Never go bare headed! If possible do you have a navy, tweed or dark green skirt you could throw on on top of your jods? If not your riding gear will be fine but wear a hat!

The kid must also never carry a show cane in a lead Rein class. The handler carries it.
 
I have stopped doing LR classes ( all local low key) as my son got fed up with coming behind toddlers on ponies. It seemed they were always 1st. He is a very tall 7 year old and I think judges thought he had been riding longer. Hope your daughter has fun but look out for tots on ponies.
 
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