Advice on ROR classes?

[Florrie]

I'd like to show my gelding in ROR/ex-racer classes.

Can someone please tell me how the horses are judged and what is expected of the horse?
Also what clothing/tack is needed?

My gelding has paces and manners to die for so I suppose that is a start
Thank you!

 

[Carefreegirl]

www.ror.org.uk

Also do a search on here and you'll get loads of helpful advice / pictures

 

[Florrie]

www.ror.org.uk

Also do a search on here and you'll get loads of helpful advice / pictures

Thankyou!

Also if anyone has first hand experience please come forward and share

 

[Carefreegirl]

In brief you go into the ring and spend most of the time dodging the 'unretrained' horses who are generally bucking / rearing / bolting - or all three

You walk, trot and canter on both reins usually and sometimes you have to show gallop. You then get pulled in, sometimes you all just come in in a mass bundle shove your way to the head of the line up fashion or sometimes they call you in one by one. You then stand there eyeing up the competition thinking that you're much better than the horse ahead of you

The judge then rides, normally a short walk and trot and canter on both reins whilst you look on either glowing with pride or trying to hide behind you groom as your horse goes round like a backward giraffe

You then strip off (the horse not you) and face the conformation judge. They ask a bit about your horse i.e age, how often it raced and you then babble on for ten minutes telling them your horses life history. You then walk away and then get dragged back in trot.

You then get back on and sometimes walk around in ever decreasing circles or sometimes stand around getting bored thinking I wish they'd hurry up.

The final placings are made, you get your rossette and Tesco voucher if in top 6 then leave the arena sideways / backwards / flat out after the lap of honour.

Beware - it is very addictive

 

[TeamChaser]

Hi Florrie


I had a go with mine a couple of years ago (lady my sister worked for showed him for me) - but unfortunately he repeatedly behaved like a bit of a pratt!! We took him to a couple of the county shows and was all a bit too much for his little brain. Shame as consistently got pulled in top 5 after initial walk, trot, canter round but then would NOT stand still in the line up. Ride judge at Royal County of Berks loved him - I thought she was bloody brave getting on! We weren't actually judged in that class as he was so badly behaved Judges were really supportive though and were keen for us to stay in the ring despite offering to leave. They do understand that it can be a bit much for some of them. Classes were quite big - 34 in one class we did which was a HOYS qualifier

It is quite full on - we were up against the likes of Lynn Russell and Katie Jerram and some really top class horses. We were also told a couple of times that he needed more "condition", some pretty well covered horses in class. Foxy is the type that likes to be in work and also the type that we'd have had even worse problems with if we fed him up too much but they do look for show horse condition .... rather than racehorse condition if you see what I mean To me he looked like a fit, healthy TB but they are looking for a show horse


Most horses were shown in double bridles and rider wore tweed show jacket, shirt, tie etc

You do need to be well prepared but please don't let anything I've said put you off If you have a horse with the looks/confirmation and a nice way of going you can do well and you don't have to be a pro. Will need to be well behaved though and able to cope with county level shows as that's where some of the qualifiers are


Look forward to seeing you at HOYS ... good luck and have fun!!

 

[Carefreegirl]

Tack wise - snaffle, pelham or double bridle I use a NS pelham.
Don't need a show saddle but as long as it's comfy for the judge. Made sure leathers are long enough and stirrups wide enough as may be a bloke judge.
Descreet numnah if needed. Browband depends on type of horse i.e mine is Riding horse type so has a big showy red white and blue jobby. If your horse is a hunter type then plain leather.

You - Shirt and tie. Tweed or plain jacket. Don't have to wear spurs BUT you do have to wear a hat with a chin strap and NO jewellry. Cream or pale yellow jods - not white.

 

[TeamChaser]

Foxy at Royal County of Berks (complete with gob all over his face from getting in a tizz and throwing his head aboout .. a lot!) To be fair to Rosemary (riding) she exhibited the gallop .... most aren't brave enough

 

[Carefreegirl]

Lovely pic TC This year ?

 

[TeamChaser]

Lovely pic TC This year ?

Ah thank you!


No this was 2010. It was a short lived show career as the little sod wouldn't behave. He was one of the un-re-trained Shame, confirmation judges always had him near the top but we suffered a distinct case of bad manners .... horses, what can you do?!

 

[Gamebird]

Ah thank you!


No this was 2010. It was a short lived show career as the little sod wouldn't behave. He was one of the un-re-trained Shame, confirmation judges always had him near the top but we suffered a distinct case of bad manners .... horses, what can you do?!

Mine always went the other way. Didn't stand out enough in the go-around to get pulled in anywhere useful but always gave the judge a beautiful ride and usually moved up into the top 6 after that. The Tesco vouchers are quite generous (and more useful than most things I've won whilst competing).

 

[Florrie]

In brief you go into the ring and spend most of the time dodging the 'unretrained' horses who are generally bucking / rearing / bolting - or all three

lmao!

Thankyou for the help from both of you, very much appreciated!
He is a lovely chap, not had him very long (5 months) but he is coming along in leaps and bounds and I'd like to give him a go next season in ROR.
He is very quiet and gives 110% in everything he does.

Wouldn't be too keen on a judge getting on him as he can be a bit arsey with someone new on his back but it would be brilliant to watch

I imagine we would stand out in the show ring amogst all the bodstandard bays, he's a chestnut with flaxen mane and tail with roan/rabicano on his quarters and very high socks/white patches up his hind legs. Ah

 

[Lolo]

Reg did a showing class or two this year (one TARRA, one RoR) this year and is now pencilled in for more as it was good fun! He hasn't got amazing paces (correct and workmanlike, but not special!) but he has beautiful manners and goes nicely for pretty much anyone with half a clue in a snaffle- the ride judge put him in first at his first county show!

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=549119
That's my report from this year's...

Loads of advice on turnout here:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=542151

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=546999&
Al's report!

Reg is generally Mr Cool, but found all the hanging about quite hard! Al did enjoy it though in a bemused way

 

[Big Ben]

So when a judge rides your horse in a class what is the protocol, do they mount themselves, or do you leg up? Should you try and alter the stirrups so you think they will fit the judge? Not so easy if you have a 17 hander and the judge is 4'9"

Not that I'm likely to be doing any class like that, I'm just nosey

 

[Lolo]

So when a judge rides your horse in a class what is the protocol, do they mount themselves, or do you leg up? Should you try and alter the stirrups so you think they will fit the judge? Not so easy if you have a 17 hander and the judge is 4'9"

Not that I'm likely to be doing any class like that, I'm just nosey

Reg looks like Gulliver amongst the Lilliputians at most RoR classes, as he's a solid 16.3hh (who grows considerably if there's an audience, he's such a ponce!). The judge in Al's class was about the same height as her, but Al's stirrups are wide enough for a man's boot to safely fit in. Before the judge gets on, they fiddle with the stirrups so they're the right looking length. And I suppose it depends on the judge as to how they want to get on! A huge chunk of RoR is manners, so your horse should stand still regardless of how they fancy clambering on board! The judge in their class mounted Reg from the ground :O

Some photies of Fregga looking like a showing diva!

 

[Carefreegirl]

Florrie - joking aside I'm serious about some of the horses ! I ended up like an Owl with a head that spins the full 360 degrees ! You think you've got plenty of space around you then suddenly there's five other horses on top of you ! Herts county was a nightmare this year (thankfully although id entered I didn't ride)

He sounds gorgeous btw as as an owner of a bog standard bay I know what you mean. 14 odd bays all look the same after a while

 

[Carefreegirl]

Can't edit on phone !
£50 tesco voucher 1st prize plus a rug or jacket or waistcoat. £25 second then £10 to 6th.
If you qualify for Hickstead and go you get a lovely embroidered jacket. You also get a rosette for just being in the class at every show. Haven't made it into the final 12 at Hickstead so can't tell you what they win

 

[Patterdale]

I would love to give this a go but I've ummed and ahhed for too long and then spent last season being pregnant.
My horse is now 15 which I didn't think was too old but has now been diagnosed with Cushings too

Such a shame as he has amazing paces, doesn't mind who gets on/fiddles with him, and is black with 4 even socks and a stripe so he stands out!
Is there a veteran 'division' to the classes?
Showing is absolutely not my thing, I evented before but after having the sprog I might have lost my nerve a bit! and I'd like to do something with him!

ETA didn't mean to sound disparaging of showing at all, I've just never had the patience before, my fault!

 

[Carefreegirl]

Patterdale - any age can enter, there's a rosette for the highest placed veteran. Tbh I'm not into serious showing and only do half a dozen classes max per year. it's the only way I get to compete at county level as horse has to many lumps and bumps for pure showing and I don't like to jump anything higher than my ankle

 

[humblepie]

CG - your summing up always makes me laugh. The other thing to remember if showing is that whilst you can chat and make friends (CG & I have met this way) you need to look unapproachable at all times (only joking but she will know what I mean).

On the whole the pros are nice and friendly and the majority of the classes are us everyday folk, so definitely go for it.

Ideally though get your horse ridden by as many different people as possible.

If you horse really isn't up for other people riding it, then in the ROR challenge (the showing with jumping) the judge doesn't ride or in many of the slightly lower level classes the judge won't ride.

The veteran also gets a Tesco voucher so that helps the diesel fund!

 

[Gamebird]

So when a judge rides your horse in a class what is the protocol, do they mount themselves, or do you leg up? Should you try and alter the stirrups so you think they will fit the judge? Not so easy if you have a 17 hander and the judge is 4'9"

Not that I'm likely to be doing any class like that, I'm just nosey

There is usually a steward with the judge who will make sure the next horse is ready whilst they're riding the one before. They usually carry a stick the same length as the judge's stirrups and alter them accordingly. The steward legs the judge up.

Do make sure that your horse is happy being mounted this way and used to having other people on it. I've seen a few pretty naughty horses in these situations and often the judge will refuse to get on the bad ones and they'll get sent out. It's a waste of your entry money and time, but better than an accident.

 

[Carefreegirl]

CG - your summing up always makes me laugh. The other thing to remember if showing is that whilst you can chat and make friends (CG & I have met this way) you need to look unapproachable at all times (only joking but she will know what I mean).

On the whole the pros are nice and friendly and the majority of the classes are us everyday folk, so definitely go for it.

Ideally though get your horse ridden by as many different people as possible.

If you horse really isn't up for other people riding it, then in the ROR challenge (the showing with jumping) the judge doesn't ride or in many of the slightly lower level classes the judge won't ride.

The veteran also gets a Tesco voucher so that helps the diesel fund!

Hi HP Of course I forgot you have to look unapproachable and moody - just like HP did with me ! I just followed her round several showgrounds and poked her with a stick until she talked to me

OP can you get your instructor / friends to ride him ? Every class I've done the judge has been legged up.

 

[marley and danni]

hi if your just doing local level the judge will not ride. But the further up the levels you go the more comman it becomes for the judge to ride and you also do a trot up!

my gelding can be a bit arsey with different riders! if itsa male is ussually fine but if its a female he bucks... but i have figured out its because they are either really hard with their leg aids or nag to much with their legs!

i just generally hope for the best and hope the judge knows to ride sypethitcally! (his bucks can be huge!)

generally when a judge has rode my horse only twice once he was a gent the other he had his ears back and wouldnt canter!!!