Affiliated showing for dummies

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serena2005

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Hello oh wise ones!

Please please help me understand the mystery of affiliated showing...

I am currently showing unaffiliated show hunter and hoping to progress to workers when he is mature enough. But I am keen to affiliate. I just don't know where to start!
Can I show in an affiliated show as an amateur and be unaffiliated?

Which society do I join? My horse is an Irish draught (ire not gb) so should I join the Irish one and not the gb one? Does he have to be registered?

I'm way in over my head here I know I'm totally clueless but very very keen to learn!

Thank you
 
We just got on with it entered county shows and affiliated shows. The best way is to make sure you read the rules for the classes very carefully as some you need to have the horse's passport overstamped if not already registered with the correct socoety which can take time. I used to join all the pony societies but it was very expensive. We eventually became members of the breed society and the showing registry which gave us what we needed but all classes are different.
 
You need to join Sports Horse Breeding GB, which used to be the Hunter Improvement Society. SHBGB is the affiliated society for show hunters, though other societies such as Ponies UK, BSPS, TSR do offer show hunter classes as well, but SHBGB is the main one. Most show hunter classes at county shows and some of the larger agricultural shows are affiliated to SHBGB. There are both amateur ridden classes and open ridden classes, and SHBGB run a lovely championship show, which is something to aim for. The amateur ridden classes also include classes that qualify for the Royal International, and these are really nice classes to do. Information on how to join SHBGB is on their website and the office staff are very helpful if you call them. You could also join the Irish Draft Society, but we find that there are fewer shows that offer ID classes. In all cases, you need to make sure that your horse's Irish passport is in your name, and then you send it for overstamping by the relevant showing society.
 
Before you affiliate I would go an watch a class at a county show which has qualifiers, for HOYS. I say this because the classes are a huge step up from unaffiliated. A lot of the riders are pro's, the horses are huge( you wonder how they get the under the stick) and so the standard is really high, which is not trying to put you off but to affiliate costs no small amount of money, then the entries are a lot more expensive, and they tend to carry a levy.
Depending on how old you are you could look BSPS, http://www.bsps.com/bsps-classes-i-can-enter , PUK classes which are a step up, there are more shows, and its not as expensive.
 
honetpot said:
Before you affiliate I would go an watch a class at a county show which has qualifiers, for HOYS. I say this because the classes are a huge step up from unaffiliated. A lot of the riders are pro's, the horses are huge( you wonder how they get the under the stick) and so the standard is really high, which is not trying to put you off but to affiliate costs no small amount of money, then the entries are a lot more expensive, and they tend to carry a levy.
Depending on how old you are you could look BSPS, http://www.bsps.com/bsps-classes-i-can-enter , PUK classes which are a step up, there are more shows, and its not as expensive.
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This ^^

When I looked into doing hoys classes with my large riding horse/lightweight hunter it would have cost me about £150 in affiliation fees and thats before you £40-60 class entry. That was 8 years ago so I can only assume the prices have increased again. I didn't bother in the end, plus the horse went lame so I am glad I didn't!
 
You can have a go at the SHBGB amateur classes on a day ticket. I'd suggest these are the best affiliated classes to start with, rather than HOYS classes. You apply to SHBGB for a one-day registration for the affiliated show you want to compete in. This is a low cost way of having a go at it to see how you get on. If you decide you want to do it there are lots and lots of shows with amateur classes where you won't be up against professional riders. Some of these classes qualify for the RIHS and some qualify for the SHBGB championship. The classes tend not to be huge. I would not even think about doing the HOYS classes for now.

Remember that when you do go to affiliated shows the judge will ride your horse, which is rarely the case at unaffiliated shows, so your horse needs to be prepared for this.

And you can do BSPS affiliated classes without being a member, and they have a series called Bright Stars, which is for those who've not previously shown at this level. I think there is Bright Stars horse class, so that might be a good place to start.
 
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Wow thank you! That's a lot to think about!!
I'm staying unaffiliated this year and see how he progresses.
I totally understand the jump up I did a search for a star qualifier for hoys last year and him only being 5 really stood out as the baby of the group. We were placed 6th out of 25 so I take that as a massive positive for the future.
He's quite used to judges riding so that's not an issue.

But yes I just have to get round the whole society thing and what I should/can be doing.
 
Be realistic about what you have got, but don't worry about taking the pro's on if you have something special.

As mentioned above, society fees are expensive and entry fees for HOY's classes also have a levy. Good luck with him.
 
He looks lovely, difficult to see confo on those photos. How big is he and how is he bred. A little suggestion from me, wider noseband and hunting boots for you would be better turnout.
 
Not the best for conformation but the only side shot I can find! He's just over 16.3
I'm no expect on bloodlines but from what I have researched I believe he is bred well

 
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serena2005 said:
Wider! I'm think that's an inch

Hunter boots...I'll get on it! What do they look like?
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Here is how to turn a hunter out at County level. Obviously you are a lady rider so would not wear a bowler. Note the cut of the saddle to show the front of the horse. Boots should be straight cut. The bridle on this horse has inch and quarter noseband, he has an exceptional quality head and if he hadn't a wider noseband would be used.

045-1.jpg
 
AdorableAlice said:
Here is how to turn a hunter out at County level. Obviously you are a lady rider so would not wear a bowler. Note the cut of the saddle to show the front of the horse. Boots should be straight cut. The bridle on this horse has inch and quarter noseband, he has an exceptional quality head and if he hadn't a wider noseband would be used.

045-1.jpg
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What makes his head so good?
I am shopping for a new saddle. Struggling to find one to fit, so considering getting one made.

New boots have now been added to the list :)
 
serena2005 said:
What makes his head so good?
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It's neat, well proportioned, sits nicely on the neck and is pleasant to look at. No roman nose, not excessively long nor short nor wide nor narrow. Yet is is not too dainty like a hacks. It suits him down to the ground. Not every horse has a head that fit's as well as his does.
 
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EKW said:
It's neat, well proportioned, sits nicely on the neck and is pleasant to look at. No roman nose, not excessively lone nor short now wide nor narrow. Yet is is not too dainty like a hacks. It suits him down to the ground. Not every horse has a head that fit's as well as his does.
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Thank you :) it's very interesting to learn what the judges are looking for.
 
EKW said:
It's neat, well proportioned, sits nicely on the neck and is pleasant to look at. No roman nose, not excessively lone nor short now wide nor narrow. Yet is is not too dainty like a hacks. It suits him down to the ground. Not every horse has a head that fit's as well as his does.
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and you can see straight into his soul through those eyes, like you can in the vast majority of quality horses.

Leoretirestoday772012007.jpg
 
serena2005 said:
Better side shot?


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You would have a very different picture with the saddle off his front and an inch further back. To be fair that picture isn't doing him any favours, he looks like two different halves. Take some untacked and stood up properly ones and we can guide you much better.
 
serena2005 said:
He looks lovely!!

Ok when he is show ready I will take some decent photos
Thank you so much for you help :)
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Have fun, you have a super stamp of a horse, no idea where you are based, but if you are central you might end up with me judging, and if you do, I love a good grey with manners to burn and buckets of presence.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Have fun, you have a super stamp of a horse, no idea where you are based, but if you are central you might end up with me judging, and if you do, I love a good grey with manners to burn and buckets of presence.
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Oh thank you! 😁 Well I hope if I get get the pleasure of being judged by you that he's up to scratch :)
We are in Hertfordshire but planning on travelling wherever possible if we affiliate 😁
This year I'm focusing on equifest, trailblazers, c&t, sunshine tour and search for a star hoys. He definitely needs to fill out before I go to county level.
 
serena2005 said:
Oh thank you! �� Well I hope if I get get the pleasure of being judged by you that he's up to scratch :)
We are in Hertfordshire but planning on travelling wherever possible if we affiliate ��
This year I'm focusing on equifest, trailblazers, c&t, sunshine tour and search for a star hoys. He definitely needs to fill out before I go to county level.
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fill him out with hard fit muscle so he is all top and his gut does not swing in the wind and he does not develop bulk in the shoulder which will affect his movement.
 
AdorableAlice said:
fill him out with hard fit muscle so he is all top and his gut does not swing in the wind and he does not develop bulk in the shoulder which will affect his movement.
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What's the best way to do that? At the moment he is just coming back into work after the winter off. He's fed top spec balancer conditioning mix, fiber beet and readi grass.

We are starting by doing lots of hacking and when his fitness is back up get back in the school
 
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