Born 1st Jan?.. I should be so lucky!

[MissDeMeena]

I know horses start their new year on the first of Jan!!.. but we are not horses, our parents do not have a breeding season! (tho some might argue otherwise haha)!!

I was born on the 10th of Dec.. Throughout my childhood i lost my last year in everything because of my stupid birthday!!
Through rules stating.."not to be xx age on the 1st of Jan of the current year"

It's something i've felt strongly about for along time now, but never got round to saying anything.. i know this thread is in the wrong forum, as there's nothing 'latest news' about it!!
But my reasons for putting it in here are, hopefully it'll stay at the top for longer, and the right people at H&H might read it!!

How about "not to be xx age on the date of the event" if the event is a qualifier for a championship, you have to be the right age for the qualifier, but if your birthday falls before the championship, that's ok, as long as you were the right age when you qualified!!
Does that make sense???

 

[Ginn]

Im late November so totally sympathise - kiri on the other hand is 7th of July, the lucky madam! I do think the rules should change though - age as of date of show/qualifier seems much fairer.

 

[Bossanova]

Oh I completely agree- esp in the highly pressured world of juniors- I've never had the chance to do juniors or YR seriously, juniors as I ran out of time producing my horse to intermediate and then fitting in a qualifying CCI. All fair and well if your horse is already doing it....
But def it should be real birthday, Even just an extra 1/2 season at juniors/Yr can set you up better for the step up

 

[tigers_eye]

I disagree. How gutting if you had an august birthday so in your final pony/junior/young rider year you could do all the training and selection trials but couldn't go? Remember you also got to start a year earlier...... At least everyone knows where they stand with this - you're either in or out. On a slightly different tack the wording of the various young rider champs annoys me as I think it's misleading to the public - the under 18, 21 and 25 champs respectively are in fact open to people of those ages as it is the year they were born rule again.

 

[BBs]

It makes no difference to me as Im too old

however, I have an august birthday *stamps feet* so it could have affected me

 

[mistonia]

yeah totally agree birthday 13th jan but get away with it because look young.

 

[MissDeMeena]

[ QUOTE ]
I disagree. How gutting if you had an august birthday so in your final pony/junior/young rider year you could do all the training and selection trials but couldn't go? Remember you also got to start a year earlier......

[/ QUOTE ]

Hence i gave the idea above, of.. you have to be the right age for the qualifier!!
Therefore, if you quaqlify for a championship in may/june aged 21, the championship is in Sept. and you have your 22nd birthday in Aug.. you should still be alright to go, as you were the right age when you qualified!!
Saying you get to start a year earlier may be true, but how many kids are ready for the big time in their first year of an age group?!?! Most people are just about ready to make teams etc. in their last year!

 

[tigers_eye]

But then you end up in the same situation, discriminating against those with an early birthday!

 

[Santa_Claus]

I also disagree this way its either one way or the other no fussing with birth certificates to prove ages etc and just imagine some parents who wouldn't have a clue and result in entering kids in the wrong classes it happens with the age rule as it is never mind changing it to what you suggest. also you have so many championships these days. You could have two u16 classes on two following weekends. The first weekend the kid qualifies for a final in August during the week kid has birthday and so can't do qualifier the following weekend for a July final now does that make sense? I would go with no!

It happens with schools as well (cut off 1st Sept) all other sports tend to have a 1st jan cut off as well. simplest method and yes some kids lose out and some gain but thats life its always has happened and always will whatever the rules!

 

[AlisonG]

I have a January birthday, I always felt the rule was fair. It made up for the fact that *every* year without fail I got joint birthday and Christmas presents.