Children and dressage on ponies

P

Patches

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 February 2005
Messages
10,028
Visit site
How do kids get into prelim dressage, unaffiliated? Do they enter the same classes as the adults?

We're working towards a goal of Hannah and Oliver doing a dressage test over the autumn (well.....on a surface and not grass so it might be the start of the next indoor season), are the specific classes for children if you're not doing it with a Pony Club?
 
Some places seperate juniors and seniors but quite often everyone competes against each other in class. Are you anywhere near Staffordshire cos there's a great place there that seperate juniors and seniors.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Some places seperate juniors and seniors but quite often everyone competes against each other in class. Are you anywhere near Staffordshire cos there's a great place there that seperate juniors and seniors.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm in Staffordshire, but right on the Cheshire Border. Are you thinking about Beaver Hall?

What ages would she be pitted against on a 13.2hh pony? She's only 10 and hasn't even ridden FR classes as her old pony was too damn nappy for the individual show when canter was involved and new pony is too big, which takes her over the height restriction for FR. Of course, she is now 10 too which takes her over the age.

He's a cracking little WHP type pony but she'd have to enter classes with riders on 14hh ponies up to the age of 16. Not to mention the size of the fences! He's not registered so she can't do any M&M classes either.

We're trying to think of something that will actually assist her equitation but give her something to enjoy and work towards for fun, just for a couple of years until she's more on an even footing with other kids in showing classes age wise.
 
Our Affiliated Riding club does separate classes for children usually 12 years and under and 16 years and under
We are in Scotland but probably other Riding clubs do Junior classes as well
 
Im 13,and i enter open classes on my 16.2hh,but they dont change because of my age.
Often the competition is anything up to 55+ Years Old.
Sounds daunting,but usually they know just as much as I do,so it wouldnt be too bad for hannah,shes a brilliant little rider!
 
Brilliant.

I don't mind if she goes in against adults. It's more for her advancement as a rider than rosette hunting.

I was just wondering if there is a lower age limit for competitors really as I've never entered an unaffiliated dressage comp, so have no idea what the rules are.
smirk.gif
 
Blimey! You must be tall for 13!

Well done you. I assume there is no complaints from any competitors about a child in their midst?

Didn't want to just turn up somewhere (although that's a way off yet) and discover there is a lower age limit and the classes are open to adults only.
 
Not tall at all,5'3
laugh.gif

He's a fantastic horse,but its certaintly a challenge to get a 16.2 Thoroughbred who seems to be allergic to wind and rein working properly haha!
Its brilliant practise though,and I enjoy it alot
smile.gif

And nobody complains.
I do get a few funny looks by a few of the rich snobs (im not stereotyping,but they genuinley are!)
grin.gif
but ride past it
smile.gif
 
Have you thought about doing Trailblazers? The test is the same for adults and juniors (under 16) but the placings are separate as are the qualifications. If you get over 58% you qualify for the second round, then I think in the second rounds, the first five (again separate junior and senior) get to go to Stoneleigh for the finals. You could also try the dengie pony club competitions, you don't need to be a member to compete in the first rounds which are being held now.
 
Have you looked into finding an affiliated British Riding Club round you? There are loads around and they split classes into Juniors and Seniors with something for everyone (i.e. my mum done her first walk-trot test last summer
smile.gif
)

Pretty sure the BRC has a website so try googling it!

Also most PC's has some sort of beginners competitions which are a fab place to start
smile.gif
 
Don't think there's a minimum age at any of the Unaff or RC competitions down here in the S East. Some give special rosettes for the best Junior, but rarely have seperate classes.

Now that our Club do Walk & Trot tests we occasionally get 7yr olds + on an ancient hairy pony while Mum stands outside the ring calling the test. The rest of us all stand there with tears in our eyes thinking 'how sweet' !!!
 
Patches - my daughter (12) did her first walk and trot test on Sunday on her 13.1hh pony. It was organised by our local riding club who run walk and trot, prelim and novice, same tests for all ages but results are separated into juniors (under 17) and seniors.

What was so nice is that it is all terribly friendly and the judge gives each competitor a little talk afterwards, she gave both me and my daughter excellent and very encouraging advice.

I really recommend joining a riding club which in my experience isn't quite so competitive as pony club.
 
They can enter the same class but some venues offer junior and senior. Go for it! She might not win but the judges will almost certainly give encouragement.
smile.gif
They generally do at prelim level!
smile.gif
 
Not sure if Alsager Equestrian Centre is near to you but they currently doing Monday night dressage once a fortnight and the class is split in to Junior and Senior. They have a website alsagereqc.co.uk. The other thing would be to look on the Saddle up Cheshire Website, they have an events page.
 
My daughter does dressage on her 13.1 welsh sec b (that's them on the left). She just goes in any class - there is no lower age limit. She started on walk and trot aged 9 and now does prelim. at the grand old age of just 10. Sometimes she is the only child and sometimes there are lots. One time she was the only child and beat all the adults!

Nowhere we have been to have minded at all that she is young, in fact they are all encouraging even when the test doesn't go well. We had 'lovely plaits' once! I don't think they could think of anything else positive to say, but were determined to say something nice.

I always make sure she is super polite and well mannered in the warm up, with the organisers and with the judge (she does a very good 'beam at the judge when going down the centre line' - you never know they might not notice the wobbles! and a thank you on leaving the arena. If you are like that, i don't see how anyone can complain.

Do you belong to a PC - ours organise quite a lot of dressage too, but other than that we just go to the local venues.
 
Our local RC dressage shows do not separate juniors and seniors but we give a special rosette for the best junior in each class and also have a separate junior league so at the end of the season they get lovely rosettes and the overall winner also gets a prize. Having said that, we often see juniors getting rosettes in the classes anyway - they give the seniors some stiff competition!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top