Enfys
Well-Known Member
They get everywhere
Enlighten me!
- Thread starter Maple Leaf
- Start date
jessamess
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the UK!!!
I'm a showing person (arabs) so can only really advise you on the showing front... now showing over here isn't as big as it is over in american and from my perspective alot less complicated haha I have a friend who shows arabs over there and their national shows are full of lots of different classes which I'm very jealous of!!!
So over here we mainly show on breed or type, so you will have the Mountain & Morland (or M&M which are breeds which are native to the uk) classes, the Arabs, the Anglo-arabs/partbreds, the thoroughbred then you will have the 'type' classes which are- Hacks (mostly TB's/part breds), Riding horses (heavier and bigger than hacks), Hunters (split into Light weight, medium weight, heavy weight and Maxi) cobs (split into tradition-shown fully feathered mane ect and show- hogged and trimmed), Coloured classes which are getting more popular. You also get the ponies so lead rein show pony, show pony 1st ridden, show pony (these are usually divided into heights) also show hunter ponies (which are heavier than show ponies more bone ect)
All the classes above are done on the flat- so all walk round together, trot round, canter round, change rein, canter again on other rein and then extended canter (you wont do this if you are in a novice class) then the judge will call in and then ride them all (something my american friend found very strange) unless you are at local level where you will do an individual show instead, you will then strip the horses so take off saddle and present to the judge and they will judge the conformation of your horse (again you wont do this at local level shows) you will then all remount and the judge will pull in in final order!!! In the pony classes the judge wont ride either the children have to do an individual show.
There are then the Working Hunter classes, which I believe are similar to your Equitation classes, although again these are all judged on the horse (always is with showing unless local where they will have the fun sort of best rider classes) so again the classes will always be split into the different breeds or types and also heights, the working hunter classes over here also get very big at top level so you are talking 1.20m courses full of skinny fences, gates and brushes, the horse has to go clear to go through to the next round (not at local they all go through) you will then have to go through the same routine as the above classes where the judge rides ect ect.
It very addictive and also very rewarding, especially when you get to go to the bigger competitions ect!!! This website might help you understand better-http://www.theshowring.co.uk/showing.php
The other sports ie Eventing, Dressage, Showjumping are all very similar I expect as these are all multi national sports (ie in the olympics, weg ect) although they probably vary slightly but I can't really comment on those as I don't have a great deal to do with them... apart for the fact that you have local competitions and then you have Affiliated competitions where you have to join the governing body to compete- http://www.britisheventing.com/ http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/ http://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/ And these are where you can move up the levels ect ect and go to big competitions run all over the country ect
I hope my ramblings have helped in some way shape or form haha!!!
xxxxx
I'm a showing person (arabs) so can only really advise you on the showing front... now showing over here isn't as big as it is over in american and from my perspective alot less complicated haha I have a friend who shows arabs over there and their national shows are full of lots of different classes which I'm very jealous of!!!
So over here we mainly show on breed or type, so you will have the Mountain & Morland (or M&M which are breeds which are native to the uk) classes, the Arabs, the Anglo-arabs/partbreds, the thoroughbred then you will have the 'type' classes which are- Hacks (mostly TB's/part breds), Riding horses (heavier and bigger than hacks), Hunters (split into Light weight, medium weight, heavy weight and Maxi) cobs (split into tradition-shown fully feathered mane ect and show- hogged and trimmed), Coloured classes which are getting more popular. You also get the ponies so lead rein show pony, show pony 1st ridden, show pony (these are usually divided into heights) also show hunter ponies (which are heavier than show ponies more bone ect)
All the classes above are done on the flat- so all walk round together, trot round, canter round, change rein, canter again on other rein and then extended canter (you wont do this if you are in a novice class) then the judge will call in and then ride them all (something my american friend found very strange) unless you are at local level where you will do an individual show instead, you will then strip the horses so take off saddle and present to the judge and they will judge the conformation of your horse (again you wont do this at local level shows) you will then all remount and the judge will pull in in final order!!! In the pony classes the judge wont ride either the children have to do an individual show.
There are then the Working Hunter classes, which I believe are similar to your Equitation classes, although again these are all judged on the horse (always is with showing unless local where they will have the fun sort of best rider classes) so again the classes will always be split into the different breeds or types and also heights, the working hunter classes over here also get very big at top level so you are talking 1.20m courses full of skinny fences, gates and brushes, the horse has to go clear to go through to the next round (not at local they all go through) you will then have to go through the same routine as the above classes where the judge rides ect ect.
It very addictive and also very rewarding, especially when you get to go to the bigger competitions ect!!! This website might help you understand better-http://www.theshowring.co.uk/showing.php
The other sports ie Eventing, Dressage, Showjumping are all very similar I expect as these are all multi national sports (ie in the olympics, weg ect) although they probably vary slightly but I can't really comment on those as I don't have a great deal to do with them... apart for the fact that you have local competitions and then you have Affiliated competitions where you have to join the governing body to compete- http://www.britisheventing.com/ http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/ http://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/ And these are where you can move up the levels ect ect and go to big competitions run all over the country ect
I hope my ramblings have helped in some way shape or form haha!!!
xxxxx
jessamess
Well-Known Member
oh also to add there is of course the sport of hunting which is non competitive but is a fantastic british winter tradition, and you can take part on any type of horse ect and you join your local hunt and you all go out on one huge ride (usually fast paced) across the country side jumping hedges and wall ect
the hunts usually go out twice a week usually a weekday and a weekend day... its a great experience and chance to meet new people!!!
xxx
the hunts usually go out twice a week usually a weekday and a weekend day... its a great experience and chance to meet new people!!!
xxx
Maple Leaf
Member
aw timmies 
Enfys- I'm in/around Plymouth
I want to try hunting SO bad!! What a blast!!
Enfys- I'm in/around Plymouth
I want to try hunting SO bad!! What a blast!!
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
I am in Somerset - if you don't mind jumping ditches (a unique experience!) and being with a hunt who are a bit 'Irish' then Weston & Banwell Harriers is a very reasonable day out. I think a days hunting is about £65 and then just the cost of a hireling which again would not be ridiculous. They will look after you as well and about an hour from Plymouth.
druid
Well-Known Member
There is no Timmies in the UK?! We have little concession counters in some stores for them...I have a horrid habit of picking up coffee and doughnuts on the way to the barn on Sunday mornings!
prosefullstop
Well-Known Member
I am a Brit living in the NY region, and I can tell you that "sharing" in the North American sense is not widely done in Britain. There are opportunities to do full- and part-loan, but these tend to be on a private basis, instead of from a stockpile of competition horses at a hunter/jumper barn.
Random stuff: you'll find that show jackets are longer, neck plaits are fewer in number, tails are pulled rather than plaited, there's less emphasis on trainers, fewer people do full livery, herd turnout is the norm, working hunter classes are more forward going and trickier than US hunters, riding on the roads is perfectly normal, riding in the rain is perfectly normal, and horses are way cheaper to purchase. You'll have plenty of fun in your transplanted home
Random stuff: you'll find that show jackets are longer, neck plaits are fewer in number, tails are pulled rather than plaited, there's less emphasis on trainers, fewer people do full livery, herd turnout is the norm, working hunter classes are more forward going and trickier than US hunters, riding on the roads is perfectly normal, riding in the rain is perfectly normal, and horses are way cheaper to purchase. You'll have plenty of fun in your transplanted home
DollyCoblet
Well-Known Member
Am looking to relocate to Alberta in a couple of years, cant wait so love these posts!!
Maple leaf, lots of horsey things to do around Plymouth, I am just over the border in Cornwall, are you looking to buy your own horse or loan, what are you looking to do event? Will try and think off a good hunting yard around Plymouth that hire, but hunting on Dartmoor is amazing and some of the best hunting to be had.
We have starbucks in Plymouth, incase you get too homesick for coffee, sorry no tim hortons!!
Maple leaf, lots of horsey things to do around Plymouth, I am just over the border in Cornwall, are you looking to buy your own horse or loan, what are you looking to do event? Will try and think off a good hunting yard around Plymouth that hire, but hunting on Dartmoor is amazing and some of the best hunting to be had.
We have starbucks in Plymouth, incase you get too homesick for coffee, sorry no tim hortons!!