Inter-school riding competitions

[giggles mum]

As I've mentioned, a group of us from school go riding weekly instead of a conventional games lesson, and one of the other riders suggested we try and take part in an inter-schools competition. I'm not getting my hopes up as I'm assuming the fact none of us own a horse is a fairly large problem, but can anyone tell me what, when and where the main inter schools competitions are? and are they SJing, eventing or what?

Thanks

 

[CastleMouse]

Well over here, there is an inter-schools showjumping league, but there is also an all-Ireland inter schools hunter trial held once a year.

 

[rara007]

!!!!!!!!!!You do that for PE! Lucky wotsit!

At our school we compete pretty well in SJ and eventing, only because us olderones oranise it and thats what we like. We always have an open team and if others want to do it they can do the more novice stuff.

Normaly SJ one member does 2'9", one 3 foot, one 3'3" and one 3'6" and once doesn't have to count, then you do a second round against the clock, we are very lucky to have lots of clean jumpers and usualy come last of the all clears so do well!

Eventing we have an open team, again 4 horses one score not counting , usualy 3 foot.

Not sure on the novice heights but I guess 2'3" is the smallest...

 

[shadowboy]

I instruct some pupils at the school where i teach and they have taken part in interschools comps- they are usually a team of 5 or 6 and are in SJ or dressage. Interesting to watch and train them for but they are VERY competitive and usually a high standard!

 

[giggles mum]

Thanks! Where are the competitions you go to, are they just normal shows or special schools-only ones?
It's looking like this isn't going to happen if the smallest fences are 2ft9, especially if we're on hired riding school horses, unless there are novice comps as you say...but ARE there dressage-only competitions, even if you don't do them? Some fo the riders are pretty good on the flat but have hardly jumped.

 

[giggles mum]

Yes, to be honest there would be a minsicule chance of us getting placed - we are all londoners who have mainly riding school experience, and would be on riding school or borrowed horses. Thanks for your help, any idea how I'd find out more about the competitions?

 

[Thistle]

The NSEA run comps but it is more people on their own horses.

 

[skewbaldpony]

ISODE is the Independent Schools One Day Event it takes place at Stonar usually and ... er.. they usually win it LOL.
You can google ISODE you will get details.

 

[giggles mum]

I have, that was the only competition I knew existed - and it's WAY out of our league with the smallest fences 1m or 1m05!

 

[rara007]

The novice classes tend to be up to 2'9 i think. I think there are dressga ecompetitions, but we dont bother, 2 of our riders have BSJA horses, and one an eventer,and my Pnies the level most seem to be at we would be last simply because we dont have dressage horses. There may be some more local level stuff around you? The ones we do are inter schools(we are the only state school that turns up, the hicksted inter schools leugue thingy, and RC team shows.... Occasionaly we will go to a local club is they have a team class at the end, these are much lower standard usualy

 

[Thistle]

google NSEA Nat schools equestrian association

 

[skewbaldpony]

Start a comp in London!! Now there's a challenge.

 

[Ellaxx]

hummm i'm sure there's usually one at Ardingly in the new year, at different heights too! i'll keep u updated with that!

 

[giggles mum]

Thanks Ella

and the-skewbald, that certainly would be a challenge.

how to make it accessible, but not patronising to people who don't own horses...unlike the centre league (competition the Pony Club suggest you run in riding schools), which involves scoring points for riding a 20m circle or over a ground pole!