Local shows, do they exist?

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1happyhacker

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I am new on here but just want to ask a question re local shows. I have a show about 2 miles from my yard in June that I can go to, I have a regular horse, nothing special, (16hh cob) I don't like jumping and am mostly a happy hacker. I would like to do some showing classes but I got a copy of the schedule and a lot of the classes are Chiltern and Thames qualifiers. I could do riding horse, coloured horse, sadly not cob as mine is too big!! They put the height restriction in as its a qualifier, best condition or turnout but the last is a qualifier too.

There will be people there who are competing to go to the big show later in the summer and although these are supposed to be for amateurs I went last year to watch, with a friend, and we were gobsmacked at the quality of the horses competing. There were some very 'posh' horse boxes and stunning horses.

I keep my horse on a shoestring budget and can't hope to compete with this level of rider. BUT I would like to go to a local show and not feel totally out classed. Do local shows exist any more where people can take 'regular' horses and just have a nice time and some fun and not feel that the moment they enter the ring they will immediately be last as the ring is full of people trying for a place in some championship?

Sadly we don't all have transport, have to hack to shows, so for a start best turned out will be a no no, especially if it rains and I have to go through mud to get there, and I don't have funds to buy great looking top quality show horses.

Or should I just give it a miss and stick to my happy hacking??
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Here in England there is a show down the road in august

15 mins hacking?

And in Ireland we have frequent local shows 20/30 mins hacking away...

We take our boring old cobs and ponios and some look really quite "common" and we have no flashy lorries and fleets of grooms
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yet we still do well
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Local shows do exist...you just need to find them
 
Unfortunately this is the only one that I can hack to. They have a show at this place twice a year and that's that! May hack along to just watch at least my horse will get used to the atmosphere! Then if I ever win the lottery I can get my big flash horsebox and big flash show horse! and go to all the other 'local' shows! ha ha ha pigs may indeed fly!
 
standards and so called local shows have increased in recent years to the point where there are certain shows where you know the county show set will take their young horses/ponies or new riders for a run. few years back we were in a hunter pony class against a pony qualified for HOYS - the judge could not decide between my pony and the HOYS pony so sent them both back out to gallop again and mine won as the HOYS pony would not show a good gallop on the slightly soft ground (clearly not much of a hunter!) - As an adult on a pony we have the same problem with the C&TR qualifier shows but you can still compete in the classes, just not qualify for the champs. Go along and enjoy yourself, do the best you can and know that at the end of the day at least you enjoy your hourse and can safely hack it out - unlike a lot of show horses!
 
The pony club and riding clubs in my area run local shows otherwise they consist of the usual County shows. Look in your local press or look up some of the pony clubs/riding clubs in your area and check out the events or calendar pages on their websites.

Each area is different. There are no shows that I could hack to, it just depends where you live in relation to the showgounds.
 
So can I take my 16hh cob in the cob class that states max 155cm which I assume is 15.1 in old money? and just say I am not competing to qualify for anything? how strict are these rules? Can they divide classes then into people who want to qualify and those that are doing it for fun?
By the way this show is run by the local riding club.
 
I am lucky enough to have a little lorry now - it is 21 yesrs old and the smallest lorry ever - just 2 small horses forward facing with tack space in the Luton. We do a lot of dressage and as a friend said to me a while back, once you are in the warm up it doesn't matter how you travelled to the show, riding will out! With my cheap little pony and horsebox we actually do quite well!
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Our local show declares that for all their M&M classes the ponies must be registered and purebred... There are no classes for the average kid with an average pony (unless they want to do fancy dress or egg and spoon).

Try the local riding clubs, which are often better value for money (ie half decent rosettes and you're not paying £10 a class for posh jump hire when you're not even jumping), and have more classes aimed at us mere mortals. You'll still get affiliated people showing in non affiliated classes but that's just life.
 
If there is a height level then you should adhere to that height. They will not judge you (or shouldn't judge you) if you are outside of that. Judges normally have a lot to judge and will be there all day judging one class after another. It is highly unlikely that classes will be split for those qualifying or not. You will all be judged against each other, as long as your horse fits the criteria.
It is soul destroying to enter your horse into the wrong class as you will always end up at the bottom.

If you are entering a cob class then it must fit the type (including height restriction if there is one). Check out maxi cob classes if that is what you horse is. Many more shows are holding these now to meet the demand.
 
I am not sure about height restrictions, for example at one of our local shows the WHP is 15H and under with no age restriction on the class but to qualify, you have to be under certain ages to rides certain heights of ponies. I havenever known them to split classes but them to be honest I don't do a lot of showing anymore - Just a the odd one for the ponies CV!
 
i did a local show yesterday. there were various types of transport. some scruffy trailers, some big new lorries. we just went in a normal trailer.the show was very friendly and the organisers were very nice and encouroging.
 
Horse certainly fits the type in his build, irish breeding, colour etc he is just 3" too big for the class! Unfortunately they don't do a maxi cob class as there isn't one for the chiltern and Thames show so the local show doesn't hold one. Oh well maybe showing isn't for me! or my horse!
 
I went to a local show last Sunday, it was run by a riding club. It was my horses first show and my first in 10 years! I had no idea what to expect. There was a mix of competitors - old, young, scruffy and very posh etc. Its just a great experience for your horse if anything and you may be surprised and come home with a rosette - if not, its just a great day for you and your horse.

we won the ridden hunter and then the championship which i never imagined.

Good luck
 
I hack to shows, lots of people do as its a friendly local run riding club. Its only 3 miles. I say go for it and have fun! Next month I will be walking down leading a leadrein pony whilst my husband and child follow in the car
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