riding club horse class

soxsmummy

soxsmummy

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 March 2009
Messages
368
Visit site
been looking at a local show schedule , there is a riding club horse class , what is involved in this?

thanks
 
usually ride around the edge as a ride together showing horse has manners in company, then an individual show and usually you will have to jump at least one fence, judged on manners, conformation and overall ability to do the job of an all round riding club horse. (i.e bit of everything)
 
show walk, trot, canter and if you can a good gallop will always impress. don't go on and on though keep it short and sweet or the judge will get bored and incorporate the jump so your show still flows and doesn't look messy.
 
so u can make up your own show ?
like a circle of walk on each rein a few circles and figure 8 trot and acanter on each rein ?
 
Yes you can make up your own show but what you have said would be far too long.

This is the show I do simple but shows off each pace for riding club you would just incorporate the jump into one of the canters.

indshow2-1.jpg
 
Plus make sure when it's your turn to go, come out of the line-up and stand up nicely in front of the judge, then wait for her to say you can go - ladt show I went to (working hunter) a woman just went straight into her show, the judge was not impressed!

And when you finish, halt nicely in front of the judge and salute (nod or lower hand as per a dressage test)
 
When I've done this class I've walked a few paces then trotted and cantered in a circle and then taken in the jump, changed the rein and done the same on the other rein. I've been in a few of these classes and most people jump the jump from their canter, they don't do it seperately and always on both reins.
Good luck and have fun!
 
My individual show is about the same as the very good diagram above - as set out by a professional producer who gives me lessons.

On RC horse classes you do need to do one or two jumps and I put these in at the end of the show in that after my gallop, I stay in canter, jump the fence(s) and then go back to trot, walk and halt.

Judge is looking for good manners, ability to do all RC activities. Conformation is not so important but obviously if you have two equal horses, then it will come more into play to separate them. Most judges will overlook scars and minor faults such as a splint.

Horse can be any type - my gypsy cob has done well in these classes where the judge realises that it do not have to be a TB/hunter type to be a good RC horse.
 
Hello There
It's nice to hear that you enter your cob in riding club horse classes Theresa_F. I have renewed hope after a puzzling experience I had the other day.
I was wondering if you could please help me with a query that I have. I entered a low level showing competition and entered the 'riding club horse/pony class' on my 15.2hh medium/heavy weight coloured cob and was placed fourth. The first three places were awarded to hunter type 16hh plus horses with 4th-6th place awarded to myself, a girl on a 12hh new forest and a lady on a small 15 hh X thoroughbred. When the judge approached me with feed back she stated that my horse wasn't suitable to be in a riding club horse class. My horse has qualified for national finals in R&C dressage every time she has been entered into the qualifiers (unable to go to the finals due to finances) and has competed in R&C 2ft 6-2ft 9 show jumping, she also jumps 2ft 9 x-country with ease and has accumulated lots of BD points from prelim to elementary. I also believe she was qualified for the RIHS with her previous owner who also entered her in all types of different disciplines and was usually placed. (I'm not bragging I just wanted to give anyone who may read this a good over view of what my horse has achieved to date) Based on what the judge said does this mean I shouldn't enter my horse for another riding club horse class even though I feel she is a good all rounder? I believe that yes she isn't a suitable type for riding horse classes due to her breed and build but thought that she would be fine in a riding club horse class. Could it have been the judge's personal preference to hunter types because they were all higher placed with the riders on 'other' horses/ponies being placed lower down in the class? I felt that the girl on the pony deserved to be placed higher because her display was excellent and I know that the pony she was riding has been used for riding club events with the previous rider. Could it be that I didn't show off my horses's ability for the short time we had leaving the judge to feel she isn't suitable for this type of class? The judge did judge the other classes I rode in so had seen my horse before this class and I was well placed. The reason I am concerned is that I have recently recovered from long term illness resulting in major surgery and now that I am getting back on my feet I would very much like to join my local riding club and take part in their activities and competitions. I'm not out to win every time I compete I just do my best and enjoy it and would like to get involved with other like minded people. If my horse isn't suitable for riding club activities what sort of horse is because I was lead to believe that a riding club horse was meant to be a good all rounder which I feel my horse is. Can I join my local club with the horse I have and also compete again in riding club horse classes? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
 
Sounds like the judge was getting confused with riding horse class.

A riding club horse is judged on manners and ability to be a good all round type. Looks and conformation do not play any major part in the decision (or they should not). The judge is looking for a horse that will do all riding club activities, dressage, XC, jumping and I also when judging like something that is sensible and I would like to hack out. I also look for a smart workmanlike turnout from the rider and the horse in terms of presentation.

Occasionally the class states that you must use a snaffle, so you do need to read the rules.

I have won on many occasions this class on my gypsy cob, he jumps well, has a great action and does well at all RC activities, and also have done well with our clydesdale this year - she is still green, hence best she has done is 3rd.

Unfortuantely many local judges seem to think that if you don't have a TB/hunter type it is not a riding club horse and totally miss the point of the class.

It is a great class for people who have an animal that is not show perfect in terms of conformation and maybe has some scars and blemishes - all of which in this class should be overlooked.
 
Thank you so much for replying. I was very careful about meeting the criteria of the class as regards correct bridle and turnout etc. I felt that even if I had ridden brilliantly that I wouldn't have got a higher place anyway. I tend to agree that it must have been a personal preference thing that the judge had because all the hunter type horses were placed higher up than those of us on cobs and smaller horses. I've never indulged in showing before and really wanted to have a go because I feel that I have been blessed with a lovely talented mare with lovely paces (so I've been told by dressage judges) and a fantastic temperament. I think I was just unlucky that the judge preferred hunter types in this case. The fact you have had success in this type of class with a similar horse to mine and the fact that you judge means on this occasion I shall disregard the comment about not entering this class again. I shall participate again and hope that there is a different judge at my next show! Do you get the feeling sometimes that you have to prove yourself more riding a cob in anything other class other than a family horse/pony class? Kind of makes me more determined and I think I will go and join my local riding club. Thank you for the boost to my moral!
 
Unfortunately this is just the way it is with showing. You could come first in the classes then the next week you could come last.. it's really down to what the judge likes whereas in showjumping, etc you either knock the pole or you don't! I'm sure your horse is gorgeous and don't let it dishearten you, riding club horse is open to ANY type, they are judged soley on their suitability to compete in RC activities. As you've told us, your horse is clearly capable of all these things and more. Have you considered traditional classes? Sounds like they'd be fab because you mentioned that they have lovely paces. Good luck xxx
 
I'm going to thank everyone that replies now because you have all been very supportive and have made me realise that showing is quite a lottery. I'll give it another shot because regardless of the comment it was fun. I also feel able to approach my local riding club without having to turn up with a hunter/TB type. One judge one preference.

I may try a traditional class next time. There wasn't one at this show unfortunately but hopefully there will be one at another show run locally. Typically i was recovering from surgery and missed most of my local showing shows this year. There is always next year. Oh and by the way I will be entering the riding club horse/pony class again!

I meant 'morale' at the end of my last comment not 'moral'.
 
I've done two Riding Club Horse classes this summer for the first time and in both of them, the judge told us what they wanted to see us do so that the individual shows didn't go on too long, neither time was a gallop required. Both times, there was only one jump, the first time I did it, it was about 1', the 2nd show was 2' which made me kak myself as I was doing it side saddle and never jumped that high aside before!!!

There were all kinds of horses and ponies in the classes too so not only TB's. Hattie is a TB and we've come 2nd and 4th in both classes so TB's don't always win! We've been the only side saddler rider though but I rode Hattie in a full cheek lozenge snaffle so full cheek snaffles are ok.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top