Search for a star

With regard to SFAS, the judges are looking for those stars of the future, therefore not having the right tack at the qualifying round may not necessarily mean (particularly with the working hunter class) that you won't qualify. Providing your horse is good enough, they could well put you through with the suggestion that you buy/borrow a different saddle for the final. Worth thinking about ...

There is no point going under the SFAS judges though if your horse has any conformational defects such as curbs etc - splints you will get away with if they are small and you are doing the workers.
 
I qualified for the final of Trailblazers showing this year (There are no more qualifying classes for this year now will be 2009 starting early next year) with my 3 year old ID XTB. He won all his other in hand classes out this year at other shows but I took him for experience as I bought him to jump and hopefully that will be his job. I have the schedule in front of me. I am pleased for the horse and pleased people see the potential I see, but when I got the schedule for the finals at Stonleigh I decided it is not worth the trip as it is so expensive.

Ive got the form in front of me -you are judged by top judges (doesnt say who) on two days 26/27 July 2008.

Costs are (for both days)

£46.00 entry fee
first aid £10.00
Park Maintennace Charge £19.00
Stable (no bed) £82.00
Parking Fee £12.00
Shavings £31.50

Thats £200.50

Then theres Diesel for 4 hour drive there and back etc £80.00 plus with todays rates.

Extra Feed Haylage etc and show kit plus food for the few days.

It would cost me £300.00 plus to take a 3 year old for one class each day. Its £100.00 to stbale at hickstead this week and therfore its cheaper to take something else to Hickstead this week and ride and jump all week not to mention getting to watch the international classes and derby.

Personally I think it is a shame its so expensive as I wonder how many others are put off from going to the finals and what impact this will have on the classes. Shame.
 
Thats what I thought at the time as well!

It says "top quality judges who have judged at either HOYS or RIHS"
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Also I am a real showing amateur who has had a bit of advice from a few "showaholics" as to the fundamental do's and dont's when Ive won this year on several occasions Ive been told my gelding has been very well produced.
 
Im afraid that isnt the case about tack, I went to Towerlands and somebody was told they were placed because they were in a dress saddle and not a show saddle. Everybody in brown show tack were placed even if horses were extremely badly behaved
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Im afraid that isnt the case about tack, I went to Towerlands and somebody was told they were placed because they were in a dress saddle and not a show saddle. Everybody in brown show tack were placed even if horses were extremely badly behaved
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Sorry - I really find that hard to believe! However, I am sure I will be bumping into the conformation judge over the next few days at Hickstead, so will be sure to ask him the question - there is also a forum on the SFAS site - may be worth asking over there.

The people doing SFAS DO take it very seriously, so the majority of them will have the correct tack and their horses will be very well prepared. But as I said, particularly with the working hunter class, the tack will be secondary to other issues. With the riding horse class, then the tack is far more important as it is not a performance/jumping class and is based totally on conformation and how the horse feels for the judge.
 
Have just spend approx 40 mins trying to register on this forum just in order to reply to the comments on SFAS. I am absolutely certain (as I can be) that all of us who have competed in the SFAS qualifiers are genuine amateurs......I work hard to afford to keep and run my cob and rely on help from friends with more showing experience to guide me along the way. I have done SFAS for three years, two years with previous cob and was 4th and 3rd in qualifiers and one year with present young 5 y.o. cob. It has been my lifelong dream/ambition to ride under the lights at HOYS and amazingly this time, god willing and given a following wind and a bit of luck we shall be making the journey up the long motorway to NEC. I was fortunate enough to qualify this time and the thrill is still with me (three weeks ago!!). If anyone out there thinks they know that someone has "cheated" or "mis-represented themselves" then PLEASE do the right thing and expose them. It is a competition for true amateurs and MUST remain so. We have so little chance of ever getting even close to the professionals in the showing world and this competition is a champion to our cause. You have only to attend the qualifiers to see that although we all strive to look correct and have worked b....y hard to school our various equines to perform in a mannerly fashion, it is evident that WE ARE amateurs having the best crack we can at getting it right.

I await the returning flack with trepidation......! Sorry to get on my soap box but I am sooo disappointed that people slam the competition and those of us who take part by suggesting that ......"its a shambles" and " definitely professionally produced....." NOT IN MY EXPERIENCE. The very best of luck to all of you sallying forth to Badgeworth this weekend. I am going up to watch this time as my boy is on a wee holiday before the big push for HOYS!! I can only say, keep trying, listen to the advice and believe you can..................I did and I have!! <font color="green"> </font>
 
Well said definitelyanamateur! I too am an amatuer rider who has been lucky enough to qualify my cob for SFAS this year. I work full time and own one horse which I produce from home on my own. Yes, I do seek help from more knowledgeable people and I compete in affiliated showing. This does not make me a professional - competing in affiliated showing has taught me so much - I have had the pleasure of riding at lovely shows, under good judges alongside professional riders from whom I have learned about ringcraft and turnout. Being affiliated is not an exclusive club - anyone can do it if they pay their membership fees!

SFAS is a fantastic competion for Amatuer riders and long may it continue - qualifying for HOYS is something I never thought I'd achieve - thanks to SFAS I have achieved a dream.

Rather than complain that it's a competion for people on "produced" horses why not try and up your game and take part.
 
Hi there! good to hear from a positive at last!! Many congrats on qualifiying, was it your first time or have you had several attempts. Which coblet are you? are you going to Badgeworth? where did you qualify? sorry for barrage of questions but its nice to find a "friend" in the series. What part of the world are you in? and finally are you managing to go up to the workshop? I fear it is probably too far for me with the appalling cost of fuel now............would love to hear more.
 
Hi, sorry have just realised that my previous message was probably rather too personal for a general forum. Have only just registered so not paid attention to detail yet sorry!! Please feel free to e mail me privately if you do not wish to publicise yourself............! cheers. Still hoping to get some more feedback from others, in particular the negatives??
 
No feedback from me apart from agreement. I am another amateur who tried to qualify for SFAS twice &amp; succeeded 2nd time, had no hint of overt professionalism. In fact I recognised most other competitors from competing against them locally for many years.
Love the competition, had a magic time at HOYS.
 
I too am a truely amateur rider - my horse is kept on his own with Daisy the cow - we have no arena or jumps - just flat fields with thistles in. that is where we school !!!
I have tried to qualify for 2 years now and have had good positive feedback - i will continue to try - I find that I learn so much each year from the judges and from fellow competitors and how to improve for next year. for us that do enter and compete at SFAS we work and plan for it for months in advance. Please congratulate us not doubt us. I know people have been disqualified if they are found to have a produced horse etc in SFAS.
 
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Personally i would aim for the trailblazers ones.

Search for a star is a bit of a con and you do end up with affiliated horses going due to the nature of the competition and where the final is.

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I did Search for A Star last year and there was no way it was a con or fixed or open to professionals. People on here have also suggested that horses are produced, competitors know the jusdges, and horses have changed hands in order for them to compete in this competition. This is all complete rubbish - the rules for this competition are tighter than any other competition I have participated in, and the organisers are very quick to step in if they are made aware of anything untoward.

As the winner of the SFAS cob final at HOYS last year, I resent anybody implying that the competition is anything but fair. Everybody I met at the Search for a Star final last year had worked extremely hard to get to HOYS with truly home produced horses, and were very proud of their achievement.

Yes, we probably all had training sessions with good instructors in preparation, but there is nothing in the rules to say that you can't.

Yes, some of us compete at affiliated level - there is nothing in the rules that says you can't. I affiliated my horse so that I could attend well run shows with good competition and good ride judges, to give her the experience necessary to perform well in the qualifiers and at the final.

Yes, the judges at the qualifiers talked to me as if they knew me, and in a way they did - this is because I went to 5 qualifiers before finally qualifying at the sixth attempt. Of course they recognised me and my horse by the time we qualified - they had been giving me advice at each qualifier(which I followed to the letter) for the two years it took to finally achieve my dream.

My horse wasn't bought specifically for the series from a producer, just to get her to HOYS. She was a starvation case from a rescue centre when she first came to me as a 4 year old, and had only been 'backed' (this is a loose term - someone managed to sit on her for 4 seconds before she managed to unseat them). I brought her on and schooled her myself with very few facilities and a good instructor. She has never even met a producer (apart from judges), never mind been on a producer's yard.

This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through Search for a Star. The series has given me the chance to fulfill a lifelong ambition to compete at HOYS. To win there was the icing on the cake.

I would encourage anyone to give it a go. The problem is, sometimes people give up too easily after one qualifier. It takes hard work and perseverance, and you need to follow all advice given to the letter. I know that this year there are at least two cobs through to the final who were acquired from rescue centres. The dream is possible for us true amateurs.
 
I don't think I have ever read as much BUll from people who have no idea about SFAS just like to think they do.

Tack Iin one qualifier a horse qualified in an eveny saddle they were advised to borrow one if needed prior to HOYs no "Go and buy " even mentioned. Similarly with turnout, one girl was told she needed a total change of outfit prior to HOYs but still qualified.

Where else would you find a steward and spare judge leave the ring to help a distraught Mother who had a blowout enroute and arrive with 2 ponies and kids to prep as the classs was about to start. The said pair tacked up slapped on hoof oil and threw children onboard. they then ensured girths were tight before the children entered the ring.

That is the spirit of SFAS. And NO we haven't qualified but yes we will be trying again. The team who run it do a good job when you enter you have to accept that the judges are a;lways (almost) the same and if they don't like your horse then you are wasting your time but how many judges do you choose not to show under because they don't like your horse. If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. Sounds like someone has some sour grapes and an axe to grind.
 
I'm doing SFAS this year at Badgworth and like other entrants have decided to have a good go at seeing if we can qualify. If we do I'll be delighted, if not its not the end of the world.

At least I'm prepared to put my money where my mouth is instead of bitching and crowing that it is fixed. I did it last year and came 8th in my class, I'll be surprised if I come much higher but I'm prepared to get off my backside and try. I enjoyed it and can vouch it takes a lot of effort, hard earned cash and time. Sorry for those who have not had a good experience but stop knocking it for the rest of us.
 
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We went to osbaldeston - very expensive, and lots of produced horses.

I don't think we would go again, its a shame really as the idea behind it is a great one.

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Firstly, I would like to say that I am going to take it as a compliment that you may have thought my horse was produced. If it looks as good as a producers horse, I feel I have achieved a lot, as he came to me as a youngster from a rescue centre!!

Secondly, I would like to inform you that I came 3rd at the Osbaldeston qualifier, and I can tell you for a fact that none of the top 3 were in any way produced. I have got to know the girls who took first and second, and they are lovely people who love they're horses.

Thirdly, SFAS is the CHEAPEST possible way to get HOYS. Unlike any open qualifier, you need neither to be registered, nor have a height certificate. There is one entry fee to be paid of around £38, and that is it! Saying it is expensive is ridiculous in comparison.

I would encourage any amateur to go to the qualifiers, they are wonderful because the judges have so much time for each individual competitor. Both judges spoke to me in length after the class to tell me all the things I needed to improve on before I had a chance to qualify. I followed every single bit of advice and took the top spot at Addington.

I found the qualifiers were the best way to really find out how your horse is going, and how to improve it.
 
Echo to all the POSITIVE SFAS comments!!!!!!!!!!!
I cant decide if Im offended or proud that people suspect the hard work,devotion,pride ( the list of words is endless)-that me and my daughter,as well as many other amateurs, have put in before entering this competition is down to a professional.
We do not show or keep horses for a living,we get up everyday and work hard at our day jobs to fund this passion we have.
We have been fortunate enough to qualify too this year in the cob section and have forsaken our holiday in the sun to work the overtime to pay for this wonderful achievement of both our dreams and show off our beautiful horse- rescued from the abbatoir not bought from a producer.
We shall drive to Birmingham in our old faithful wagon with our most prized possession on board and our heads high because we have worked SO hard for this.
Anyone who is thinking of entering next years series go for it- its been fantastic and I can honestly say I have never met a more friendly bunch.
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They've obviously nothing better to do as this thread started in June and after almost 2 months it's come back to life!!!

Reincarnated by the "strangers" from SFAS

Maybe we should all go hijack their forum???

Oh no sorry, I have a life!!!!
 
Personally I think it is nice that people are so passionate about their cause.

SFAS Forum people - if you look at the post as a whole there were only a few people who have taken umbrage with the series, there were a lot of positive posts too, like there always are on ANY subject. I don't see any arguments or unfriendliness anywhere.
 
Get a grip - spme of us are proud of what we've achieved and don't spend our time putting other people down. We are also very grateful for what SFAS have done for us, and want other people to know.
 
TK and CR - I think your comments are really unnecessary. Who are you to decide which threads should be responded to and in what timescale?

Of course these people have responded - some of the posts have basically accused them of cheating - wouldn't YOU want to respond if someone had insinuated that you had cheated to qualify for a competition?

I think that it is great that this thread has been brought back. I am sooo fed up with people immediately assuming someone is a pro if they are dressed smartly and have their horse well turned out. The people doing SFAS work so hard to make themselves look as professional as possible - it is after all a showing class and judged on looks as well as performance.

However (and this is a BIG however), if a horse is good enough, then it will qualify, irrespective of whether the turnout is correct or not. The judges will simply explain what has to be done before HOYS. But initial impressions count, and professional turnout and behaviour in the ring will always be rewarded.

Loads of threads resurface after months - why pick on these people? How would anyone on here know any better if they were not corrected?

Finally, it was through SFAS several years ago that I started using HHO, so who knows if these new people will continue to become long standing members.
 
Would i be right in thinking that those who honestly believe SFAS isn't hijacked by proffs also believe that show animals are in "condition" and not morbidly obese?

It's ALL about who you know, at all levels. I've done novice classes against big names who's horses were FAR too tall for the class... who cares! So I don't imagine the rules surrounding SFAS bother them if height rules don't either!

Showing is being ruined by pot hunters. Don't niavely pretend that SFAS isn't tainted, because every area of showing has been.
 
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It's ALL about who you know, at all levels.

[/ QUOTE ] Can't speak for the higher echelons of showing as I have never experienced them, but at local level that is not necessarily the case. Our pony has won and placed consistently at local level this year, and we don't know any of the judges on the showing scene. Yes, there are a few cases of dodgy judging, but most judges we have encountered seem to make a genuine effort to place the class fairly.
 
Yet when we were showing 'locally' we had riding club judges favouring the richer club members, and a judge who consistantly remembered ours from show to show and kept placing him first because she liked him. Fair enough, he was a quality horse, but when some of these classes were "handsomest gelding" and entered for the rider's experience, it's not exactly fair!!
 
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Yet when we were showing 'locally' we had riding club judges favouring the richer club members

[/ QUOTE ] Well that could possibly be because they could afford better quality horses and regular good quality tuition, with the result their horses looked better and performed better!

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and a judge who consistantly remembered ours from show to show and kept placing him first because she liked him. Fair enough, he was a quality horse, but when some of these classes were "handsomest gelding" and entered for the rider's experience, it's not exactly fair!!

[/ QUOTE ] Well if, in the judge's opinion, he was the handsomest gelding then surely she should place him first.
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It would be more dishonest, IMO, if she placed him down the line just to give someone else a turn at the top of the line-up.

Don't get me wrong, I know not every class is judged fairly, but just because one or two judges are 'dodgy' doesn't mean that all showing is bent!
 
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Would i be right in thinking that those who honestly believe SFAS isn't hijacked by proffs also believe that show animals are in "condition" and not morbidly obese?

It's ALL about who you know, at all levels. I've done novice classes against big names who's horses were FAR too tall for the class... who cares! So I don't imagine the rules surrounding SFAS bother them if height rules don't either!

Showing is being ruined by pot hunters. Don't niavely pretend that SFAS isn't tainted, because every area of showing has been.

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What utter rubbish. The judges who do SFAS will not know 99% of the competitors who come in front of them. I know this to be a fact as I have been chatting with a friend when one of the SFAS judges came past and complimented her on her horse and suggested she did SFAS. She told him that she had actually been under him twice in SFAS qualifiers. I know several people who have qualified in the past 4 years and again, I KNOW they do not know the judges.

Of course there may be one or two as some of the SFAS people compete at affiliated level and may well have chatted with the judges in the line up, but they are hardly going to be at the stage of being invited around for tea.

From what you are saying all show horses are too fat or too tall. Nothing at ALL to do with the current topic.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but putting something forward as fact when it is merely an opinion is a very dangerous thing to do and this is what has been done by severa people on this thread.
 
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