Showing classes/types - advice pls

[1909]

Hi all,

I’m new to the forum – and am looking for some advice on showing classes and the types of horse suitable.

I have been riding most of my life, and as a junior I used to showjump, now as a senior I have opted for the slightly quieter pace of life of showing which I thoroughly enjoy.

My current horse is a 144cms coloured cob type (non native, non traditional) but he has not quite made the height I had hoped for affiliated cob showing classes. And as a senior, I am told I cannot ride a non native pony at affiliated level. Hence we are limited to local showing classes and open coloured classes.

Therefore, I am looking for a new horse.

I am keen to enter WH/RH classes, but am told that as a senior (over 25) my horse would need to be at least a LW hunter of 16-16.2hh, capable of carrying 12st. Having read up on these type of classes, this does appear to be true - but at barely 5ft I do not want to overhorse myself! And fear that a 16.2hh hunter would be too big for me!

The obvious choice and next step from what I have currently seems to be another show cob, of 155cms or over, but again, this is a big mount for someone of my size.

My other option which a friend suggested appears to be Riding Horse classes, and I have found an allrounder, well marked TBxCob, would this type be suitable for affiliated Riding Horse classes? Would I better looking for an ISH or Idx type for these classes? Would he need to be registered, and if so, as what?

I am keen to find a horse that suits all my requirements, something I can show, but also have fun with, at local level jumping, dressage, and sponsored rides etc. Yet, I want to be sure I find the right type of horse I can show this time around.

Could anyone offer any advice as to the types of showing classes, and the type of horse I should be looking for to suit both my size and affiliated showing rules and regs?

Any advice would be very much appreciated as I am very confused!

 

[sprite1978]

I think the first thing you need to consider is whether you want to jump or not as part of your showing. If you do, it points you to WH. At 25, you will be out of intermediate, and the senior classes are very competative with full time proffessional producers.
There are many producers websites on the net. Look at all of the types for sale and either go to them for a readymade horse, or use it as research to find your own.
I think a good lightweight coloured cob would give the widest range of options.

 

[Bug2007]

Riding Horses are generallly TB or TBx but alot of TB in them, the Riding Horse is a bigger TB with more bone and able to carry more weight where as the Hacks are finer and smaller, a lot more flashy.

Riding Horses and Hacks can be any breed but most are TB or a mix of TB, hope this helps.

If you go on the show site photos and look at the class photos to get an idea of what is in the classes and what wins.

Jayphotos is a good one, look under the Dorset County Show and then the different classes.

 

[IdoShowing]

If you get a mountain & moreland, the rider can be any age & you can ride any registered breed, so that gives you a huge height range. You could get a 14.2 connemara, a 12hh section A, a Fell, Dale, section B, section C etc etc!!

 

[royal]

I show in CHAPS classes and as far as I'm aware, you can enter the ridden pony classes..... as I do (and I'm over 40 on a 153cm non native)....you just can't wear spurs in the class...

 

[littleme]

I didn't think there were any age restrictions on riding ponies in coloured classes?!

Anyway, as a 5ft midget myself I would go for a cob! I don't struggle to ride a full up 155cm broad cob, and don't look too ridiculous although at worst make the neddy look a little large but hey no bad thing!!! You could also go for a RH/hack, or small hunter perhaps?

 

[MissSBird]

The decision needs to be made if you want to jump or not in the showring. If your heart is set on jumping then you will need a full up hunter type as your friend has described. This doesn't necessarily mean you'll be overhorsed. Just a few weeks ago there was an article in horse and hound with a producer your height who specialises in big hunters, including heavyweights.

If you could cope without jumping in the showring, you could get one of the 'smalls': small hunter, which is a mini middleweight up to 15.2hh, small riding horse which is a heavier tb type up to 15.2hh, and small and large hack, a fine tb type up to 15hh and 15.3hh respectively. Cobs are another option, and working cob classes are beginning to make a few appearances in shows down south. There would be nothing against jumping any of these horses in local unaffiliated competition.

If you are worried about being overhorsed, however, my suggestion would be a registered native, perhaps one of the lighter breeds like a connemara or new forest. They have their own dedicated working hunter classes as well as flat classes, so you could do both. They're also very versatile ponies for riding club competitions.

Probably the best advice is to just go out and start trying all the different types of horse out there. You'll know when it feels right. Good luck!