showing help!! BSPA or CHAPS??

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hannnahmot

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Here is Roger, a 17hh dutch warmblood gelding. Last summer we started showing, and did quite well! We won a load at local level, but our best achievement was coming 7th of about 16 at edinbridge and oxted in ridden coloured. We could have done better but we got lost on the way to the show and so the poor guy got no warm up and we entered the ring while the rest of the class were cantering, so I don't think the judge could place us too high, and he was rather fresh! But anyway, not the point. Just wondering if one affiliation is more suitable to his breed/type than the other? And what the differences are between them (if any). Thanks guys! (oh and please excuse the muddy photo, cranleigh was the muddiest show I have ever been to in my life!!)


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You were in good company there as I *think* I spot a well known pro in your first picture!

From what I understand, the difference is fundamentally that BSPA run the RIHS classes and CHAPS the HOYS ones, depends what you want to qualify for - the classes are otherwise quite similar and run on the same lines etc.

I notice round our way that there are a lot more CHAPS classes at the agri/regional society show level than BSPA, that might be a good consideration as it would be a shame to register to one society and find you have to travel further afield for their qualifiers (with the cost of diesel etc!)
 
3bh said:
You were in good company there as I *think* I spot a well known pro in your first picture!
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Yep, thats Lynne Russell!! Thats a good idea, I will have a look at their dates. Just to make it more difficult though I live in Yorkshire and Surrey because of uni! So it could get complicated!
 
I have a coloured for the 1st time this year and was thinking the same thing. However we live in Wales and jack **** happens here!!!

I would defo have a go at affliated. There are a lot of ponies that are full of potential sitting at local level because the owners havent got the faith to give affliated a go.

Just as a little pointer though, I would go for a smaller numnah and sit the saddle a little futher back and go for a white girth. Also if you put your hair in a tighter bun it would give a much sleeker apperance.

Best of luck and who knows, might see you at a set of championships!!
 
It depends what you want to do and how much you want to do. The first problem with showing a coloured at affiliated level is that RIHS qualifiers are run by BSPA and HOYS are run by CHAPS. So, if you want to do both sets of qualifiers, you have to affiliate both.

My thoughts for you would be as follows:

RIHS is very easy to qualify for in coloureds, top 2 (passing down to 3rd) go through at each qualifier and there are a lot of them. Basically, anything half decent qualifies. I find coloured day at RIHS a bit of a let down. They tacked an extra day on at the beginning of the show to hold the classes and there often isn't much else going on, so to me it is a bit of an anticlimax. Then add in all the extra costs of qualifiers etc and it becomes less attractive.

HOYS is at the other end of the scale and is usually extremely competitive to qualify for. Every qualifier has 20+ horses in each class and they are long and boring (even if you're at the right end of the line up). Your horse certainly looks a smart sort, however I do not honestly think you would be at the competitive end of a HOYS lineup (I am always happy to be proved wrong in these things, but I call it as I see it based on what I see - no offense intended) and therefore I would save your time/money and do other affiliated classes that are not qualifiers.

Now, both societies run championship shows, although BSPA is now part of Equifest and doesn't have much of a "special feel" about it. CHAPS Champs, which is held towards the end of August at Arena UK, has loads of different classes to do (amateurs, workers, in hand, you name it they have it) and they make an effort to make sure that all the classes have a route through to the evening performances. The social scene at CHAPS champs is also good.

On balance, therefore, if I were you, I would affiliate CHAPS, qualify for whatever finals you can at the champs (there are non qualifier classes there as well) and have a great time learning the ropes at that level. If you want to pay the extra levies and do a HOYS qualifier or two to see how you fare, then do so! If you want to ride at Hickstead (and have a shot at a ride in the main ring), enter the coloured classes at Hickstead Derby meeting. The top 6 in each class do an exhibition in the main ring, which is great fun and you get to have a good old gallop up the grandstand side ;).

Finally, I would suggest getting yourself and the beast to a showing clinic or two - you've got a smart sort there but turnout etc could do with some improvement if you are going affiliated. If you want to PM me, I'd be happy to help you source good clinics etc :).
 
Whilst I know very little about coloured horse showing, would say that whilst brilliant to qualify for RIHS, you then can find yourself not eligible for lots of decent amateur or slightly lower level championships.
 
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