Showing help Who is novice ridden classes for?

[PipsqueakXy22]

Hi so looking to go to a showing show, but I have absolutely zero clue about showing. I saw there was a novice ridden class and wondered if it might be for me… my horse is 19 years old Irish Sports horse (quite green) which when googling I read is too old to be novice ridden? Even though we’ve never shown before
Also in novice ridden is it the same routine as any other ridden classes? So trot and canter as a group and then individual figure of 8 etc…

thanks

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Novice ridden would be the class for you. You could also do veteran classes. It will depend on how novice the class is and how local a show it is. Judges don't want out of control horses careering round the ring. Usually, yes , you would all walk trot and canter in a group, then do your individual show. Have a great day and report back!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Novice is usually deemed by horse winnings. I would not deem a 19yo horse a Novice.

 

[PipsqueakXy22]

Novice is usually deemed by horse winnings. I would not deem a 19yo horse a Novice.

We haven’t won anything before? We are quite a green combo

 

[Cortez]

Novice ridden does what it says on the tin: it's supposed to be for young, novice horses, which why your horse is too old, even though he may not have done much and is technically a novice.

 

[Snowfilly]

Very much depends on the shows; novice ridden round here at unaffiliated shows is normally defined as a horse who hasn’t won or placed under saddle at county level, regardless of age. I’ve seen other shows define it as a class for 4 and 5 year old ridden horses even if they’ve been out at county level all season so definitely check the schedule.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Very much depends on the shows; novice ridden round here at unaffiliated shows is normally defined as a horse who hasn’t won or placed under saddle at county level, regardless of age. I’ve seen other shows define it as a class for 4 and 5 year old ridden horses even if they’ve been out at county level all season so definitely check the schedule.

Same round here. Novice ridden at our 2 local shows are for horses and riders that are new to showing and havnt won a certain amount of classes, usually 3, regardless of horse or riders age.

 

[cauda equina]

I hate these woolly class titles with no clarification
I was beaten in a novice WH (our first) by a kid on a pony which according to the judge "knows its job inside out"; not my definition of a novice at all

At local/low key shows no one seems to police who enters what so if you fancy that class OP go for it; if the judge doesn't think you fit the class description you'll be placed accordingly but it's all experience

 

[Red-1]

I would ask the organiser for their definition if it isn't clear in their schedule.

 

[hock]

For me a local class goes on if you’ve been placed top 3. Tbh I’d personally have no problem competing against you providing you’d not placed before even though your horse is 19. Go out have fun enjoy yourselves!

 

[follysienna]

Most around here at unaffiliated level are for horse/rider not to have won a ridden showing class. So technically you could be out winning dressage or anything else. I would say you could enter the novice ridden. If you email the secretary I am sure they will clarify it for you though.

 

[Carlosmum]

As a judge at local show level, i would expect a novice class to be young or inexperienced riders/young ponies and horses or anyone else going in to the show ring for the first time. You can usually tell be talking to the competitor what their reasons for being in the class are. Sometimes it is the only class available to the first time shower

 

[humblepie]

It used to slightly get my goat when I brought out a 7 year old ex racehorse affiliated to be asked his age in a novice class given it was his first year competing and chances were the some of the 4 year olds had been in hand showing since young Explain to the judge about you and your horse.

 

[PinkRoses]

near me novice ridden is for anyone who hasn't won a ridden showing class before so it would be open to you. I would defo check the schedule or with the secretary if it's not clear

 

[fetlock]

I'd ring and ask the secretary too but if the horse meets the specification of novice as in the schedule I don't see why you can't enter, purely because of age alone.

Remember several county level riding ponies of old, who started ridden careers very late because they were stood at stud for several years before being gelded. They came out in novice classes first. Likewise a few used as broodmares at first then starting ridden careers later.

 

[2 Dragons]

My daughter has done a couple of novice classes at local shows on our 16 year old. The only requirement was not to have been previously placed. Judges were friendly and no group canter until the lap of honour which you could opt out of.

 

[blitznbobs]

Depends on the show - novice is technically for horses that have minimal winnings - at higher levels (county etc) you will be at the bottom of the line on a 19 year old tbh at a local show they are much less well attended and much more pragmatic so you could give it a go but veteran is much more appropriate

 

[PipsqueakXy22]

Thanks everyone, we havent won anything and definitely wouldnt be at an advantage to anyone, even if we end up last because of age i wouldnt mind, i was more wondering if we would be disqualified for being too old? but sounds not, kind of hoping to go and just get some experience really. Im not sure what this show will be like but is organised by an official showing organisation which i hear they can be quite intense. Was suppose to go to a fun one a couple weeks ago until he pulled a shoe the morning of! I have messaged the secretary anyway so will see what she says.

My daughter has done a couple of novice classes at local shows on our 16 year old. The only requirement was not to have been previously placed. Judges were friendly and no group canter until the lap of honour which you could opt out of.

tbh this sounds ideal!! I hope they do it at our show as its the group canter im most nervous of, i have tried simulating this with fellow liveries but he is fine, but given it will also be his first time off the yard with me (and for about 5 years) i am nervous of a group canter. I was going to enter him in the hunter class but would rather a more novicey class first time at a show, perhaps even the veteran class would be more suitable?

 

[PipsqueakXy22]

Update have decided to go for the veteran class because even though he qualifies for the novice ridden I can’t use a rugby Pelham like I’ve been practicing in for weeks! So veteran it is

 

[WelshD]

In an ideal world a novice class would only have young green horses in it.

however at local level you can enter and when asked by the judge the age of your horse you can always say “he is nineteen but is new to showing” and they should understand.

it gets more complex up the levels you could have a 133 working hunter pony who changes to nursery stakes and can be seen as a novice ditto show jumping pony to WHP which is what I suspect happened in the class mentioned above by someone, it is a bit galling when they clearly know their job but if they are eligible they are eligible.
Also in some shows an equine may remain a novice if under a certain age even if it accumulated several wins in the meantime.

a novice in a novice class should be shown in a snaffle. Sometimes there is no canter on the go round (especially if things are looking lively when everyone is in trot LOL) otherwise the class format is the same as most flat classes

 

[Orangehorse]

Good luck.

There can be every combination of horse and rider in a showing class as they only have to fit what it says in the schedule for that particular show.