The Riding Horse Class- what type of horse exactly it it?

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skyesthelimit94

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Hi Guys, I am from New Zealand where we have had riding horse classes introduced for the first time this season (2015) in addition to our show hack, park hack (148-158cm) and saddle hunter classes.There is only a a paragraph of info I have found in nz on what type of horse a quality 'riding horse' entails As the UK has had this class for a while, may I ask for any examples of true to type riding horses and perhaps a description? I have an eventing mare a touch under 16hh who is too small for our hack ring (generally filled with big 16.1-17hh leggy TBS) and too finely built for the small saddle hunters but she is a lovely animal and has a good gallop and is straight moving with a decent hind engine, so I wonder perhaps if maybe she will be able to show in the riding horse catagory as she is 16 now and I'd like her to slow down from the strenous eventing, into some show hunter/round the ring jumping and show classing/dressage. Would really appreciate some info as this riding horse section has a few people down under confused!! :p
 
The Riding Horse classes in the UK were basically started to accommodate the animals who were not quality enough to be a true hack and not enough bone to be a true hunter!

A riding horse should have class and quality but with more of an engine than the hack but with a more quality movement than the hunter. Ideally they will have a pretty head as opposed to the more workman like head of a hunter, they must have good manners and be able to carry you forward at a good pace. They are hard to explain well as they are an invented class as opposed to a class with a base in tradition.
 
Thanks guys! I don't think I can post photos as Im new here :P but https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErtH-UALNoU is a link to a video of her doing a bit of flatwork and our very first session sj after winter 2014 with at clarke johnstones (ten mins float trip away from me hehehe !) please dont judge my riding! we just finished 4 months of winter turnout haha She doesn't usually move as well at shows as she does at home unfortunatley :( but still has a great big trot for a wee girl, she has competed in hack ring here with limited success, a few wins at our A&Ps before but she just looks so teeny tiny! and her head isnt quite so refined/rocking horse as they like for the show hacks here, so thought perhaps riding horse might fit as she isnt quite right for the other sections.
 
Riding horse classes have been here for a few years now. Because it is quite a new class there is not quite a type as such so you can often get quite a mixed bag. Your horse looks very nice, would definitely not look out of place in the Riding Horse ring. There is usually a couple of classes in the section for under 163cm which would suit you. Height shouldn't matter but sadly it seems to, but not so much in paced and mannered or riding classes. My horse is only 15.2hh and has always managed to be pretty competitive. Now however when you go to get your annual height certificate you have to nominate the category you will be competing and you cannot change halfway through the season if you feel you are in the wrong section.
 
Thanks :) we only travel to central otago/southland a&ps at this stage so I hadn't seen it before but its good to hear from a person in NZ about it, the height thing really irks me as she can't help her size and she has been measured as both a parkie and hack over the space of about 5 seasons as she tends to be a little hard to measure, the same stand with the same measurer too! she asked me if she had a grown and I said , 'well, its a bit strange for a 12yr old to grow 5cm then shrink back to 158 the next year'.... She is measured as a hack this season but has not yet competed, so would I be able to change to riding horse?
 
Not sure if you are able to change, perhaps if you have not yet competed this season, I know you cannot if you have competed already. Probably best to ring the RAS before you compete as a hack and ask them. All the shows north of Christchurch have Riding Horse sections now. Good luck with your horse.
 
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