Veteran Classes?

G

GinaB

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 July 2006
Messages
22,592
Location
Northern Ireland
Visit site
I ride a 14.2/14.3 28 year old mare and wondered what kind of classes I could maybe do with her? She's a Heinz 57. Nothing special about her expect she's a real pet and good confidence giver! All we do is hack, although if ground is good a little canter and pops small cross poles. She looks well for her age and holds her weight well (currently fenced off as her tummy is getting a bit round
tongue.gif
)

No decent photos at present but I could get some if it would help?
 
you would be fine doing veteran at RC level, our pony is 22 and lazy as hell and so in our individual show (if we have to do one, occasionally you don't even have to in veteran) we usually just trot and then try to get a few strides of canter!
 
She loves cantering and has a lovely rocking horse canter it's just she has arthiritis and navicular hence only cantering on good ground.
smile.gif
But she is more than happy to do it. What would the turn out for veteran classes expected to be? Eg what should she and I wear? (I'm 23 BTW, does that make a different as she's a pony?)
 
for veteran i wear a hacking jacket, it is fairly smart as you are trying to make your aged pony look as wow as possible, like you were in the best turned out. i dont think there are rider age limits as the veteran class doesn't specify on horse height so you will be fine riding her! good luck!
 
My daughter took our 20 year old in a veteran class for the first time the other week. Pony was plaited, daughter (aged 19) wore hacking jacket. Pony is normally ridden in dutch gag (2nd ring) and flash noseband. As it was a showing class we thought we better change her tack to a snaffle and cavesson noseband - bad idea. She tanked off with my daughter when they cantered round together, and wouldn't stop in her individual show
smile.gif
Came 3rd out of 3! She won the in hand veteran though, where she behaved impeccably. She is 13 hh so no rider/pony limits in this particular class.
 
Oh so I could do in hand as well? She is by no means perfect though. Although I think she's pretty she does tend to have a grumpy moo face but looks lovely when all scrubbed up (she's fleabitten grey) I shall discuss it with the owner and see what she thinks...
 
Our girl is by no means well put together, she actually looks much better under saddle. A lot of the marks in veteran seem to go on their condition for age rather than conformation, and of course manners come into it which is where she lost out
grin.gif
 
The lowest age limit for veteran classes varies from show to show. You would have to check in the schedule. Sometimes it is as low as 15 years, at which age, these days, is only middle aged. Some shows may divide the class if there are sufficient entries.

As far as tack goes, show her in whatever bridle she goes best in, but preferably not a gag, flash noseband or martingale. Remember, more is less, so to speak.

When I judge veterans I mark on condition/soundness, turnout and way of going/manners, and take age into account on balance of the other totals. Soundness is a must, tho' and if her action shows signs of lameness/stiffness then I would mark her down. In in-hand classes you would only be required to walk up and trot back, which might suit her more, but your turnout etc. would be still very important.

I have found that quite a few competitors assume that the oldest should win - unfortunately, this is not often the case.

Whatever you decide to do - have a great time!!!

BTW - there isn't usually a rider age limit for this class.
 
Well I am sure there are people with more experience of veteran classes than I, but daughter used to show another veteran pony when she was younger and we had no proof of his age, just reckoned that he was mid 20s, no judges ever asked for proof, and in fact they didn't all look at his teeth, so as long as you are only showing at local level I don't think it matters too much.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top