SHOWING GUIDELINES All ridden horses must be four years old or over. Mares with a suckling foal born during the current season are not eligible to compete in ridden classes. No Ridden horse may be shown on a leading rein. Any horse which constitutes a danger to others or exhibits bad behaviour may be asked to leave the ring at the judges discretion. Stallions should display a stallion bridle marker. In ridden classes where a judge may ride, riders using small stirrup irons are requested to bring a spare set of irons and leathers of a suitable size for the judge. Bandages, boots and protective pads are not allowed. Shoeing should be of a traditional nature and indicative of the nature of its use. If bevel shoes are worn screw in studs must be fitted. Tail plait and wool and flights optional but for Health & Safety reasons no standing wired flights. A fall of horse or rider in any class will result in disqualification. The rider must not remount in the ring. Judges Shows should ensure judges have adequate experience of judging ridden show classes. If the breed judge is not a ride judge it is recommended that the hunter or mountain and moorland ridden judge from the light horse section joins the in-hand judge for the judging of the ridden section of the class. In the event of a conformation/ breed judge not being available to co-judge it is suggested that the enclosed guidelines on breed type and way of going are given to light horse ride judges in their judging pack prior to the show date for reference. We would advise all 'ride' judges to check whether you are covered under the show's insurance for riding exhibits before accepting an invitation to ride. We would strongly recommended that all ride judges take out their own private personal and accident insurance to cover them whilst riding when judging. Impartiality The BRHHS seeks to ensure that all its competitions are judged fairly and that there is no bias or favouritism. This is only achievable if owners, producers, riders, handlers and judges observe the following rules, in the spirit in which they are intended. NB. The definition of a Professional Producer/Trainer is: A person who undertakes the preparation and/or production of a horse belonging to other exhibitors for the show ring including at a show. A producer is someone who has a horse on their yard to show for the client and therefore has a financial interest. No horse will be eligible for the final if the breeder or previous owners will be judging the final. A horse may not be exhibited in a class or final where the horse or its owner/producer/rider/handler has one of the following, or similar, connections with the judge: The horse has been under the ownership or production of any person for whom the judge, his/her partner or business partner has provided or obtained livery or had any other connection (business or otherwise) since 1st January of the preceding year. Stud fees are exempt. The horse is or has been owned, bred, produced, trained or exhibited by the judge, a relative, business partner or partner. (Group teach-ins and demos are exempt) The rider has shown a horse owned, produced or trained by the judge since the 1st January of the preceding year. The horse is owned or produced by a person from whom the judge has purchased horses or to whom he/she sold horses since 1st January of the preceding year in which he / she is judging. The onus is on the exhibitor to stand down in any class, championship or final where there is an infringement of the above rules. It is suggested that judges stewards and officials wear black tie or dark suit and tie with similar evening attire for ladies when officiating at evening performances. Heavy Horse Judging – to be judged on type, ride, manners and conformation. Horses should be of breed type, have substance, good bone, correct conformation, presence and true action. Heavy Horses should be judged in the same procedure as Hunters. Horses should be well schooled and attention should be paid to manners. The Ridden Heavy Horse Championship class judging guidelines Open to horses 4 years old and over that are registered in the main British Stud Books of the Shire, Clydesdale, Suffolk or Percheron Society at the time of qualification and must be entered in the name and ownership they are registered. At shows where there is not a ride judge a stand / individual show will be required. Where there is a ride judge if an exhibitor declines the judges ride the horse will not be placed. Riders will be required to give a short individual show at walk, trot & canter or set show lasting approximately 2 minutes. Change of rein and lengthened strides in trot and canter must be shown. Rein back, (optional) stand still and obedience to the leg. Horses should leave the ring at a walk or trot. Entries will not be asked to jump. In the event of both a ride and conformation judge a marking system will be used generously split as follows: Ride / manners marks to be awarded out of a possible 50. Conformation / type assessment to be awarded marks out of a possible 50. When judging classes using the Marks System horses should be stripped for the conformation judge. Where there is an equality of marks, the ride marks take precedence, however if there still remains a tie then the ride judge’s decision is final. Show classes may be open to any ridden heavy horse breeds, however the qualifier can only be awarded to horses that comply with BRHHS rules. There must be a minimum of three entries forward of either pure or part bred to enable the qualifier to be presented. All shows wishing to affiliate to the BRHHS must complete an affiliation form, and forward to the secretary with a cheque for £5.00 for the return of the qualifying card and rosette. The BRHHS reserves the right to refuse affiliation to shows that they feel do not comply with the rules or the spirit of the competition. Qualifying rounds for the Ridden Heavy Horse Championship must be held in advance of the Equifest closing date for entries. Qualifying horses are entitled to compete in the final of the Kilmannan Ridden Heavy Horse Championship to be held at Equifest on the weekend of 16th & 17th August 2014. At present due to time limitations some shows are finding it difficult to split classes between pure and part bred therefore it is suggested that at the larger shows where there is a mixed class that judges split Competitors for the final placing and presentation by placing them in two rows, one behind the other using two sets of place rosettes to obtain a qualifier for each section. In an amalgamated class it is requested that part breds exhibitors wear white armbands. The British Ridden Heavy Horse Society has been set up as a non profit Advisory Society to encourage greater understanding and improvement of the Ridden Heavy Horse and bring classes and judging into line with other recognised and respected show organisations

DOWNLOADS

DRESS CODE FOR RIDERS


  1. •Turnout should be natural and traditional, similar to that worn in a hunter or mountain moorland class.

  2. •It is recommended that riders of heavy horses wear tweed jackets, shirt and tie.

  3. •Plain long black or brown boots. (Juniors 16 and under may wear jodhpur boots.)

  4. •Leather / string gloves.

  5. •Hair ribbons and bows kept to a minimum.

  6. •No ear rings, body studs or visible jewellery should be worn.

  7. •Anyone competing on a horse must wear a hard hat - a skull cap or hat according to the current BSI or European Standard must be worn by all competitors in order to minimise risk of head injury. It is mandatory for competitors under the age of 18 to wear such skull caps or hats. Skull caps must have a navy blue, brown or black cover.

  8. •Whips/canes must not exceed an overall length of 76 cms (30 inches) and if they are misused, in the opinion of the judge, the rider may be sent out of the ring.

  9. •Blunt or dummy spurs may be worn.  (Spurs should only be worn by riders who have attained their 16th birthday.)

  10. •Riders of stallions to be aged 16 and over.


Above all riders and their grooms must, at all times, present themselves in the show ring neatly and smartly dressed.

TURNOUT

TURNOUT FOR HORSES

  1. •Plain or workmanlike English bridle with plain noseband and browband with a snaffle or traditional double / pelham riding bit. No bitless bridles or Liverpool bits.

  2. •English saddle with plain leather or webbing girth.

  3. •Numnahs (not a saddlecloth) to be discreet. No bright colours.

  4. •No rugs or saddle cloths that identify the horse or owner may be worn in the ring.

  5. •All ridden horses must be four years old or over. 

  6. •Mares with a suckling foal born during the current season are not eligible to compete in ridden classes.

  7. •No Ridden horse may be shown on a leading rein.

  8. •The judge may require that a horse which constitutes a danger leaves the ring; the judge’s decision is final.

  9. •Stallions should display a stallion bridle marker.

  10. •In ridden classes where a judge may ride, riders using small stirrup irons are requested to bring a spare set of irons and leathers of a suitable size for the judge.

  11. •Bandages, boots and protective pads are not allowed.

  12. •Shoeing should be of a traditional nature and indicative of the nature of its use. If bevel shoes are worn screw in studs must be fitted.

  13. •Tail plait and wool and flights optional but for Health & Safety reasons no standing wired flights.

  14. •A fall of horse or rider in any class will result in disqualification. The rider must not remount in the ring.

RULES

SHOWING GUIDELINES

EVENING PERFORMANCE


Competitors who qualify or take part in an evening performance may dress in hunting dress with tail coats or evening dress.

Ladies may wear black or blue hunting coat with hat with safety harness. Fawn breeches and black boots and garter straps.

Men may wear white breeches with top boots with black coats or coloured breeches and plain black boots.