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Last updated 6th April 2007

Rules and Useful Information

This section of the web pages includes information on
rules, guidance and general information.

Articles:

Map to New Field 

Location of venues used for SDRC events.

Click on link for Map: Map for New Field

 

Map to easter Rattray and Auchlishie

Location of venues used for SDRC events.

 

Flu Vaccinations

All competitors competing at area competitions for qualifying teams are respectfully reminded that their horses must have a current and valid flu vaccination certificate. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the certificate is valid under Jockey club and FEI rules. If you are in any doubt at all please check with your vet. Recent events have required the area riding club committee to remind all clubs of this requirement. Please refer to Penthorse 10 for further information.

Pairs Dressage - A guide (kindly provided by Suzanne Cargill)

These notes are based on the Pairs Competition that the British Riding Clubs’ organise as part of the Area Qualifier competitions each year and feature at the Cally Championships.

• Takes place in a 20x40 arena
• Time allowed is 4 minutes
• Horses/ponies must compete as a pair, riding side by side, but may separate during the test.
• The test may be performed in any sequence but must show at least 20m of medium walk and 20m on each rein of working trot and working canter.
• The test may not contain movements above those occurring in current British Dressage Novice Tests, but originality of patterns in the arena is allowed. The rein back is allowed but not compulsory.
• The test starts as the horses enter at A, but the time is taken from the exact moment when the horses move forward after the riders have saluted the judges.
• A warning signal will be given at the end of 3½ minutes and again at 4 minutes, when both horses/ponies must immediately turn onto the centre line and half.
• Riders must salute the judges and ride out of the arena at walk leaving at A
• Failure to complete the test will not incur time faults but will be taken into consideration when marking the artistic merit.
• There are no errors of course and the bell MUST NOT BE SOUND should one of the riders make an obvious mistake, but point may be deducted when marking the artistic merit.
• Should either of both horses/ponies leave the arena during the test. Points should be deducted under the submission mark, unless the arena surround is 9 inches or more in height and continuous around the entire arena, when both are eliminated.

Equitation Jumping - A beginners guide (kindly provided by Jane Gilchrist)

Your tack and turnout should be as for a Dressage Competition, only using bits and nosebands that would be allowed (therefore no Dr Bristol bits, martingales or grakle nosebands etc.). For the not so brave a Granny strap is allowed (neck strap). Jumping boots and a jumping whip are allowed.

First of all when you walk the course (like a normal Show Jumping Track) decide which rein you wish to approach the first fence on. Once you decided this and your turn has arrived go into the arena and give the Judge a salute (like Dressage) and then commence to canter round on the opposite rein to which you wish to jump fence number one. Once you have done a circle change the rein through trot and then continue to canter round until the Judge gives you a signal to start (bell or whistle etc. - remember to find out the signal before you start). Commence the round once the signal to start has been given and remember to pose as this is a style class but faults also get deducted from your marks - so don't pose so much that you lose your effect. The Judge is looking for a good round canter that has a nice rhythm and is under control. Ideally you should land on the correct canter lead for the fences that go round corners but if you are unfortunate enough to land on the wrong lead go back to trot and establish the correct lead at a convenient point making sure you are back in canter before you approach the next fence. A change of lead will be better marked than carrying on the wrong lead - at least you noticed!

Ideally you should be jumping all the fences in the middle and making nice smooth corners to your next fence, planning ahead and looking. The best rounds flow and maintain a steady rhythm. Your position shall also be judge so try not to hinder your horses jump or give him a jab in the mouth over a fence. Once you have completed your round carry on cantering around until the Judge gives you a signal to stop. Some people give the Judge a salute at the end but with some competitions having a lot of competitors you are sometimes told not to do this so listen to your Steward.

Afterwards your sheet will be available for collection from the Secretary once your class is finished. Please take these as constructive criticism. I hope you will give it a go and enjoy taking part in these competitions.

Jane Gilchrist

Permitted tack - Rules and Regulations

The table below shows the permitted tack for use at Club and area competitions.

Riding Club Sections - What section should you be in and how many levels can you compete at?

This section is under construction however the basic rules are stated below.

The club run all Showjumping competitions under BSJA rules. Please note that proper attire i.e. jacket etc. must be worn at all times during SJ competitions.

Points are only awarded at two levels i.e. nov and int, int & open. General heights for SJ competitions are 2'6", 2'9" & 3'0". If there is a specific request and enough interest heights can be varied and commence from 2'3".

For Dressage competitions are run under British Dressage rules.

Competitors can compete at only two levels to gain points e.g. novice and intermediate or intermediate and open.

For the Summer, winter and Overall Points competitions and leagues all competitors must declare which section they are competing in at the start of the league. They are permitted to compete within an additional section but the points will not be awarded to their overall league points.

This may be confusing to competitors so please ensure that you clarify the specific requirements with each show organiser if you are in doubt. Queries should be sent to the email address or a committee member. We will then forward the information to the relevant expert and provide an answer to your query.

Showing Horses - a guide (by courtesy of the Scottish and Northern Equestrian Magazine)

Showing Explained

Welcome to the world of Riding Club showing. Have you ever turned up at a showing show not quite knowing the classes you have entered, the format of the class or if your horse fits the type required and the biggest problem - what do you wear!?
If things were more simple we could have fewer nerves on the day. From the competitor’s point of view if only the schedule would say what the horse and rider are expected to do i.e. walk, trot, canter on both reins or if the judge is going to ride your horse. Do you have to strip (the horse (!) to see conformation), do you have to trot up for the judge? (This, the rider has to practice at home. Remember to turn the horse away from you and trot up on a straight line towards the judge.) Knowing how the marks are allocated is vital so that you are aware of what areas you could improve upon for next time.
Here are some rules and guidelines that might help you, but remember each show may specify something extra so don’t be afraid to phone someone and ask. Try to be prepared before you go to the show!
Working hunter classes. Riders should wear the following:- Hacking jacket, coloured stock, stock pin, fawn/buff /canary breeches (not white). Men may wear the same coloured jackets but with shirt and tie and bowler hat, black boots or leather gaiters and matching boots, gloves and protective standard headgear, cane or leather coated stick. Ladies (and gents) should steer clear of wearing jewellery as it may incur elimination depending on which society’s rules are followed, it could result in elimination. Spurs may be worn but make sure they are fitted properly, shanks pointing to the rear and buckles to the outside.
Try to make sure everything is clean and fits properly. A borrowed jacket that is 2 sizes too big will not make a good impression. If you have a helper ask them to be neat and tidy, at larger shows they will be expected to wear a hat.
Ridden or in-hand classes
Riders should wear the same for ridden hunter and riding horse classes as the working hunter classes. In hack and arab classes the rider will be expected to wear a navy (coloured stock) or black (white stock) coloured jacket.
If in-hand men could wear a suit or coat and trousers and a suitable hat, women may wear a coat, skirt or trousers or be very tidily dressed.
First impressions always stick so do have everything ready. Don’t have your shirt-tail sticking out the back or your hair hanging out a hole in your hairnet as you enter the ring in a hurry!
Horses should be put into classes that suit them i.e. Lightweight or heavyweight or according to height small hunter, novice or open.
A definition of a Hunter is a mare or gelding capable or likely to be capable of carrying its designated weight regularly for a full day’s hunting. It should have substance, quality and a calm, bold temperament with conformation to produce performance and soundness. (If you have a horse with all of these qualities it’s worth a million!)
Lightweight would be an animal that could carry up to 12stone 7lbs, Middleweight would be up to 12stone 7lbs and not exceeding 14stone, Heavyweight would be an animal capable of carrying over 14stone.
Riding Club horse classes may have 2 small fences. This is to show that your horse is an all-rounder, so please practice some jumps with coloured poles and straw bales.
Working hunter classes are judged on jumping style, presence, ride and conformation and manners so don’t be alarmed if you are asked to leave the ring if your horse has stood up on end or kicked out at someone. Just smile and say thank you and hope it goes better in the next class!
Please be prompt for your class (even although things are running late and you have waited an hour already!) and try not to enter classes that may clash. Always ask the steward if you can leave the ring to go into another. Politeness costs nothing and they just might say yes and smile back. Remember that at Riding Club shows and others, all helpers are usually voluntary and work for their lunch so be polite.
In the ring please try and follow the instructions from the steward and try not to run either the steward or the judge down!
Also be safe in the ring, don’t use other horses to stop or overtake and cut someone off. Show your horse off by giving them room to move and allow others to do the same.
What the horses should wear.
Working hunters. Tack should be clean and fitted correctly. Boots of plain colour may be used in the jumping phase but removed for the conformation phase. Any bits are allowed but please check when entering a novice class as some may specify snaffles only.
Hunters should wear plain leather bridles with a plain leather browband. Avoid wearing anything that may conceal an animal’s conformation or anything that might give away the name of the horse or rider (so out goes the yellow saddlecloth with ‘Flash’ embroidered on it!).
Numnahs should be the same colour and shape as the saddle with no brightly coloured binding around it.
Horses must be well groomed, clean and tidy and, unless they are native, they should be plaited.
If doing in-hand classes a leather headcollar or plain leather bridle is in order.
Laced or coloured browbands are expected in Hack, Riding Horse, Arab and Part bred Arab classes, but coloured numnahs are not acceptable in any classes.
Tack and turnout classes. Well I take my hat off to you as this is usually in the morning and everything must be perfect. Horses must be clean, tidy, well-conditioned, with good shoes, tail and dock clean. The rider must also be immaculate and the overall picture perfect.
These are only some of the classes covered. Cob, coloured and mountain and moorland are amongst many other classes that Riding Club shows run to encourage people to compete at any level. In any event people give up their spare time to help, we are all a team working to educate the rider and horse so that when they go on to different events they will have a good idea what to expect and how to behave.
But don’t be shy to ask anyone a question, just do it before you get to your event so that you know how it all runs. Most of all enjoy yourself, remember we do it for fun! Good luck!

Article provided by courtesy of The Scottish & Northern Equestrian Magazine
For a subscription call 0845 130 7669 or for more details visit www.scotequest.com'