A/O vs Adult Amateur

[DarkBayUnicorn]

Agreed. And the division height often has nothing whatsoever to do with rider skill level in the purest sense. A smattering of reasons why a skilled ammy might be showing a rung or two lower than others perceive they “should” be:

1. limited time to practice due to work, family, etc.

2. limited funds to campaign and compete, meaning fewer miles in which to get comfortable/confident in the show ring at higher jumps

3. realization they do not bounce well anymore and feel safer at lower height

4. enjoy process of bringing young horse along (raises hand) and horse is not yet ready for higher height

5. protecting said young horse’s green status

6. enjoys riding their “veteran campaigner” who may have once jumped higher but now needs to step down for the sake of horse’s long-term soundness and enjoyment in the game

7. beloved horse is slightly lacking in scope, step or confidence to jump higher height, and good horse people don’t overface or ask for too much (see above re: long-term soundness and enjoyment in the game)

8. craptastic winter and spring mean many are jumping lower in May/June than they intend to be jumping in September/October

9. new horse/rider combinations often start off showing at a lower height while they learn each other

10. they freakin’ feel like it and it is well within the rules for them to do so

[PonyPenny]

@Nickelodian

Watch out you pearl clutchers, I have been known to show in the 2’6 modified adults, 3’ a/a, 3’3 a/o, 3’6 a/o AND do a derby at a single show. Four horses, three I owned, one I did not, all levels of greenness. Hunters are NOT ABOUT the level of the rider, unless specifically restricted in that way. Back before they limited a/o riders to a single non owned horse, I would catch ride several in various divisions. All well within the rules of the time.

I see nothing wrong with this either. A pro can show different horses from Baby Green to High Performance Hunters, an amateur should be able to do the same in amateur classes, obviously on different horses. When my daughter was asked to show a sale horse in the Adult Amateur Hunters, she could not show her own horse in the Amateur Owner Hunters at the same show in Zone 10. Other zones allow it. It gets confusing because the rules are not consistent.