Materiale classes - questions

[slp2]

My trainer has suggested that I get my 3 year old out toa show as a non-compete horse this summer or fall. She thinks it would be good to school in the warm up, let her see the sights, etc. This mare is very level-headed (thus far) so I think she will be able to handle all the excitement of a show with reasonable decorum.

Then I spotted the 3 year old Materiale classes in the prize list and thought about entering this class. But are these classes that are primarily aimed at breeders? Or pros? I am an adult ammy and have no plans to breed (and I did not breed this horse). The main reason I would ride in this class is to give her experience in the ring and to get feedback on her. If I am already paying for a stall, etc., the class fee isn’t all that much. My trainer thinks I should do it—I just want to make sure that it’s appropriate for an amateur rider to enter this type of class. I reviewed the score sheets for these classes and this horse would be suitable quality for the criteria listed.

I also wonder about the format of being in the ring with a bunch of 3 year olds! When I am riding, my mare doesn’t care if she is in a ring alone, or with others. But she is the only “baby” on the farm right now—so other horses in the ring are settled and well-behaved. I can imagine this class maybe full of uber athletic WB’s ridden by pros to show off their gaits (envisioning German Auction style riding)!

[Libby2563]

I don’t think there’s any reason it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to do it as an amateur rider. It could be a good experience for your girl. On the other hand, it could be a terrible experience if there are rogue horses or impolite riders in the ring with you! I myself would be hesitant to ride a 3-year-old in a totally new place with a large group of horses I don’t know, just because of safety concerns and desire for the horse to have a positive experience. Of course, the same concerns can arise in the warm-up area of any show so maybe it’s not a big deal!

If the group setting turns you off, could she handle Training 1?

I’m so jealous that you’re riding your youngster! Mine will be 3 next year and I can’t wait.

[alibi_18]

[QUOTE=Libby2563;8212843]
I don’t think there’s any reason it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to do it as an amateur rider. [/QUOTE]

Material classes are meant for showing off youngsters and are primarily filled with Pro and their next stars. Like the young horses classes. The judges are looking for suitability, gaits and expression, there isn’t much for the riders.

It could be a good experience for your girl. On the other hand, it could be a terrible experience if there are rogue horses or impolite riders in the ring with you!

As I said, these classes are filled with Pro who know what they are doing and want to show their horses at their best. It has nothing to do with being impolite or rogue! It’s a class with 3yrs…obviously, stuff will happen and that’s why you don’t see much amateur wandering around.

[RedmondDressage]

The Materiale classes do tend to attract the fancier young horses as 90% of your score is on the horse’s gaits, 10% on submission. You don’t necessarily need an uber mover, but three pretty, balanced gaits are definitely required to score well. It is however a very nice intro to showing I found. I took my youngster into the 4 & 5 y.o. Materiale for his first show last month and it was a great way to get him out there.

It’s definitely not only for pros. I’m an AA and myself and another AA actually beat out the pro in our class. You do need to ride well to present your horse at their best. I’m sure others with way more experience than I have can weigh in on how to do that. If you can find someone in your area or if your trainer has experience in those classes it will definitely pay off to have them prep you. You will present the horse a little bit differently than you would for say a training level test.

[lecoeurtriste]

I took my lowly bred mutt pony to Dressage at Lexington for the materiale when she was 3yo. She was a 15hh pinto in the ring with LOTS of very nice/expensive horses…but she won. The judge commented that she was moving freely forward and reaching for contact versus being in a false frame. I’m just an average rider, so I’m relatively confident that the judging was strictly on the horse (and no penalty for the bucking when a pigeon dive-bombed her head).

Needless to say, the breeders of the uber fancy horses grilled me about her background afterwards and were very sorry for me that she was so short and just wouldn’t ever really be a competitive dressage horse (implied: like theirs). (Bless my heart!) I tried to sell her for over a year, but had zero interest…glad I didn’t, because now she’s 7yo and ready to show PSG. Breeders even approach me at shows to ask if I’ll sell to help build their sport pony broodmare band. NOT A CHANCE! She’s my midget!

[RedmondDressage]

[QUOTE=lecoeurtriste;8213236]
I took my lowly bred mutt pony to Dressage at Lexington for the materiale when she was 3yo. She was a 15hh pinto in the ring with LOTS of very nice/expensive horses…but she won. The judge commented that she was moving freely forward and reaching for contact versus being in a false frame. I’m just an average rider, so I’m relatively confident that the judging was strictly on the horse (and no penalty for the bucking when a pigeon dive-bombed her head).

Needless to say, the breeders of the uber fancy horses grilled me about her background afterwards and were very sorry for me that she was so short and just wouldn’t ever really be a competitive dressage horse (implied: like theirs). (Bless my heart!) I tried to sell her for over a year, but had zero interest…glad I didn’t, because now she’s 7yo and ready to show PSG. Breeders even approach me at shows to ask if I’ll sell to help build their sport pony broodmare band. NOT A CHANCE! She’s my midget![/QUOTE]

Love this! The winner of my materiale last month was an AA on a Arab/Hano cross. He was a lovely horse but not a ginormous mover. We came in 2nd and my horse is a smaller (15.3hh) Oldenburg who was a super, duper bargain basement find. He’s a very nice mover, but again, certainly not the gigantic floaty kind I figured they were looking for. We both beat a stallion prospect who was very, very nice. Three nice, correct gaits with a happy, relaxed attitude is what they want.

It’s really a lot of fun. I didn’t mention before, but I think going in the ring with other horses really gives them some extra confidence for their first time out as well. It doesn’t seem like much but for a baby there’s so much activity, the judge, the fences, etc. Mine felt much more secure with other horses in the ring, compared to the schooling show we did where it was just him.

[ewells]

Redmond Dressage I was the other horse in your 4-5yr old Material class and I thought it was a good experience for my young horse as well. It is not a class full of just Pro riders the AA’s apear to be the bulk of our class. I was very proud of my young guy he was really well behaved it was his first show and we received some good feedback. The class was not full of uber-fancy WB’s and to the OP its a perfect way to get your 3yr old out especially if she is level headed. It is no different then beeing in the warm up and probable less scary then the warm up where many of the other riders are even more unpredictable the group class is well structured.
Showing in the material is different than any of the tests because you are trying to show off what ever gaits your horse has so for me I didnt do a good job with my guys trot and let him rush durring the class I hadent yet gotten the feel for what his best trot feels like so we were scored lower for the trot. On the other hand the canter is easy in that I just have to let it be yes you will do a bigger more expressive canter than you will do in a test and it might even feel a little too big but that is what they are looking for so go for it my canter was scored an 8 which was very cool. Same with the walk just get the best walk your mare has as big and relaxed as she can offer. Like Redmond Dressage said they are looking for a total package of 3 correct gaits and a relaxed individual. Overall I think its an excellent class to get a bit of feedback on your horse but more importantly get the experiance for future showing.

[RedmondDressage]

Ewells - I remember your horse, we were lined up next to each other, correct? Your horse is lovely as well - what breed is he? I think I recall my little one having a temper tantrum next to him in the warm up and your guy just kept trotting right on by like it was nothing. I actually told mine, THAT is how a good young horse is supposed to act! LOL

[ewells]

Redmond- Yes I think you were next to me, was your little guy the 4yr old dark stallion on my left if so he is super cute and smart looking. My handsome muscle man is a PRE / Andalusian and yes I am getting that question a LOT from people because they cant figure out what he is he dosent look like your typical Andalusian and at 16.2hh he’s big with much more WB type looks and gaits then any other Andalusian most have seen :). He was so good for a 4yr old gosh I was gushing at how relaxed and well behaved he was (he did scoot a little in one of our Training Level tests can’t ask a 4Yr old to be too perfect). His brain was one of the reasons I said yes he is the one. He’s so trainable eager to please and some times tries too hard gotta remind myself he’s as young and inmature a he is. When he has his little moments where he scoots or gives a big look at something it isn’t that he’s afraid but that he is honestly suprised in that moment. This baby is soo much FUN!
Will you be at WEC in August thats our next planned show.

Emmilly

[RedmondDressage]

[QUOTE=ewells;8214178]
Redmond- Yes I think you were next to me, was your little guy the 4yr old dark stallion on my left if so he is super cute and smart looking. My handsome muscle man is a PRE / Andalusian and yes I am getting that question a LOT from people because they cant figure out what he is he dosent look like your typical Andalusian and at 16.2hh he’s big with much more WB type looks and gaits then any other Andalusian most have seen :). He was so good for a 4yr old gosh I was gushing at how relaxed and well behaved he was (he did scoot a little in one of our Training Level tests can’t ask a 4Yr old to be too perfect). His brain was one of the reasons I said yes he is the one. He’s so trainable eager to please and some times tries too hard gotta remind myself he’s as young and inmature a he is. When he has his little moments where he scoots or gives a big look at something it isn’t that he’s afraid but that he is honestly suprised in that moment. This baby is soo much FUN!
Will you be at WEC in August thats our next planned show.

Emmilly[/QUOTE]

That was us! He’s a gelding though… He was just acting a bit stallion-y about the canter that day :lol:

Sounds like your guy has a great brain! I’m having a fun time with mine too. This is the first youngster I’ve brought along and it’s been a blast so far! That’s actually the other show I’m hoping to get out to as well. We’ll probably do the materiale again, and I’m debating about trying out an actual test as well. If we end up going I will definitely say hi!

[slp2]

Materiale classes - questions - update. We did it!

Thanks for all of you who responded and gave me some encouragement to try the Materiale class. As it turned out—I was entered in a show with my other horse this past weekend. With epic horse show timing, my older horse managed to get injured in the pasture the day before we were supposed to leave for the show (minor–but caused a big, fat leg).

At that point, I had already paid for the stall, so I decided to just bring my 3 year old for the experience. My plan was to show her the sights and sounds and just let her hang out. This horse has had about 6 weeks under saddle (4 of which were back in February). I hadn’t ridden her in an outdoor arena yet—so I just thought this would be a “non-riding” weekend.

She handled everything so well, I decided to school her in the warm up arena. She was absolutely solid under saddle, so I decided to ask if I could get in the materiale class! Show management said they had a scratch and were happy to add a 3 year old materiale class. I was the only entry for 3 year olds—but it gave my horse a chance to get in the ring and have a great experience. My super brave filly went in the arena all alone and was fantastic. The judge explained what I was supposed to do and then provided me with feedback at the end. The judges input was really informative and I had a blast.

It was really fun and I may do another later this year, and next year will do the 4 year old class too. By that time, I hope that we will also be showing in the “real” classes too!

[hoopoe]

sounds like a wonderful positive experience

thanks to the management for being so flexible, sounds like a good show to be at

[slp2]

Absolutely! The show management was super accomodating and I really appreciated it. And the judge too–they actually had me start a few minutes before the rest of the rings started (7:55 am) so I’m sure that meant he had less time to sit and have another cup of coffee.

The judge did ask me if it was my horses first outing and first time in this ring (yes, and yes!) So he told me to go in the arena and let her go around a couple times until she settles. Which was very kind! He gave us the highest marks on her trot (which he referred to as the highlight of her test :))

Best of all though was the fact that she handled the entire show ring experience like a complete star! She went right past the judges stand, stood quietly while he talked with me, then entered the ring. A little more hesitant than her usual forward self—but no spooking, no silliness! She walked, trotted and cantered when I asked, and we actually managed to pull off 20 meter-ish canter circles!!! So she really listened to my aids despite all of the distractions of a show. Great experience for a youngster!! :yes:

[Pocket_Pony]

Congrats on a great show slp2, that’s awesome! I hope to have such a great experience when I first go out with my pony someday…