I am not ready to show yet, but a fellow boarder has done some schooling shows and is looking for opportunity classes at recognized shows.
I used to understand how dressage shows worked - 20 years ago! Then there were 4 tests at the lower levels. Recognized shows weren’t as expensive so they didn’t have opportunity classes!
So how do you find these classes? I understand that they tend to be at the lower “Level” shows (that’s new too!). Are they listed separately? Is there any place that lists which shows have them? TIA.
I’m not sure if they are required but all of the recognized shows I have been to have them, I showed opportunity last season. I’d go to equestrianentries.com and search by state, then pull up the prize list for the shows near you to check they offer them.
Just curious, what is an Opportunity class? Sorry if it’s a stupid question!
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@WildLittleWren They are sort of like a schooling show opportunity at a recognized show. The idea was to let people/horses who are new to dressage try it out without the commitment, so no usef or usdf memberships are required and the nonmember fees are waived. I also had the usef drug fee waived, and the classes are usually a little bit cheaper too. But since they just take place at a recognized show you and your horse get the experience of the real deal. I was the only one in my classes a lot of times at the particular show grounds we compete at.
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Opportunity classes are like schooling show classes held within a rated show. That’s the best way I can think of to describe it. You don’t need all the memberships and you don’t have to pay the Drug fee. The scores don’t count towards awards.
The best way to find them is to go to the competition calendar on USDF to find rated shows. Then find the prize lists for the ones you want to see if they offer Opportunity classes. The rules say that the word Opportunity has to be included in the name of the class - so you don’t have to hunt around the prize list for it.
It’s basically just to give people new to the sport an opportunity to show at a recognized show without paying all the membership/ registration fees. https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/Z6TRWhW91y8/opportunity-classes---effective
Opportunity classes…per the USEF Rulebook…are classes that “don’t fit the mold” of the rulebook.
https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/PiZ5Mms1FY8/usef-rulebook
GR139 Opportunity Classes
- Unrated, grass roots level classes held at breed restricted, multi-breed, Carriage Pleasure Driving, Western com-
petitions, Western Dressage or Hunter and/or Hunter Jumper competitions with no FEI recognized classes. Oppor- tunity Classes cannot be held at FEI discipline competitions (exception: Dressage Competition Levels 1-3, per GR821). - For further information, reference GR821, GR407.1 and GR901.9.
GR821 Opportunity Classes
- Opportunity Classes:
a. may be held at breed restricted or Hunter and/or Hunter Jumper competitions with no FEI recognized classes,
Western Dressage competitions, Western Regular or Local Competitions. Classes must be open to all breeds unless it is a breed restricted competition. In a breed restricted competition it must be stated in the prize list if the classes will be restricted or open. Exception: At any USEF licensed competition, opportunity classes may not be restricted to Friesians.
b. are limited to 10% of the total number of the competition’s classes, with a maximum of 20 Opportunity Classes per competition, whichever is less.
c. may be held in addition to Exhibition Classes. - Opportunity Classes:
do not count towards Horse of the Year Awards and the results from Opportunity Classes may not be used by any entity for a national awards program. Only with permission of the respective recognized affiliate organization may results from Opportunity Classes be used for regional awards.
cannot be used as a qualifying class for any championship class held at the competition except an Opportunity Class championship at the competition.
cannot be considered in reckoning Competition Championships awarded on points except an Opportunity Class championship at the competition.
do not count towards the minimum number of classes nor amount of prize money offered when determining the rating of the competition.
Dressage classes can be offered as Opportunity classes at Dressage Competitions or Regular/Local Competi- tions with “Open” Dressage classes as described below:
f. g.
Show Pass fees, but are required to list the Federation membership number if the participant is a member. Breed restricted Dressage classes can be offered as opportunity classes at Regular/Local breed restricted competitions.
Opportunity Classes for Hunter/Jumper/Equitation Divisions - Opportunity Classes are for entry level riders.
-
-
Classes are limited to the following competition levels and dressage tests:
a. Level 1 competitions may offer two tests and only two classes per level per day at Introductory - Second
Level one of which can be the Riders Test at Training - Second levels.
b. Level 2 competitions may offer two tests and only two classes per level per day at Introductory - First Level
one of which can be the Riders Test at Training and First levels.
c. Level 3 competitions may offer two tests and only two classes per level per day at Introductory - Training
Level one of which can be the Training Level Riders Test.
d. Level 4 and Level 5 competitions may not offer Opportunity classes.
Opportunity Classes are for entry level riders.
Freestyles may not be offered as Opportunity classes. Opportunity classes cannot be offered as “Test of
Choice” classes.
If opportunity classes at Dressage Competitions or Regular/Local Competitions with “Open” Dressage classes
are restricted to amateurs, riders are required to have an amateur status with USEF.
All rules and regulations in GR821 must be followed, except for GR821.6.
Horses, riders, owners, trainers, and coaches participating only in Opportunity classes are exempt from Fed-
eration and affiliate organization membership and Horse Identification (HID) requirements and non-member/
2. 3.
May be held at USEF regular or local rated competitions.
All Opportunity classes and divisions must have fences 2’6" or below.
GR8 - CONDUCT OF COMPETITIONS
4. Any rider that has shown in a Zone pointed division, such as a children’s hunter division is not eligible.
5. Any rider that has shown in a regular division (such as regular ponies) is not eligible.
6. All rules and regulations in section GR821 should be followed, except GR821.7 (no crossing over into rated
divisions).
3. Horses entered only in these classes are still subject to and must comply with the Drugs and Medication rules and
are subject to drug testing.
4. Horses entered only in these classes:
a. are exempt from the Federation fee, including the Equine Drugs and Medication fee.
b. are not required to have a Horse Identification (HID) or Recording Number but are to list the HID or Recording
number if the horse has been assigned this number.
5. Riders/drivers/handlers entered only in these classes are exempt from the Federation membership requirements
and are not required to pay a Show Pass fee but are required to list the Federation membership number if the par-
ticipant is a member.
6. The prize list must state whether or not horses and/or riders/drivers/handlers entered in Opportunity Classes can
cross enter into the rated/recognized classes at the same competition. If cross entry is allowed, all applicable fees
and membership requirements apply.
7. The list of Opportunity Classes offered must include “Opportunity” in the class name. The classes may include but
are not limited to the following categories:
a. Opportunity Pleasure (Saddleseat, Hunter, and/or Western)
b. Opportunity Equitation (Saddleseat, Hunter, and/or Western)
c. Opportunity Costume (Historic and/or Contemporary)
d. Opportunity Trail (English and/or Western)
e. Opportunity Driving (Show Pleasure Driving and/or Carriage Pleasure Driving) f. Opportunity Walk-Trot (Pleasure and/or Equitation)
g. Opportunity Gaited (Three-gaited, Five-gaited, and/or Paso Fino)
h. Opportunity Reining
i. Opportunity In-hand classes (Amateur and/or Junior Handler)
j. Opportunity Fun Classes
k. Opportunity classes for Hunter/Jumper/Equitation Divisions 2’6" and under
l. Opportunity classes for Dressage
m.Opportunity classes for Western Dressage.
8. Unless the competition is using existing USEF class specifications, the prize list must list the class specifications for each Opportunity Class, to include but not be limited to:
a. Gaits required
b. Judging criteria
c. Attire, tack and equipment allowed
9. Opportunity Classes may be judged by any judge officiating at the competition. Conflict of interest rules in GR1304 apply. 10. The competition must submit full results of all Opportunity Classes as required in GR1214. Horses with HID or Recording members and participants with USEF membership numbers are to have these numbers listed in the results.
Oh ok that makes sense! Thanks everyone!
Oh for FUN! I didn’t know this was a thing! There are a couple of dressage shows coming up in my area that I am not ready to shell out the real $$ to compete in, but I might drop by for an Opportunity class if they are on offer. So glad I read this!
If you have schooling shows in your area, they are probably substantially cheaper. Even without the additional fees doing two opportunity classes locally is roughly double the cost of doing two schooling show classes at the same facility-- granted you are riding under an R or S judge instead of an L or r, but still, that is a hefty difference at Intro/ Training.
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Shows are not required to offer them, but many do, because they help fill up a show. The big $ savings to the rider is NO MEMBERSHIPS REQUIRED! No USEF, no USDF, no GMO memberships. Most shows still charge the full entry fee, and any other show fees (haul-in, office fees, etc). I consider them a step between schooling shows and rated shows - they usually cost more then a schooling show, but it gets you into the rated show environment without having all the rated show membership costs.
We often see shows offering Training 1 and 2, or Training 1 and First 1.
Level 1 and Level 2 shows are your smaller shows - one or two ring shows usually (that isn’t the official description, but that is the realistic description). They may not have stabling (or very limited stabling), and the shows often only run for 1 (or maybe 2) days.
If a show is CDI (FEI recognized), there can be no Opportunity classes.
Look at your area show premiums - especially your smaller shows.
A lot of the shows around here (MidAtlantic) run them. I just checked the prizelist of the show I did the other weekend, and over the course of the weekend, all the Training and First tests are offered as OC. You’re exempt from the membership/nonmember fees and drug fees ($23), but you’re still paying the full cost of the test(s) and the office fee, plus either grounds fee or a stall. Intro classes are also exempt from memberships since they’re not recognized, but you still have to pay the D&M fee on those.
You’ll also see “Opportunity” classes at H/J shows, too, so that people don’t have to pay all the fees for a leadline pony to walk twice around the ring.
I live only 5 miles from Rocking Horse in Florida. They have two schooling/open shows a year there, one in the spring and one in the fall. I plan on my mustang’s show debut to be there this fall!
The show I did this weekend offered Training 1 & 2, First 1 & 2, and Second 1 & 2 as opportunity classes, all in front of an S judge.
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I believe the Working Equitation classes that are held in conjunction with recognized shows are run as Opportunity Classes.
ERAHC does this for their late August recognized dressage show in Lexington VA to allow people who might be interested to ride in a licensed dressage show and dip their feet into WE classes…since they’re already at the show.
I recently did 3 Opportunity classes at a recognized show. It was great! Everyone has pretty much covered how they work. But I will add that at the show I went to you got the full score sheet with comments AND RIBBONS! Not sure if that’s how all of them work, but it was fun and very helpful. A great way to boost confidence and see where you stand without forking out a ton of money.
@MsM Not sure where you’re located in CT, but Kirby Hill Farm in Pawling, NY - near Danbury - is holding another recognized show in August. They will also have a few Opportunity classes available. Prize list can be found at valleypondfarm.com under the horse show tab.
I showed Opportunity at one of their shows last summer and had a great time. Full score sheet with judges comments, ribbons, stabling, and an awesome atmosphere.
That’s a good one. The CT Level 1 Series also has them at their shows. You can find the prizelists here: http://www.centerlineevents.com/showsschedule/ct-level-1-dressage-series/.
Interesting. I looked at a few of the shows closest to me and they don’t seem to offer the opportunity classes. Eh, well. I guess we will stick to the schooling shows a bit longer.
Thanks! Lots of great info. I have bookmarked sites for when I do get into showing!
