Hoping someone can help with this…I’m doing a lease option to buy on a pony for my daughter, the pony is trained very well from a reputable breeder but from what I’m told isn’t registered…He has a USEF card and membership but still can’t find any breeding/registry info…My question is will this pony be able to compete in rated shows/classes or are we limited? His USEF show record has him at Thunderbird and Desert, but looks like none of the classes were rated. Thank you so much for your help, trying to understand how this works and if we have a pony that won’t be able to compete in rated divisions.
Unrated classes at Thermal and Thunderbird? I would think in the open shows registration would not matter. But if you found his show record, it should list all his classes and placings.
You can absolutely show in rated divisions at USEF shows, as long as the pony has a USEF membership. There are lots and lots of horses and ponies showing that aren’t registered with a breed organization.
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The only thing restricted to you are breed shows/awards and breed classes. The regular division/green ponies and 99% of USE hunter/jumper/eq classes require no proven breeding.
so you can’t show at AQHA congress or the thoroughbred incentive classes or be Welsh pony of the year. Other than stuff like that, you’re fine
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It’s also possible that the pony IS registered but no one bothered to add that information to his USE registration. It happens
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Not a problem.
Unless you want to show in breed-restricted classes (which are relatively uncommon), all that counts for USE(F) shows is USE(F) registration.
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- It doesn’t matter. 2. Contact the reputable breeder.
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Yeah, don’t confuse the breed registries/stud books with being registered with USE(F) for show purposes. Usually when we hear “registered” we think breed papers listing sire, dam, description and foaling date. The other is strictly to be allowed to show at rated shows and have points recorded by USE(F).
To further complicate understanding the terminology, not all classes held at USE shows are rated for national points. As Janet pointed out, almost all classes, rated or not, at USE shows are Open…meaning horses or Ponies of any breed or combination of breeds may compete as long as they meet eligibility requirements, which include height in Ponies and Junior Hunters. And there are steps to verify measurement and create a “card” that goes with the Pony USE registration
Nobody ever checks breed registration papers in Open classes as they are simply not required, they always check USE registration and measurement card in order to compete. HINT, the value in a rated division Pony is HEIGHT.
Ponyhelp, welcome to COTH. The world of new entrant show Pony ownership is largely unmarked and full of potholes for newbies. You might find it helpful to run things by us before signing any checks, there’s also some money sucking sink holes newbies can fall into. We are familiar with those on here, mostly because we ended up in one and learned the hard way. Nobody is going to preach to you.
One quick example, saying a horse/Pony is breed registered generally increases value, you pay more. But unless you physically see those papers? It’s like “Yes officer, I have a license, insurance and the car is registered but it’s my sisters and I left my wallet with my license and insurance card home”. Tell that to the judge.
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What Find Eight said…especially about not signing checks til you know what you are doing. There are quite a few of us here that have made pony buying mistakes and we are happy to teach others what not to do!
Findeight gives great advice. There is a big price difference between ponies doing the children’s division and the rated pony divisions. Good luck and have fun! You should def check the pony’s USE show record and make sure it matches up with what you have been told.
Does the pony have a permanent measurement card? That is another key point of evaluating a pony’s worth.
Thank you so much for all your help and responses!! Looks like I haven’t completely messed this up! The pony does have a USEF measurement card and USEF show record, which I looked up…However all the classes he did at shows have a non rated category letter next to them…Hopefully that makes sense!!
Not to worry about the unrated classes. Those were just the classes that the rider/owner/trainer chose to show him in and his breed registration, or lack thereof, will have no bearing on your ability to enter him in rated classes going forward. What matters is that he has a USEF registration number and pony card.
Perhaps they intended to keep his Green status? Did he show in Children’s Ponies or Short Stirrup and never did the Green Ponies? If so, that is a plus for your child as long as the pony knows its job and has a lead change. Feel free to PM me if you want. Both my girls did the ponies, went to Pony Finals and are now on horses. I have learned a little along the way. 
Good point. Green status is a plus in a rated show Pony, fences are lower and courses more friendly. But once they have competed at or over a certain height, the clock starts ticking and Green is gone at the end of that show year. The owners are trying to get good show miles/experience on that Pony without breaking or starting the clock on its Green status. Buyer may choose another year in the lower unrateds to further finish the Pony and rider or to start the Green year clock on Dec 1 for the 2018 season, which is smart as far as accumulating points, you got the whole years worth of shows in the Green.
Show year runs Dec 1 thru Nov 30. Kids ages are also tied to their age Dec 1 of that show year. It’s odd but newbies can make expensive mistakes not understanding some of those definitions.
Sounds like the seller here is savvy and it’s a nice Pony being properly developed.
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I mean, maybe. If I have the budget, as a buyer I want to make sure that the pony can do the division I’m buying it to do. Some ponies stay in the children’s ponies because they are not competitive in the rated divisions.
Just something to keep in mind, perhaps not this scenario at all.
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How would I know if the pony isn’t competitive enough for rated divisions? He’s super lazy, but seemed to do well looking at his show record…I’m really new to this so maybe his show record wouldn’t look that great to someone with more expertise.
OP what does your trainer think? Is your kid ready to do the division?
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You should talk to your trainer and ask if the pony has the step and scope for the division. The lines will be set longer (requiring the pony to canter with a larger step) and the jumps will be larger. Also, if this will be the first time your child will be doing the division, it’s helpful if the pony has room to spare. That way, if (when) your child misses a distance and the pony has to leave long or short, it will be able to keep them both out of trouble.
