Suggestions on Classes to enter? Don't shoot me :-)

[LittleMissBigTime]

It’s been a very very long time since I have shown. And when I did show I was under 18 and my trainer basically picked out which classes I was going in, so I really never learned or cared to find out the “rules” because I had trust in my trainer and always did fine. After I hit 18 I took a turn into the eventing world which was a whole different ball game, but the rules were SO much easier.

Here’s the questions:

I am 25 and 5’6.
My horse (pony) is 14.1 hands tall.
Interested in Hunter and Jumper classes, not a fan of EQ, did that in the younger days, and while I have a quiet seat and am an effective rider, given a choice, I’d hate to be judged at this point.

Interested in local schooling shows (which follow A show format, for the most part) and work my way into a couple of A’s for my pony’s experience.

Pony is green eligible.

What are my options given my age and my pony’s size?

Where will I look the least idiotic? She is green but after visiting an A show this weekend, I feel like she isn’t terrible and has the potential to place, if I take her where we actually belong.

I know dress code & tack requirements, for the most part…no standing martingale for hunter u/s, but acceptable o/f…etc (she doesn’t even go in a martingale) just need class suggestions…not working with a trainer! Just me and another lady, and she’s just as forgetful, but doesn’t have much to worry about, riding around on a 18 hand giant!

https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/65453_10201673284227784_7331412140298684393_n.jpg?oh=590fed3dea1db139a3bd20089a49ace8&oe=5497AD4E
This photo makes me think we have a shot in the low jumpers, but I feel like we might get swallowed alive by people and their big strided warmbloods. insight?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10446556_10201673290067930_8586223756133109301_n.jpg?oh=9ddc6180b06de5177864a2b8e9d5fcb2&oe=54CE7C01&gda=1417911934_c7215c14c8df7de7867635bf6b04578e
Be honest, how bad do I look on her?

[whbar158]

You can’t show in pony classes they are for juniors. You should be able to do the pre-adult classes (usually 2’6") for the hunters, for jumpers anything is game at whatever height you want except for pony jumpers.

[LittleMissBigTime]

[QUOTE=whbar158;7754990]
You can’t show in pony classes they are for juniors. You should be able to do the pre-adult classes (usually 2’6") for the hunters, for jumpers anything is game at whatever height you want except for pony jumpers.[/QUOTE]

That’s what I thought, regarding pony classes. If I came across a junior, they could ride her in the Pony’s and I am still able to ride in any adult hunter class, correct? Would really love to do jumpers, as I think that’s her calling, but I feel like we’d get smoked by a larger horses’ stride and possibly look like idiots. She IS a speedy little bullet though.

[ElementFarm]

A lot depends on the courses, but I know several ponies who consistently smoke the big warmbloods in the jumper ring. The ponies are catty and quick, and can often do the inside turns that no full-sized WB would dream of doing. Those turns between the jumps can shave you many seconds if you can do super tight inside turns, and that makes up for the longer step that has to do wider turns.

Is your plan to market this pony in the future? In my experience, even top pony jumpers don’t bring the interest/money of even mediocre pony hunters… if she’s a keeper for you, and you don’t want to jump high enough that her pony-ness would limit you, go for it!

[findeight]

You would have to check with your show regarding Juniors ( which are 3’6") cross entering on a Pony. Children’s Hunters are 3’ and might be a better place to look for a catch rider.

But I don’t get why some other horse’s big stride is scaring you off Jumpers? Big strided horses often cannot make it around the track all that quick because they can’t make the inside turns. They also have issues compressing strides when needed in tight combinations and take out the next fence. It’s not just going fast, it’s taking the least amount of time to get around, that’s done with tighter turns creating a shorter track, not bigger strides.

[Training_Cupid]

Do you have a specific show in mind? If you can link the show schedule/prize list we can make more specific suggestions. Also need to know what height jumps you’re currently schooling/intend to show, or if you want to stick to flat classes for now.

[Anne]

You need to read prize lists. Most A horse shows specifically do not allow adults on ponies in the Adult Amateur hunters (3’). You almost definitely cannot cross enter between the large pony hunters (with a junior aged catch rider) and the adult amateur hunters at the same show. If the pony is for resale, I wouldn’t break its green.

[oceanmountain]

I would suggest looking into your low hunter type classes to start with (normally 2’6) or a low adult class at 2’3(schooling shows should have a few of these classes) to get her used to the show ring.

Even if jumpers are more her thing- it is best to build the foundation in the hunters normally- especially if you do ever decide to sell down the line.

After looking at the photos, I would suggest trying to ride with your stirrups up a hole or two and see if you can be comfortable and quiet with your body, to look more appropriate on her in the ring.

Good luck!

[LittleMissBigTime]

I am so torn between her being a resale and her being something I keep. I would love to market her to a child or junior, but she’ll need some fine tuning and more work before I can think of that, as she is still fairly green at moments if you don’t know what you’re asking of her. A junior might be fine but a child’s pony she is not, at the moment. Of course the ultimate dream would be to see a kid take her to pony finals. I guess in the back of my mind its always been that i would work her and put the miles on her and let her go if and when a kid came around that could do something great with her. Just want to get her going at shows and her get the experience as well as her getting exposure to those at theshow that might have someone interested in something like her.

[oceanmountain]

As being someone who has backed and done the green ponies as an adult, I would suggest taking her to a schooling show and just letting her hang out- you don’t even need to enter a class. Let her get used to stabling, hanging out at the ring, schooling in the schooling rings. Hand walk her around, let her check out all the sights.
A good pony kid can ride the super green ones- a lot of ponies are started by juniors(since they can fit on them). Check out the pony catch riders at the shows and then talk to the trainers and see if you can get one to sit on the pony in the schooling area.

Start with taking the pony in a flat class, getting used to everything. A lot of local shows have a novice division that is cross rails (I know GOHJA does) and an adult can take a pony in it. Use that to work on ring etiquette- work on straight lines, to the corner, trot the change if needed, etc. Then move up towards having the catch rider kid ride in classes that are pony appropriate after the pony is used to the excitement of the show. Have fun!!

[222orchids]

You ought to look at the courses (they should be posted) if you can, before you decide on certain things. Any course with a one-stride in-and-out is going to be set for a horse at anywhere from 22-24 feet, and for your pony that might be a totally awkward one and a half strides. You certainly won’t make it in a single stride and your pony had better be very catty to put two short strides there. Your first show is no place to start assessing her ability to be that nimble. I’d avoid getting into that situation and look for classes that have related distances long enough for you to put an appropriate extra stride (or two) where needed. Do some flat classes and a very easy modified hunter or low adult hunter with lines but not combinations.

[Addison]

Check your zone specs, almost all zones allow ponies in the adult hunters.

[LittleMissBigTime]

[QUOTE=oceanmountain;7755145]
As being someone who has backed and done the green ponies as an adult, I would suggest taking her to a schooling show and just letting her hang out- you don’t even need to enter a class. Let her get used to stabling, hanging out at the ring, schooling in the schooling rings. Hand walk her around, let her check out all the sights.
A good pony kid can ride the super green ones- a lot of ponies are started by juniors(since they can fit on them). Check out the pony catch riders at the shows and then talk to the trainers and see if you can get one to sit on the pony in the schooling area.

Start with taking the pony in a flat class, getting used to everything. A lot of local shows have a novice division that is cross rails (I know GOHJA does) and an adult can take a pony in it. Use that to work on ring etiquette- work on straight lines, to the corner, trot the change if needed, etc. Then move up towards having the catch rider kid ride in classes that are pony appropriate after the pony is used to the excitement of the show. Have fun!![/QUOTE]

Thank you! I think your advice is spot on into what I’m looking to do in regards to your comment on the novice division schooling shows. Something that I can work on her in. I will have to do some research on what I’ve got in the area. Also good point on going to just hang on and school, as at home we have a grass jump field and arena-no sand-and while I don’t anticipate her having issues in the sand rings, anything can happen.

[Soaponarope]

Super cute pony! If you are not a pro you could do this pony in long stirrup couldn’t you? If the pony turns well and has changes you could also look for some equitation divisions where she could use those skills. I agree that because of the strides you probably want to get her in the ponies with a catch rider if you want to sell her. But first enjoy her and let her get used to some hunter schooling shows. The large green ponies jump 2’9". Good luck and keep us posted how it goes!

[findeight]

Ah, I remember this one from an earlier thread over on Off Course. Nice Pony, Welsh cross probably IIRC, seems to have some quality, color can be a +or a- depending on buyer but many do like it ( least it’s something, not a plain bay). Like to see video trot and canter flat and over fences.

Before you get your heart set on which way to go, has she ever been correctly measured? If you are thinking of aiming for a Division Pony, start by getting a stick on her for an accurate measure- height very much effects not only value but the ability to attract buyers. 14.1 is good, 14.0 puts you in tough sale territory, below that they don’t come look because without an accurate ride, the ones closer to top of the line height just look smoother.

IMO getting to some shows in the very low Hunters is going to get her seen by trainers that could lead to buyers so it’s pretty important she behaves well every time she is in public. Get her broke, get lead changes on her, take your time. Wouldn’t hurt to see a trainer periodically for honest evaluation and help directing your training. Haul in once a month or something.

Having a relationship with a trainer can also help with bringing buyers to you, selling as a FSBO is tough, nobody serious comes to look. Also think you are a bit big for her. Wont matter much over the real low stuff but will when you start stepping up. Relationship with a trainer can get you a good catch rider kid. Remember relationship with trainer does not mean going 100% into their program, just help and guidance as a haul in.

I hate the theory “It’s hot so put it in the Jumpers since it can’t do anything else”. Try TRAINING IT, not dumping it…sorry, pet peeve. Plus that, the Pony Jumper market is dismal. At best. If you focus on regular Ch/Ad Jumpers, buyer needs to be small and that takes out at least half your buyer pool and those jumps can be pretty stout for an average 14.1ish Pony with a average rider.

One other thing, Juniors and Children are two different things at USEF rated shows and many locals. Same ages but Children’s a Hunters jump 3’, Juniors jump 3’ 6", can’t recall the Jumper heights but Juniors is a lot bigger.

I doubt many Juniors want to go back to Ponies, think the regular Children’s divisions are a better target. Just to complicate thing a bit, there is another division called Children’s Hunter Pony that is not the regular division, it’s lower and more for Green Ponies and novice riders.

Whatever you do, DO NOT break her Green status. May need to review the rules to avoid that.

IMO the Pony is cute and has some quality. Worth taking a shot at developing

[Dewey]

I remember your other thread in which you posted pictures of her. I said then that I thought she was lovely, and I still think so, but I’ll be honest and add here that I think you look too big for her and that might affect your placings in the hunter ring. As others have said, she’ll be more valuable as a hunter than as a pony jumper, so if you have any thoughts of selling, it might be worth your while to find a junior to show her.

If you want to keep her for yourself, go ahead and show her in the jumpers. You’ll have a blast.

[LittleMissBigTime]

I really appreciate the honesty! Sometimes you get attached to something and are blinding by reality and I kind of need that check back.

She’s about 75% there on auto lead changes. She has some trouble with her weaker side but is steadily getting better at swapping in the back the more we work on it.

I really hate to waste this pony’s potential, if she has it. Unfortunatley she’s all I’ve got and the situation I am in with boarding is kind of a “one at a time” type of thing…so If I were to sell, I’d be out a horse until the next one came along. It’s hard for me to decide if I want to let her go, or hang on to her. That’s kind of why I was wanting to test the waters with shows, see how she really shines, and see if I can dredge up any interest in her. If the right buyer came around, I would let her go, but I would not be devastated if that never happened, as I do have fun with her.

Anyways,
I have some random videos of her going…neither is a very accurate depiction of her day to day.

http://youtu.be/HjFBI8HjvRs
This was just a schooling ride a few weeks ago after she was off for 2 weeks (rain) not necessarily looking for a critique (of me, I know I’m rusty, but I get the job done fine for now) she typically goes a little less fussy than this; hope to get a better video coming up in the next week or two as we school small courses again.

[french_fry]

She’s cute. I think you need to be working with a trainer in order to maximize her potential either for resale or to figure out your personal goals with her.

[tua37516]

I second a lot of people’s suggestions of start out with some schooling shows to get her practiced at being off the property and jumping at an appropriate height for her training level. Did I miss a post with her age? I saw you mentioned she is green.

I live in the general Devon Horse Show vacinity in PA, and around here we have a pretty well attended schooling show circuit that offers a Baby Green division for horses 7 and under- trotting corners is not penalized. Ponies show at 2’3", horses at 2’6". I had my 4yo out doing this division just the under saddle classes and the schooling ring to start, then we worked our way into doing the over fences. If I had the funds I would start the rated showing now either this fall or next spring now that she has miles.

PS- she’s really cute!

[LittleMissBigTime]

[QUOTE=french fry;7755967]
She’s cute. I think you need to be working with a trainer in order to maximize her potential either for resale or to figure out your personal goals with her.[/QUOTE]

Edit: She’s 5 this year

Already on the look out for a trainer that I can trailer to or that will come to me! I have someone coming down once a month right now. She’s a “centered riding” specialist…which has it’s great strong aspects…but I am much more used to the traditional hunter jumper trainers of my younger years who are more equipped and more into the show scene. The centered riding instructor helps more with quirks and communication limitations with my horse.

SO if anyone here reading this post is in the Tampa Bay (Florida) area and knows of an awesome trainer that does haul ins or travels…let me know! They’re harder to come by than you’d think, as everyone seems to either be in Ocala or Wellington. Western dominates my area it seems.