Walk me through hunter green eligibility and value.

[winter]

I have a horse that we were gearing towards jumpers because of her scope, but we have been told by several top hunter people recently who have seen her jump and move that she should be a hunter. She is five and it’s her first year showing.

She has done two shows up to .9 jumpers and a few non rated 2’6 hunter rounds. She also did one five year old young jumper class that was .9-1.0m. Reading the pre-green eligibility she is still eligible pre green since she hasn’t shown 1.10m and it is her first year showing?

If we decided to market her as a hunter, what division should we show for the rest of the summer? It seems silly to do baby green, the fences are so small and the lines are so short it doesn’t really suit her. Should we do pre-green? What is the best way to market a horse with the scope and the step to really move up to at least 3’6"? What is the critical eligibilty we should maintain for sale purposes?

I am confused on this exception to the pre-green rule:
Exception: Horses six years of age and under competing over fences of 3’6" (1.075m) or higher in jumper classes at FEI competitions will retain eligibility as Pre-Green Hunters.

Does this mean we can continue to do the 5 year old young horse classes? they are .9 - 1.0m until July 15th at which point they move to 1.0-1.10. It would be nice to have that division on her resume even if she does end up a hunter.

Thanks so much.

[IPEsq]

I’m not positive on the jumper exception, but in the hunter ring, I’d go ahead and move her up to the 3’ pre greens. Depending on the rest of the rules re jumpers, then she may still be eligible 3’3 pre greens next season (if that is important to the buyer), or you could market her as a horse ready for the first years.

[MHM]

Personally, I would think pretty hard about wasting a pre-green year on a horse by starting that division in June or later, especially if the horse is fancy.

Five years ago, it would have mattered less, but now that there is the pre-green incentive program, including the finals with a huge amount of prize money, that could be a strong selling point if the horse could be considered a contender.

[winter]

[QUOTE=MHM;8173658]
Personally, I would think pretty hard about wasting a pre-green year on a horse by starting that division in June or later, especially if the horse is fancy.

Five years ago, it would have mattered less, but now that there is the pre-green incentive program, including the finals with a huge amount of prize money, that could be a strong selling point if the horse could be considered a contender.[/QUOTE]

Hmm, thank you. So the route would be to stay in baby green this year while she is for sale, and not do any more jumper classes, then allow the buyer to take her in 1st year pre-green next year as a 6 year old. OR we do 1st year pre-green this year and they could take her in second year pre-green next year, but that could be an issue for a buyer. Interesting. She’s so ready to do at least the 3’ (was going to do 1.10 jumpers) and the lines ride so short for her in baby green, it seemed weird to do that division, but definitely we could if it makes more sense for her future.

The horse will be showing in Canada this summer until sold, where it’s not as competitive for hunters. She will be attending one show in August that participates in the USEF pre-green incentive program, but prior to that the shows are not USEF rated, only EC rated. Would it be worthwhile to enroll now to prepare for that one show, so if she were sold there, the buyer could continue on through the fall?

[Didi]

I would recommend NOT wasting a pre-green year. That can be a great incentive if she is as you describe (and I believe she is). I think the plan you described directly above is the way to go. A knowledgeable buyer will not be bothered by the Baby Greens being beneath her scope and step.

[Didi]

As for the second part, NO - at least in the US the show season begins in December. You would really waste her Incentive potential by showing her pre-green in August.

[Blinky]

Keeping a horse in the baby green which is 2’6" is a waste of money if the horse is ready to move up. Plus your buyers will think its still a greenie. If you move her to the pre-green this month that is still 18 months she can do the Division as you can be in the division for two years.

If she is ready I would move her up.

[MHM]

You could also show her over bigger jumps at unrecognized shows without affecting her pre-green eligibility at USEF shows. That way, she could get some hunter mileage, and you could get video of her showing over more than a baby green course.

I don’t know if that unrecognized route is an option where you are in Canada.

[mroades]

except if you jump low jumps and teach her to jump badly, what exactly are you wasting? We are in the same boat with a horse that just did her first show and we did it at 3’ because baby greens would have been silly. We are intending to do the 1st years next year but if she still needs time there are the 3’3" Pre-greens

[Lord_Helpus]

I am totally confused on the pregreen status thing, but as far as I can see, any horse can jump anything up to (including?) 3’6" and still be a pregreen horse. Seems crazy to me, but I guess instead of trying to control all the European horses pretending to be pregreen when they come over, the rules were changed to accommodate them… :rolleyes:

I currently have a 5 year old showing in the 5 year old YJC. Those classes are 1.10 - 1.15m until July and then 1.15 - 1.20m after that.

Are these the classes you are referring to?

Seems to me that all the horses who come from Europe are started in the jumpers (since they do not have hunters). And the huntery ones find a home in that ring with no problem.

What does your trainer think? If your horse has plenty of scope, then jumping too low can only harm her jumping style. In the old days, 4 year olds started at 3’6", then it was dropped down to 3’. Now the speed bumps they call the intro classes are ridiculous for horses who step over them.

My 5 year old baby did some 1.0m at the end of last year, then 1.10 in Florida and is now doing 1.15m. In July he will do the 1.20m 5 year old classes when those jumps are raised.

You horse will tell you how high she is comfortable with. But at 5, I do not see artificially holding her back.

[winter]

Thanks everyone so much. I have a lot of thinking to do… She has been doing 1.10 courses at home with bigger single jumps. She has a huge step and really has to be held back to make the lines in the 2’6". Sadly we do not have a lot of hunters here at all so I don’t know if I could find unrated shows to get a nice video, but that’s a really good suggestion.
I appreciate the insight from those of you in hunterland!

[MHM]

A horse with too many career options- that’s a good problem to have!

Good luck with her, whatever you decide to do.

[Rel6]

You can show her in the pre-greens a few times and then get her eligibility re-instated. I believe if she shows in the pre-greens fewer than 5 times times you can contact USEF in the fall and they will re-instate her pregreen status.

[Madeline]

Just keep changing her name and she can be evergreen…

[Lord_Helpus]

The rule reads that you can go up to 3’6" without blowing her pre green status. I sure would want to show her off jumping as high as she can jump this year. Doing the baby greens is 1. not showing off her talent and 2. creating bad jumping form which might stay with her for a long time.

All the European horses follow this rule (which was written for them). No point in wasting a year of her showing career doing something that she is overqualified for.

My answer might be different if she was 4. But the YJC 5 year olds will soon (July 1) be jumping 1.20m. 1.10 is not going to stress her physically. So if it doesn’t stress her mentally, then she should do it.