Are there any benefits? Advantages?
Fewer entries in our area, at least at the lower levels. 
So ribbon/point chasing?
And a competitor can go back and forth in the divisions? Does he or she have to keep the same status at the same show?
[QUOTE=right horse at the right time;7217044]
So ribbon/point chasing?
And a competitor can go back and forth in the divisions? Does he or she have to keep the same status at the same show?[/QUOTE]
Basically.
Another reason is simply feeling that they should compete against the best - so they want to be in classes with the higher scoring riders. That seems a common one before going to compete in CA.
I don’t know why they couldn’t switch back and forth - as long as they’re USEF declared amateurs by the rules. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a show manager require they be different numbers/entry forms. I actually didn’t know if registration allowed you to specify divisions or not.
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Aren’t open divisions open to anyone so it does not matter if you are an ammy or not, you can ride in them. What does status have to do with anything? You are still an ammy even if you show in open.
5 Likes
As long as you are ammy eligible you can switch back and forth as you please. You don’t need a separate number.
In the hunters they do it all the time, generally doing the open, unrated "schoolings’ or “specials” or “lows” or whatever to warm up for their “real” class. Although an Ammy Owner did the Hunter Derby finals last year when Peter Pletcher did his back in and couldn’t ride her horse for her; that was, needless to say, impressive.
For dressage since everyone rides the same tests anyway it doesn’t make any difference. You get a Dover medal for one but not the other.
If you want to qualify for regionals in the open division you need higher scores, so there is more prestige in going there “open.”
[QUOTE=netg;7217056]
Basically.
Another reason is simply feeling that they should compete against the best - so they want to be in classes with the higher scoring riders. That seems a common one before going to compete in CA.
I don’t know why they couldn’t switch back and forth - as long as they’re USEF declared amateurs by the rules. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a show manager require they be different numbers/entry forms. I actually didn’t know if registration allowed you to specify divisions or not.[/QUOTE]
I can see wanting to compete against the pros… That part I get.
Apparently this isn’t the case-at least for year end all breed USDF awards.
And yes, it’s all about sour grapes for me, I’m going to be honest. I have no beef with the rider, just with the rule (the rule that has knocked my horse out of contention). He would have been the number two horse nationally and because the rider showed in both open and AA (and has better scores, of course), now he isn’t placing in a recognized spot.
It’s ok. It just would have been a fun thing to add to his story, and finally I would have something to put in the annual Christmas letter that I haven’t written in 15 years. 
There are no points to chase in USDF. Nor would classes in open or aa make a difference in end of year standings.
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[QUOTE=honeylips;7217102]
There are no points to chase in USDF. Nor would classes in open or aa make a difference in end of year standings.[/QUOTE]
How can they not? If there are two divisions-aa and open-and you enter both-you can be top scorer for both open and AA, unless I’m missing something…
To me, competing in an open class (whether it be in dressage or hunters or a breed show) is a way to gauge my progress against the “professionals”. Not out for points, ribbons, etc., just a way to help me figure out where I stack up against people who make a living riding and training and what I need to work on.
Also, I’ve seen quite a bit of unfairness (in a variety of disciplines), where the AA rides the horse to a win in one or more classes, but the trainer has put 99% of the rides on the horse and the ammy owner just rides it at shows once in a while. I would rather compete in an open class and maybe not win, but at least know that the person riding the horse is the one who got it to where it is by hard work, not paying someone else to do the hard work.
[QUOTE=right horse at the right time;7217085]
And yes, it’s all about sour grapes for me, I’m going to be honest. I have no beef with the rider, just with the rule (the rule that has knocked my horse out of contention). He would have been the number two horse nationally and because the rider showed in both open and AA (and has better scores, of course), now he isn’t placing in a recognized spot. [/QUOTE]
I don’t understand – what is the rule that you have a beef with?
Let me get to a real computer and type-I’m on my phone. It probably is my lack of understanding but the way it’s been explained it seems quite odd.
[QUOTE=meupatdoes;7217075]
As long as you are ammy eligible you can switch back and forth as you please. You don’t need a separate number.
In the hunters they do it all the time, generally doing the open, unrated "schoolings’ or “specials” or “lows” or whatever to warm up for their “real” class. Although an Ammy Owner did the Hunter Derby finals last year when Peter Pletcher did his back in and couldn’t ride her horse for her; that was, needless to say, impressive.
For dressage since everyone rides the same tests anyway it doesn’t make any difference. You get a Dover medal for one but not the other.
If you want to qualify for regionals in the open division you need higher scores, so there is more prestige in going there “open.”[/QUOTE]
To the first part of what you said-then how are these scores recorded in usef? As open or AA scores? How is it tracked?
Here AA/JR tend to be combined… I think I’d rather show against the Pro’s some days than the JRs! :lol:
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I totally agree! My DD the DQ, once she became an adult and a working student, and therefore, started doing things that would knock her out of amateur status, said the best riders are the JR/YR anyway, so she’d rather show in open. In our neck of the woods - she lives in your area now. I’m still back east.
But, in reality, you are usually mixing classifications anyway. Say you want to show your horse at one level, which most people do, like 2nd 1 or 2nd 2. So you enter all available classes at that level, which are usually only two per day, regardless of whether they are classified as OPEN or AA/JR/YR. You want to show your horse in that class, doing that test, and it doesn’t matter who you are showing against.
Of course, beyond that, if you want to qualify for certain things, like GAIC regionals, or out here, the Bengt Lunquist (sp?) memorials, you have to enter classes that are qualifying for those events.
Hopefully that makes sense (says the horse show mom who many, many years ago, entered her daughter and horse in T1 THROUGH T4, because I thought that’s what you were supposed to do!)
Sometimes people value riding under a particular judge.
At other shows there are so few in the class that that is what is open.
Since it is your score that is recorded, I don’t think it matters. Really, you can only hang so many ribbons. But the scores are there forever.
[QUOTE=right horse at the right time;7217207]
To the first part of what you said-then how are these scores recorded in usef? As open or AA scores? How is it tracked?[/QUOTE]
They aren’t recorded as either AA or as Open scores.
You just get X% at Y test.
The USEF horse results search does list the class, so somebody looking it up will know whether you showed Ammy or not, but the score is the score.
I think (somebody tell me if I am wrong) you could ride an open test (with your GAIG declaration) and send in the score to qualify for regionals as an AA. However no matter what you do you can’t use your scores cross enter ammy/open AT the championships, you have to pick. But your ability to score X% at Y level is what qualifies you, no matter what you end up deciding to contest at Championships.
While you can’t do more than one qualifying test per level at the same show, I don’t see any requirements that the qualifying score be earned in the same division as what you eventually contest at championships. So unless I am missing part of the rule book I think if you get two 75%'s at Training Level in Open, that is not enough to get you to Regionals in Open (must have two 78%'s) but if you qualify AA you can use the scores for AA.
A very good reason I can think of is if an AA has high performance aspirations, they need to be out showing against the best.
[QUOTE=right horse at the right time;7217085]
I can see wanting to compete against the pros… That part I get.
Apparently this isn’t the case-at least for year end all breed USDF awards.
And yes, it’s all about sour grapes for me, I’m going to be honest. I have no beef with the rider, just with the rule (the rule that has knocked my horse out of contention). He would have been the number two horse nationally and because the rider showed in both open and AA (and has better scores, of course), now he isn’t placing in a recognized spot.
It’s ok. It just would have been a fun thing to add to his story, and finally I would have something to put in the annual Christmas letter that I haven’t written in 15 years. :D[/QUOTE]
I’m confused… In the year end awards I general will get awards in open, AA and vintage. If I were a professional, I could get open and vintage awards…I don’t understand why your horse got knocked out of an award?
[QUOTE=right horse at the right time;7217017]
Are there any benefits? Advantages?[/QUOTE]
Maybe the time in the schedule is more convenient.
Maybe you want to ride under THAT judge.
Maybe the Open class is actually smaller, so you have a better chance at a ribbon.
Maybe the test you want to ride is only offered as “Open”
Maybe you want to avoid competing against a particulary high scoring amateur.
Maybe you want to see you you compare to the riders/horses who are competing in Open.
Maybe the footing is better in that ring.
