I took some of my students to a schooling show this weekend and noticed that in the Novice Horse and Rider classes there were kids competing that I knew had qualified themselves and their horses for Youth Nationals… a very high level of competition.
While my students are just starting out in Canter classes, these more experienced kids were entering and winning at the Novice Levels.
I agree that one should compete at a level below where they are schooling at home, but this was a local practice show with these Nationally qualified kids and horses in Novice classes. It’s not fair for the kids just beginning their walk-trot-canter classes.
Should I say something to the club that puts on the shows or just let it go?
I am one of the kids that is just starting walk trot canter classes, doing novice, and maiden, because we are both not that experienced. I know i compete with amazing people who should not be in that class, they are better than novice. I don’t like it, but it depends on what you think is right. I personaly wouldn’t tell, i’d just deal with it like i do. Remember its not about winning, its about the experience you get from riding in the class.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:00 pm
I am one of the kids that is just starting walk trot canter classes, doing novice, and maiden, because we are both not that experienced. I know i compete with amazing people who should not be in that class, they are better than novice. I don’t like it, but it depends on what you think is right. I personaly wouldn’t tell, i’d just deal with it like i do. Remember its not about winning, its about the experience you get from riding in the class.
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March 3rd, 2010 at 9:07 pm
I would first find out what the rules are for that show. Each show and registry has a different definition of what a Novice is. Like in AQHA a novice is some one who has not earned so many points or money in a give discipline however if it is in a different discipline that does not count. Ex If I had earned a ROM or $20K in NRHA/Reining and wanted to show WP then although I would not be a Novice in Reining I would be a novice in WP.
now that might not be the case here and I would at least mention it to the person running the show but not in an accusing way or anything just an FYI to keep things fair and the new riders coming. Most small schooling shows bread and butter so to speak are the new riders who are just starting out and if these riders or trainers schooling these riders get discouraged or put off by that small schooling show they will go else where and that hurts the show in question.
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15 years of showing
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:25 pm
I personally would put the blame for this problem squarely on the shoulders of the club hosting the show.
I show at the Paint level. To be a novice amateur they have very specific rules that are spelled out to a T. You can only have earned so many points in certain classes, and once you’ve reached that level you can no longer show in that catagory. So if I show Novice amateur and finally earn 50 points in hunt seat equitation, I must move up into the regular amateur class for equitation, but I can continue in novice for classes such as Western pleasure if I have less points. Likewise, if any child wants to show in walk/trot classes they cannot then ride in classes that allow cantering. You have to choose one or the other, and then stick with that group.
If the club does not make specific rules for this problem, you are certain to see it continue. Face it, many talented young riders are that way because they work hard and show lots. They probably consider these novice classes a perfect time to do some schooling classes. If the club simply made rules on who is novice, then the problem would stop. So I wouldn’t blame the kids or the coaches, I would just calmly discuss the problem from your viewpoint with the club, and go from there.
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March 3rd, 2010 at 10:01 pm
If you have proof, say something let them ride in the pleasure classes.. Some riders do it to get more blues and some do it to get more practice. Nothing is ever fair and this type of thing happens all the time unfortunately but if they keep good records they shouldn’t be able to continue to ride those classes if they ever got first at their shows…..
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