‘Why do class numbers in exhibiting differ wildly?’

Cheshire-based present horse producer Robert Walker has his say on class numbers and showcasing younger animals

The season is now nicely underneath means and, as regular, it’s nice to see established and new faces out exhibiting. With a number of space affiliation and county exhibits now underneath our belts, it’s been attention-grabbing that, as ever, the numbers of horses and ponies ahead differ tremendously. That is clearly very irritating and worrying for some present organisers, however I don’t suppose it’s down to 1 factor with one reply.

These days there may be a lot selection. After I was rising up, there have been the county exhibits and the agricultural exhibits. On prime of these now, there are space affiliation or society exhibits, membership exhibits and particular qualifying exhibits. Which means opponents are inevitably all very unfold out.

There’s additionally much more selection in courses. After I was a toddler, there have been hacks, hunters and driving ponies – and cobs have been rising. However there have been no driving horses, coloureds or mountain and moorlands. Now the latter two sections are very fashionable, so if we see smaller conventional courses, it might nicely be that riders who beforehand confirmed in these classes have switched to a unique sort of horse.

I imagine that exhibiting is as fashionable as ever, but it surely’s loved on a much wider spectrum. There’s a big undercurrent to affiliated exhibiting, with many individuals having fun with it at grassroots stage.

Take the numbers of entries in courses on the STARS (Displaying Groups and Rising Stars) championships or Equifest as nice examples. The problem for affiliated exhibiting is to entice these opponents to come back to affiliated exhibits. We have to be extra proactive.

Maybe we’d like extra of those opponents to concentrate on what they will attempt on a “day ticket”, for instance, and perhaps we’d like extra related probabilities for folks to dip a toe within the water, so to talk.

And we should be certain they don’t really feel misplaced or within the minority. Individuals – whether or not extra skilled present riders or officers – are all the time completely satisfied to assist.

The place courses are dwindling at county exhibits, we have to be certain that folks aren’t afraid to offer it a go. We’d like folks to grasp that they’re lacking out on an incredible time out exhibiting. It’s not all the time about successful, exhibiting can be about participating. For most individuals it’s about enjoyment and enjoyable.

I all the time advocated lifting restrictions on courses to encourage extra occasional present riders to compete at county exhibits, however am now not certain it’s the reply. With out restriction, courses might turn out to be unruly. It’s not only a matter of requirements, typically regulation is required to maintain folks protected.

An excellent showcase

I’m simply again from a visit to Eire’s Bannow and Rathangan Agricultural Present. I actually loved watching the judging of the Irish Exhibits Affiliation and Bannow and Rathangan Present Society All Eire three-year-old championship.

The championship has a qualifying system the place you must acquire your house within the ultimate at sure agricultural exhibits via the season. It was a pleasure to see 20 three-year-olds ahead for the ultimate judging. The winner has the added bonus of a wholesome chunk of an enormous prize pot: €5,000 (£4,330).

There have been many animals that gained’t make present horses however will likely be aimed down completely different routes. Regardless, it was nice to have such a showcase for breeding and a perfect means for breeders to market the animal whereas additionally being aggressive.

It took me again to the times after we stood Hunter Enchancment Scheme (HIS) stallions; clients wished to showcase the foals on the good native agricultural exhibits and a few have been bought on from there to do various things.

In Eire, the ringside was overflowing with spectators. The ambiance was nice, with a lot curiosity and enthusiasm for breeding. There have been many eagle eyes there in addition to members of the general public, with exhibiting fans previous and new having fun with the spectacle.

Now we have the Horse of the Yr Present in-hand ultimate, however can we additionally want an identical showcase for UK breeders at a county present?

● How can we encourage grassroots opponents to check out affiliated exhibiting? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your identify, nearest city and county, for the prospect on your letter to seem in a forthcoming situation of the journal

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