Amateur Rules - a question for constructive discussion

[piper77]

Firstly let me state this is not meant to be an inflammatory post, but constructive debate to see what competitors really think and want - and perhaps this can become feedback that Equifest take on board.  So please keep it honest but constructive :-)

My question is should the Amateur Classes at Equifest be open to produced amateurs like the affiliated classes or only home produced horses.  With the evening performance increasingly only taking the top two forward, do you feel the true amateurs, for whom the chance to compete at RIHS/HOYS is very slim, are losing their opportunity for that thrilling experience

Part of the reason for this post is that I am a sponsor and I spoke to a number of disillusioned amateur cob and hunter riders last year and it is making me rethink how and what I sponsor.  I see both sides but Equifest is fundamentally an unaffiliated show and there are plenty of affiliated opportunities for the produced amateur to shine in.  As such I believe the Amateur classes should be Home Produced only and the horses should not be off a professional yard. 

Please discuss

[roxy93]

They could be home produced amateurs and open amateurs but if you do the enter the amaetur class you know what you are going to be against, they could send through to championship 2 home prodcued amateurs as well as the open amateurs

[clobo121082]

I can make some points on this if it helps. I didn't go to Equifest last year but have judged the horse classes up there before and they were off a great standard - home produced, amateur and open. For me I have always personally liked the Amateur rules that the horses have played by. When I had a hack he was produced but I am by no means a professional so for me it gave me an opportunity to have a class where I wasn't up against the professionals, who do tend to dominate horse classes especially. I did however always ride my own horse and didn't have someone else qualify it for me - this did mean i missed qualifiers sometime but for me the joy was and still is riding myself. So I think the tightening up of the amateur rules recently has been a good thing.

My point with the amateur class is it should be different to home produced ruling otherwise you are just holding two home produced classes. If the amateur class is only for HP horses how does this differ in anyway to the HP class? I think the amateur class is a good middle ground for people who don't do horses for a living but maybe can't have their horses at home. As I often say not everyone who has a horse produced is rich and doesn't work hard at their hobby as well. I would love to be able to home produce mine but work hours and no facilities dictate otherwise.

I was there at the start of Equifest and yes obviously the amount of producers going has increased but it was never an unaffiliated low standard show.

I see the predicament but is there not a way of maybe taking the home produced championship through instead? or the top ten?

[thatboythatgirl]

I think that the Amateur rule is fine it keeps in line with other societies.

I personally would rather see the eve performances altered to how they used to be where it was predominantly top 10s from classes through rather than watching people flounce around in dresses!I don't mind concours classes but there are just too many now

[Toaster]

i think they are ok. Part of the problem with HP rules are the variations from society to society, the perceived loopholes and perceived unclear wording and it would open a can of worms to let the more clear cut amateur rules go that way.

Having spent an awful lot of time spectating at Equifest the last two years and reading their Facebook page it is clear that some of the show goers assume that because Equifest have bought showing to 'the masses' there is somehow an expectation that anyone in the least bit polished (professional or otherwise) doesn't belong there or somehow isn't giving 'normal' children a fair shot at a place which is a great shame

[nightrider]

Hoys and pro produced horses or ponies should be excluded from amateur classes in my opinion. The standard at equifest is high but too many pot hunters.

[Pepper]

Jun 18, 2015 21:44:33 GMT nightrider said:

Hoys and pro produced horses or ponies should be excluded from amateur classes in my opinion. The standard at equifest is high but too many pot hunters.

I am inclined to agree completely with this. It's an amateur class at an unaff show and I believe Pro-produced horses should be excluded - they have plenty of other prestigious places to go and yes, harsh, but it does smack as pot hunting

[lgb]

I'm a bit niggled tbh re a write up on a pony I've just seen on FB of a pony qualified in the ri puk amateurs which is openly worked in right till the last minute by a trainer at the ringside in view of everyone judges stewards alike !    I received an email from puk which stated this cannot happen and so can only hope the owners are unaware of the rules  and dot open their emails !