BSPA Coloured classes !!

[pimms]

what on earth is going wrong with the coloured classes. why on earth are the traditionals in with the plaiteds. its like judging the hacks with the cobs !! and then to split them up at the rihs. total nonsense.

[rtk]

Its always been like that when you do them at some BSPS shows. They dont even give out qualifications to the highest placed in each class. They only had one judge for huge classes at some as well.

I'm sure some of the couunty shows did split them, you'd need to check the schedules.

We have given up and just joined CHAPS this year.

[SaturdayGirl]

I agree this is TOTALLY rdiculous. Waht is wrong with having the 4 classes (as CHAPS do) and then each horse i judged against its own type. It's just ridiculous. Also the fact that the don't give 'best of' qualifications means that if you're under a judge who doesn't like hairies you don't have a chance.

They do NOT need 6 classes at RIHS, too many people qualify as it is. I find it an absolute farce that my pony (big chunky hairy cob) has to compete at RIHS against beautiful show ponies. It's not fair on the judges either making them decide!

[Interlude]

We've given up this year and just joined chaps too - BSPA are useless with any sort of admin too which just makes the whole thing a nightmare.

[frobster]

I would never touch BSPA!!! Never done it and NEVER will!!

There are some absolutely appalling horse that have qualified! It will be an embarrassment to watch. Qualification is way too easy! And half the qualifiers have zero entries!!

Surely they should restrict it to only 1st qualifiers and its only as long as 6 or more turn up! That would be much fairer as it is a load of cr@p at the moment!

[tommy]

was thinking of joining bspa but think i will stay with chaps thanks everyone

[pimms]

we qualified for rihs 2007 and 2008, and hoys 2007 on our new pony. i found the bspa very good to deal with and very helpful but there is a lot of average stuff that qualifies, sorry to sound rude. but the royal international is a prestige show as is hoys.

[pipsqueek]

I WAS WITH THE BSPA A FEW YEARS AGO AND FOUND THEM TO BE VERY FRIENDLY FOLKS BUT OVER THE LAST 2 YRS I HAVE STAYED WITH CHAPS,
I FOUND THAT THE BSPA WAS JUDGING FACES AND NOT THE PONIES,
AND CAN SOMEONE PLZ TELL ME WHY THEY HAVE JUDGES THAT DONT KNOW ONE END OF A COLOURED TO THE OTHER
I HAVE KNOWN THEM HAVE M&M JUDGES THAT HATE THE SIGHT OF COLOUREDS MENTIONING NO MANES OF CAUSE
I WAS AT THE ROYAL WELSH LAST YEAR AND THE SAME JUDGE PUT ME 4TH IN THE YOUNGSTOCK CLASS,
AND THEN 2ND IN THE OPEN AGE CLASS
WORK THAT ONE OUT

[thecremellosociety]

we do bspa and chaps at derby county but found the affiliation very confusing we have RIHS Quals our classes for both are below ( will cut n paste apologies if goes higgledy piggledy)

SKEWBALD & PIEBALD HORSES AND PONIES (BSPA)

JUDGE – Mr M Daley – Cheshire
E Barnes – Cheshire (Ride)

Affiliated to British Skewbald and Piebald Association and also Ponies (UK).
BSPA CLASSES ARE OPEN TO SKEWBALD AND PIEBALD HORSES AND PONIES ONLY.
THESE CLASSES ARE AFFILIATED TO THE BRITISH SKEWBALD AND PIEBALD ASSOCIATION AND ARE QUALIFIERS FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OF COLOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 2008. TO BE HELD AT THE COLLEGE EC, KEYSOE, BEDFORDSHIRE. ALL CLASSES WILL BE JUDGED WITHIN THE RULES AND CRITERIA OF THE BSPA. ( COPIES OF THE RULE BOOK AND MEMBERSHIP/ HORSE REG/ OVERSTAMPING FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE SHOW OFFICE 01354 638226 OR DOWNLOADED FROM www.bspaonline.com . ALL STALLIONS 4 YEARS OLD & OVER MUST BE GRADED AND LICENSED AND REGISTERED WITH THE BSPA IN ORDER TO COMPETE. OPEN TO MEMBERS AND NON MEMBERS. IN ORDER TO QUALIFY ALL OWNERS/ HANDLERS/ RIDERS MUST BE MEMBERS OF THE BSPA AND ALL HORSES AND PONIES REGISTERED WITH THE BSPA PRIOR TO THE SHOW. BSPA QUALIFICATION CARDS MUST BE PRODUCED IN THE RING AND BE SIGNED BY THE JUDGE OTHERWISE THE QUALIFICATION IS INVALID.
IN ALL WCC RIDDEN CLASSES THE JUDGE MAY RIDE OR REQUEST A DISPLAY.

QUALIFICATION 1ST – 3RD IN CLASSES 808 – 811 OR 1ST – 4TH IF CLASS ENTRY EXCEEDS 12.

CLASS 808 BSPA OPEN IN-HAND QUALIFIER -
Skewbald/Piebald Horses & Ponies. Any age, sex, colour or type .

CLASS 809 BSPA IN HAND PIEBALD AND SKEWBALD OPEN YOUNGSTOCK CLASS – 1,2 & 3 YEAR OLDS ANY TYPE, HEIGHT OR SEX, PLAITED OR TRADITIONAL NATIVE VANNER

CLASS 810 BSPA TRADITIONAL/ NATIVE /VANNER IN HAND QUALIFIER PIEBALD OR SKEWBALD HORSES OR PONIES, ANY AGE OR SEX OR HEIGHT, FOALS EXCEEDING 4 WEEKS

CLASS 810A BSPA PLAITED IN HAND QUALIFIER SKEWBALD AND PIEBALD HORSES AND PONIES, ANY HEIGHT, ANY SEX TO BE SHOWN PLAITED OR TRIMMED

CLASS 811 BSPA ‘COLOURAMA’ Best Colour and Markings CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER - To be Shown In-Hand. Any height, sex, age, colour or type. Additional Qualifier to highest placed Paint, Overo or Splash Marked Blue eyed exhibit not placed 1st – 3rd.

CLASSES 812 & 813 ARE QUALIFIERS FOR 2009 ROYAL INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW AT HICKSTEAD

These Classes are affiliated to the British Skewbald & Piebald Association and are qualifiers for The Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead in 2009. Classes will be judged under BSPA rules Download from www.bspaonline.com. All horses and ponies must be registered and all owners and riders BSPA members prior to the show. Riders ages taken from 1st January. All Stallions must be graded and licensed with BSPA. No rider under 14 may exhibit a stallion in any class. Membership and qualification cards must be carried in the ring by competitors and produced as required for inspection or signature. Failure to do so will mean disqualification. Spurs may NOT be worn in any pony class. Ponies 153cm or under ( Shetlands exempt) must possess a current JMB height certificate. RIHS schedules available from www.hickstead.co.uk .

Qualification : 1st place and the next unqualified competitor standing 2nd or 3rd qualify from each class. No competitor may qualify from lower than 3rd place. BSPA Office 01354 638226 [e-mail]. Skewbald & Piebald Horses and ponies only.

CLASS 812 – RIDDEN PONIES NOT EXCEEDING 153 CM ANY TYPE – NO SPURS TO BE WORN, JUDGE WILL NOT RIDE, DISPLAY REQUIRED, NO LEADING REINS PERMITTED.

CLASS 813 – RIDDEN HORSES EXCEEDING 153CM ANY TYPE – JUDGE WILL RIDE

Championship for the 1st and 2nd prize winners from the classes 808 – 813

THE COLOURED PRIDE SHIELD (Kindly presented by Sue Smith and Barry Barnes)
will be awarded to the Champion Skewbald & Piebald Horse/Pony.


Classes 808, 809 and 810 are qualifiers for the
P (UK) “COMMANCHEE IN-HAND PIEBALD/SKEWBALD HORSE/ PONY CHAMPIONSHIP.
The highest placed exhibit not already qualified within the first 6 places will be issued with a “Registration of Qualification” Certificate in the ring.

[thecremellosociety]

Coloured Horse and Pony Society (CHAPS UK)

JUDGE – Mrs C Hamilton – Derbyshire
Ride Judge for Classes 912 & 914 ONLY – Mr W Thorneycroft

This show is affiliated to The Coloured Horse & Pony Society (UK). Both the owner and the rider/exhibitor need not be a member of CHAPS (UK) nor must the horse or pony be registered with CHAPS (UK) to compete, but in order to qualify they must both be Showing Members and the horse/pony must be registered with the society BEFORE this show for the qualification to be valid (except Ponies (UK)/BSPS qualifiers where Membership and Registration, if not already in place, MUST be made within 14 days of qualification for qualification to be valid) See CHAPS Members Handbook or www.chapsuk.com for rulings.
The CHAPS (UK) Championship Show will be held on 31st August & 1st & 2nd September 2007.Members to apply in writing to CHAPS (UK) for appropriate qualifier cards. Ponies (UK) Summer Championships will be held on 14th-18th August 2007. BSPS Winter Championships will be held on 5th-7th April 2007.The following classes are CHAPS (UK) Qualifiers. For full rulings and information on competition/qualification, please refer to the CHAPS (UK) Members Handbook, or visit www.chapsuk.com

CLASS 907 CHAPS (UK) Open Youngstock Qualifier; 1,2 or 3 Year Olds; No Foals

CLASS 908 The CHAPS (UK) Non-Native In-Hand Horse Qualifier – To exc 153cms (15hh)

CLASS 909 CHAPS (UK) Non-Native In-Hand Pony Qualifier – Not to exc 153cms (15hh)

CLASS 910 CHAPS (UK) Native/Cob/Trad In-Hand Horse Qualifier – To exc 148cms (14.2hh)

CLASS 911 CHAPS (UK) Native/Cob/Trad In-Hand Pony Qualifier – Not to exc 148cms (14.2hh)

Championship for the 1st and 2nd prize winners from the classes 907 – 911
Champion and Reserve will compete for THE WHITESIDE & KNOWLES & SUPREME IN-HAND CHAMPIONSHIP.


CLASS 912 CHAPS (UK) Native/Cob/Traditional Ridden Horse Qualifier – Exc 148cms (14.2hh)

CLASS 913 CHAPS (UK) Native/Cob/Traditional Ridden Pony Qualifier – Not exc 148cms (14.2hh)

CLASS 914 CHAPS (UK) Non-Native Ridden Horse Qualifier – Exc 153cms (15hh)

CLASS 915 CHAPS (UK) Non-Native Ridden Pony Qualifier – Not exc 153cms (15hh)

Championship for the 1st and 2nd prize winners from the classes 912 - 915


Classes 912, 913,914 and 915 are qualifiers for the
P(UK) COMMANCHEE RIDDEN PIEBALD/SKEWBALD HORSE/PONY SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIP
The highest placed exhibit not already qualified within the first 6 places will be issued with a “Registration of Qualification” Certficate in the ring.

[tessy]

Have always been a member of both societies, being more Northern though have tended to do more with CHAPS as we have more shows up here with CHAPS classes. Until last year we had never done RIHS classes and to be honest thought that the ticket for that would be as hard to get as the HOYS one was, but that is not the case. Saying that, when we got to the RIHS the quailty was very good. I think perhaps the BSPA could sometimes be accused of trying to have too many classes and trying to perhaps make people pay for every last little thing as a revenue getter, the money is probably put back into the society for the good of the members but it seems to cost a fortune to join and you don't get much for your money

[pipsqueek]

I Totally agree with tou tessy they never used to charge for qualifying cards but over the last few years they charge you £10 for a card.thats ok if you only have one horse but when you have a few animals not that i have but it does get quit expensive on top of every thing else
and the stabbleing if your only there for one night you had to pay for the duration £50 a lot of money for one night i dont know if they have changed it or not,

[equinevillage]

We have shown coloureds under both Chaps and BSPA for many years but of the two societies CHAPS is by far the more professional. BSPA are not only badly organised on the admin side but for the last two "World of Colour" Championships they have wriggled out of giving prize money!! The first time we were told we had not collected the money within the alloted time!??! We were at the secretarys desk about an hour after the class!! The next year they said all prize money was being posted, we recieved nothing. With the amount of money these societies extract from all of us every year it seems disgusting that they can so blatently ignore their obligations to their members.
I could go on about the appauling judging lets face it we all know who their favourites are but I would be wasting my time and it will not change so my advice to anyone with a coloured horse or pony is that the lesser of two evils is CHAPS every time.

[EllisB]

i am very annoyed that this year at cheshire county to compete in the coloured classes you have to be a member of BSPA and there is no mentioning of CHAPS.
someone please correct me if i am wrong.
so this means i have to join BSPA to compete in Cheshire county this year ?!??!!?!?!!!

[splashofcolour]

Hi, I havn't seen the schedule but does it state you have to be a member to compete or that you have to be a member in order to qualify for the championships, I know usually it doesn't stop you from entering only qualifying.

[MF]

I have the schedule in front of me. The ridden classes are all RIHS classes and therefore you have to be a member of BSPA for those. You do not have to be a member for the inhand UNLESS you want to take the qualifications for the WCC - then you do for the qualification t be valid.

I don't know why so many county shows decide to only run RIHS qualifiers and not have an open ridden class too (I don't even mind if they don't split it on height).

I now won't go to Cheshire as I don't wish to qualify for RIHS and the classes are usually busy at the county shows with people trying to qualify. Had they had an open class I would have gone and would have done the inhand as well. I would also have taken my other horse. Cheshire would therefore have got 3 entries out of me. As it is they will get none and we'll go somewhere else that day.

I note derby county has both BSPA and chaps classes - we'll be going there this year as it offers both options.

[thecremellosociety]

Hi I am LH Sec for Derby, We like to offer both societies and while we have space in the timetable we will continue to do so. The classes for both are well filled and have been for the past to years, we have had questions as to why we hold the 2 societies, but whilst they are sucessful, and we have alot of coloureds in the area, we will hold them. Look forward seeing you there

[delliam]

I too would like to enter my local county show and have three coloured horses, but only a member of CHAPS because they do most of the northern shows. I dont want to qualify for RIHS as it is too far for us to travel, we have competed at HOYS. I entered Cheshire last year thinking I could compete but not qualify, but telephoned bspa to clarify, they said I couldnt compete as not a member and cards would be checked BEFORE entering ring. I lost my entry fee. Some other shows have both CHAPS and bsps so why cant Cheshire. Very very disappointed.

[coloured fan]

I don't know how other people feel but I really think that BSPA have 'overcooked' the RIHS qualifiers. It is now so easy to qualify for RIHS as there seem to be so many qualfiers. The excitement has gone it just leaves a very empty pocket.
What is happening to BSPA they used to have great championships, but again it is so expensive ,none of the classes are under £18 to enter plus the £5 first aid per day,thats besides the membership fees and the £5 per horse qualifying cards which I feed really offensive. Perhaps all members should attend the annual meeting in April !! andfind out where all the money goes.

[gee gee]

SOMEONE DID RAISE THIS AT AGM A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE CHARGE FOR Q CARDS WAS BROUGHT IN BUT IT FELL ON DEAF EARS. PLUS UPON VIEWING THE ACCOUNTS IT DID NOT ALL ADD UP. I THINK THE BSPA IS GOING TO PRICE ITSELF OUT OF THE MARKET. I THINK THESE SOCIETIES SHOULD WATCH THE NEWS AND SEE WHAT THE COST OF LIVING IS IE PETROL, ELECTRIC BILLS, ITS ALL ON THE INCREASE, UNLESS THEY REVIEW THEIR PRICING THE MEMBERSHIP WILL DROP. US MEMBERS ARE NOT MADE OF MONEY, THIS IS OUR HOBBY AND IT IS STARTING TO FEEL THAT THE COST OF IT IS TAKING THE FUN OUT OUT OF IT.
PERHAPS THEY NEED TO REVIEW THEIR OVER HEADS, AS FOR THE FIRST AID COST AT THE CHAMPS IT IS EXTORTIONATE AT £5 PER HEAD WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL COST COST OF HAVING 2 FIRST AIDERS. IT IS ALL TAKE AND NOT A LOT OF GIVE

[tessy]

I do agree that the RIHS Q classes seem a lot less well supported than HOYS Q's. There do seem to be fewer though this year. The same quality of horses and pony's end up at the finals but I do think there seems to be far too many qualify and its a bit of a free for all especially in the pony classes as the go round is almost impossible. The prestige of winning at the RIHS is really lost I think, my horse is far more well known for being 2nd at HOYS than being overall supreme at the RIHS!!!!! The BSPA really do need to get their act together and make sure that they do not get left behind by CHAPS as I think the coloured horsey public will start voting with their feet and the BSPA membership will really dwindle.

[pimms]

the simple fact is how do you judge a traditional cob against a plaited shp as they do at ri