First Riddens

[pollymallender]

I have joined a local show comittee and we have mixed ideas about what a first ridden should be. CURRENTLY, there is no height limit on first riddens, and no 'bit' limit. I am not going to say what I think is right or wrong, but if people could complete the poll, I will take it along to the meeting and we can discuss!
Thanks

[pollymallender]

Can some more people complete please?

[LucyHebditch]

There should be a height and age limit. Not to exceed 12hh and rider not to have attained their 11th (i think) birthday by the 1st Jan.
Deffo should go in a snaffle

[ilovenatives]

If its unaffiliated then the height limit is often 13h and under 13 . You could also do a tiny tots first ridden for under 12h and under 10 years .Should def go in a snaffle

[cheetham]

i agree with lrh123,theres a huge diffrnce in local first riddens to the county standered first riddens,age and height wise..

[stunstead]

They should definately be in a snaffle.

[magrat2002]

When I was involved in Riding Club, we had a Beginners First Ridden & a First Ridden Class ( show pony & M&M).
The Beginners was designed to make the transition to FR less stressful...parents could accompany the child into ring...definitely snaffle bridles.
I now can't remember the age limits, but it was in the Junior Ring in which all classes were 10yrs & under. I think the beginners was 9yrs & under. 122cms for LR and 128 for FR.

[nici]

Affiliated M&M FRs are any suitable bit, but personally I like to see FRs going sweetly in a snaffle.

[fayeandash]

i would always show a first ridden pony in a snaffle, like others have said above unaffiliated shows are usually 13hh max and 12 years and under, i think it would be fairer to have first ridden not ex 12.2hh and rider not to have attained 12th birthday, then maybe have a junior ridden showing class for the next age group - 12 to 16.

[siany]

I think definately a snaffle only - but for local level I think 13.2hh.

There are plenty of novice, older children who have may have started a bit later in life, and have genuine 1st ponies.

As a person who shows regularly at local level, I have seen numbers dwindle in classes over the last year or so, and think opening up the height limit would bring some welcome entries!

[Deleted]

If county and some locals, its 12.2hh M&M first ridden height limit, and 12 before 1st jan.
For SP its 12hh and im not sure about age! xx

[brookhouse]

defo snaffle , how can it be a first ridden in a big bit . its ment for the transaction from lead rein into a class off the lead showing how the pony is safe and willing . age under 12 height should be under 12.2 same as county level.
but there could be a best rider class for tiny tots off the lead 10 and under, most local level do these, which I have taken my daughter to help her ring craft

[siany]

Well it would normally be 12.2hh but if you want to maximise your entries why not include bigger ponies?

[tabbyx]

I think 12.2 so you don't scare all the littlies on their small ponies and age limit 12

[cheekychops]

12.2, 12 years old. Snaffle

[timetotrot]

Feb 10, 2011 21:43:18 GMT LucyHebditch said:

There should be a height and age limit. Not to exceed 12hh and rider not to have attained their 11th (i think) birthday by the 1st Jan.
Deffo should go in a snaffle

hi i do first riddens and height is 12.2 and age is 12 x

[barclaybob]

I think 13.2 and under 12 to give those who started later a chance to learn the ringcraft and what goes on in a less stressful environment. My little girl is 10 and she has only been riding for 6 months and her pony is 13.1 she is no where near experienced enough to be going into proper open showing classes, she'd never do a show again lol! she has only just started cantering this week and is not ready to do it in a ring yet. if you open it up to these types of ponies and riders you'll get a lot more entries. I would have got a smaller pony but the one we found was perfect for her but he is a little bigger that we would have liked but that's just the way is goes. He's safe and i wouldn't ever compromise that for a smaller pony just to go in a class!
Oh and ALWAYS a snaffle. 1st riddens shouldn't know how to ride in a different bridle!

[snowflake]

Deffo snaffles, and 12hands and under & for show ponies 10 and under MM's 12 and under. If you stick to similar rules to BSPS people won't get confused as easily. XX