What is the natural progression of hunter classes for a green pony?

[slantedhorse]

My five year old pony gets ridden 3 times a week - sometimes with an adult; sometimes with a child. He's a medium and schools 2'6" but when we compete, I enter him in whatever 2 foot division I can get him in. Typically, baby green or student hunter. We show up a half hour before his classes start, tack up, and jump around. A total no prep type. He's does his changes, is super easy/quiet to ride, and has a special jump. He's been reserve or champion locally.

My question is: at what point should we start competing in the greens? He has no trouble at that height but my thought has always been to keep the fences low in case he makes a mistake. At what point should we start doing the rated shows? He is a quality pony that I intend to sell or lease - - so I want to make sure I can sell him as whatever people expect a five year old to be. It seems like there are a lot of older ponies that are still doing the greens.

Do we just keep doing the 2 foot divisions for a year?

[Flash44]

Move him up when you are confident that he will survivie whatever blunders happen on course at the higher height, without getting rattled. Sometimes that is a strength/balance issue, not an experience issue. Many people will keep a horse at a low level for it's first year of showing just to make sure that each show is a positive (and easy) experience for the horse. A little patience in the beginning can translate into years and years of great competition once the pony is a little more mature. My son's pony really filled out and got strong at age 6.

[HuntrJumpr]

Are you showing him or is a child?

[slantedhorse]

I ride him at home and I have an adult trainer that shows him for me. I felt that I wanted to make sure that the pony was started the right way with an adult before we moved on to the kids. So, depending on the show, we sort of look and see what there is to show in - sometimes there's a 2 foot local division that he qualifies with an adult; sometimes we just have a 2 foot division like student hunter so I'll have a kid show him. He doesn't need an adult to ride him - it's just what I have available. Are there rated classes he can go in where an adult can ride him at 2 foot? At the moment, I don't have a junior rider for him.

[Silk]

I dont know about a "natural" progression but often times it goes like this: pony starts out doing crossrails and/or 2 ft at the local schooling shows then will progress to the childrens ponies with a pony jock of some sort on them. After getting really confident in the childrens, they may move up to the greens. Remember, they can do the childrens for years before he has to do the greens. Once you choose to move him to the greens (and its not just the fence height that changes, its the lines, the combinations, etc that make the real difference between the two divisions), you are stuck there. Your pony can always move back to the childrens but cannot redo the greens (except under certain rare conditions). After a (hopefully successful) year in the greens, your pony should be ready to move up to the division height (smalls, meds or larges). Most of the top ponies are done by seasoned pony jocks before being turned over to the general masses.

I am, of course, assuming you are looking for this pony to go all the way to the regular ponies. If not, then the natural progression is to do the schooling shows until he is solid and then have fun with him at the rated shows in the childrens ponies:)

To be competitive the pony needs to hack well and have smooth, if not auto changes.

[Stono Ferry]

Just don't start the Greens now...it is too late in the year. Wait until Dec 1st (if he is ready) so you have the whole year. If you do only 3 shows before May 15th and decide you want to stop showing in the Greens you can get his green status reinstated- once.

[Silk]

To add: if you (or the rider if it is not you) is an ammy, you can show him in the modified adults, an unrated division often held at the rated shows. however, I have not see it at 2 ft, only 2'3" at the lowest. The specials are 2'6" and are open to anyone, ammy or pro. Around here, the long stirrup is crossrails..hardly worth it. I believe in some zones, the long stirrup may be 2 ft.

[Stono Ferry]

If he is a medium and shows at 2'6" at a recognized show that breaks his green.

[VirginiaBred]

Definitely wait. Let him get the local miles and don't rush him! Age only improves the youngster.

[superpony123]

WAIT. it is way too late in the year to move him up to greens. you should start in december (dec. 1) if he is ready by then. until then, only show him at 2'6'' at UNRATED shows. (well, when he's ready) you should have an experienced child rider (someone generally older and stronger to handle any misbehavior, or in general one that will be more experienced to be able to give the pony a confident ride that he will need to move up) show him this summer/fall. take him to some A shows and do the baby greens or pre-children's pony hunters or something to get him used to the busy environment. winning locally and winning at A's is different. any pony that does well in the regular ponies should be able to have an easy time in the smaller divisions at the A shows (by smaller i mean experience/fence height. it seems that the tinier the fences, the bigger the entries, however!) he should be able to stand out in the crowd of prechild ponies :yes:

[Silk]

If he is a medium and shows at 2'6" at a recognized show that breaks his green.

True:) Its hard for an adult to give a pony miles at the rated shows.....almost impossible for a professional!

[slantedhorse]

and one more question. At the Welsh shows, he'd need to jump 2'3" at most of the shows and I think I saw 2'6" at some of them... do breed shows break his green? I assume local shows don't break hi green for rated shows, am I right?

Based on my gut feel and all of your comments, this year is a 2 foot year....in December I can get his permanent card and then we're ready to rock n roll in 2010! I'd like to take him to FL.

I have a lead on a ponyless child so that might work out fine.

Thanks again

[Silk]

Breed shows are USEF so yes, they will break his green status. What size is your pony? I am assuming a medium? Remember, 2'6" with in-and-outs and regualtion strides are a challenging question for a young pony. I would make sure he is very, very solid OR you have a pro pony jock who can really help him out. Biggest disasters I have seen (and they can affect the pony forever) are ponies being rushed, especially with inexperienced riders. It takes more than being a 'good' rider to be successful in getting a greenie conmfortable...it takes someone who knows how to ride a course and help thepony up and over. Sounds like you have a nice pony that you have high hopes for...dont rush him. The regulars will still be there when the pony is ready:)