Breaking a horses green status

[gusbabe]

I have a 6 year old TB hunter. Never shown rated previously. My daughter qualified for districts in working hunter over fences with him. I want to get some classes in prior to distircts next month. The shows that have the 3' height I want with the dates I need are rated. If she shows him suitable hunter or children's hunter, how does that effect his green status? Or doesn't it effect it at all?
I guess I don't understand what it means to break their green.
thanks for your input!

[Lucassb]

If you are talking about USEF rated shows, (I'm not sure what "districts" are) then first year green means showing in classes at 3'6" or above. You can show in the 3' sections as long as you like without breaking the horse's green status. Suitable hunter is not a rated division so check your prize list for the class specs; as long as it is a 3' class like the children's hunters, it won't affect the horse's green status. There *are* restricted classes for PRE greens (3' and 3'3" in some zones) and depending on your zone rules, you either get one or two years in those sections, but that is not typically what people mean when they say, "break a horse's green status."

Once the horse has shown at 3'6", they have broken their green and can show as a first year horse for the balance of that show year. (It is possible to do that early in the year and then change your mind and apply for reinstatement, but that time has passed for this year.)

The following year, they become second year horses (which show at 3'9") and beyond that, in terms of the pro divisions, they are working horses and show at 4'. This is true whether they show at those heights or not, BTW. Of course, they can stay at the lower levels as junior or amateur hunters (3'6" or the new low division at 3'3") forever if desired, but they only get a year each in the first and second year greens.

[cookie-monster]

Your horse's green status won't be affected by showing him at 3'. It's not even an issue. Once he competes at 3'6" he's considered to have broken his green status regardless of the name of the division. Only fence height matters.

[joiedevie99]

You also need to consider eligibility for baby green and pre-green classes- especially if the hores is going to be for sale in the next year or two.