Clear cut rules on how much are too many classes for a hunter/jumper at a horse show

[oldhorsegal]

We have hard and fast rules with respect to the use of drugs on show horses & schooling practices of horses at horse shows. What about rules to clarify the maximum number of classes/divisions a horse can enter in at a horse show. We have some trainers who's eyes are only on the prize or prizes and enter their horses in every possible class the horse is eligible for. These horse sometimes are in a many as 5 ore more jumping classes a day. Is this not some form of abuse by most people's standards? I propose that USEF and USHJ establish clear cut rules restricting the amount of classes a horse can jump in per day or even per week at any one horse show. Comments or concerns?

[PNWjumper]

Really? Again?

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232400

[superpony123]

my guesses:

a) troll

b) new poster who's starting their first topic with legit concern and has no idea that this thread has been done a thousand times



in any case, it all depends on the horse and the fence height.
5 cross rail classes is no where near abusive for the avg SS pony, who is doing around 6 crossrail classes at each show, if theyre doing the eq and the hunters

but 5 classes of 3' then it starts to depend on the horse--my pony would not be up to 5 classes of 3', no way. Some would. Some horses do that all the time, sometimes even six (which i think is just way too much. they do the division -- 3 o/f, the medals (1-2 o/f), the classic... but it appears some of them can handle it)

[Alterrain]

We have hard and fast rules with respect to the use of drugs on show horses

really? I think the drug rules are grey, poorly worded and haphazardly enforced

& schooling practices of horses at horse shows

again, I think schooling areas are totally crazy and improperly policed.

But to answer your question: there are too many factors to create a cut and dried rule. Like someone said, I think if you do the first years, second years, green conf and reg. working in one day then yes that is too much. But what if you do the ss hunter, ss eq, warmup, age group eq and pleasure? That pony could probably do that and then more.

Too hard to define the line, and then we just end up with more rules that everyone agrees to uphold, signs on the line and then ignores. (can you tell I'm bitter? heehee)

[JustJump]

See other threads.

[mvp]

One "drag" on any campaign to limit the number of classes per day is show management's interests. Don't underestimate their power.

I don't think many horses at the big rateds are asked to jump excessively in any one day by the schedule alone. But remember that if a show wants to offer many different divisions for, say, your bread-n-butter 3' horse, they might have to extend the show by a day and that usually won't fly.

I most often see the snot jumped out of horses at unrated shows. Why do we need, for example, a whole pro 2'3" division followed by a hunter version of the same for the ammy? She can also do the eq. at the same height. With this done at 2'3", 2'6' and then 3' it can make for a very long day for both the two-leggeds and certainly the four-leggeds.