Disciplines

Show Jumping | Dressage | Eventing | Tetrathlon

Show Jumping

Show Jumping is where a horse and rider combination are tested over a course of colourful obstacles, known as fences, which can be easily knocked down if they are hit. The goal is to complete the course in the fastest time without getting any faults.

Faults are gained when a fence is knocked down, the horse stops at a fence (refuse) or the horse runs around a fence (run out).

Show Jumping can start from very low poles and usually increases in 10cm height increments. Courses become more technical as the height increases.

Show Jumping can take place both indoors and outdoors, so is perfect to enjoy all year round.

Horses must be 5 years and over to compete, for area and regional competitions you cannot compete at more than one level on the same horse. Please note that the championship courses will be bigger than the qualifying rounds described below, so you must be very secure at the level at which you wish to compete.

Dressage

Dressage isn’t always immediately every child’s favourite discipline, but it truly does benefit all disciplines (and is a necessary evil for eventing!), and many children come to thoroughly enjoy working together with their pony to improve their way of going and make them a pleasure to ride. Here at SOHC we strive to make rallies fun and useful, and try to keep groups small so that sessions can be tailored to suit horse and rider.

Our branch dressage instructor is Tiggi Bentley, who has competed and trained people up to Intermediaire I, but is just as brilliant and really encouraging with everyone from lead rein upwards. She is also one of our key instructors at both junior and senior camp each year. She is passionate about members getting involved with dressage rallies right from the beginning.

Dressage is one of the disciplines where the branch can enter teams to compete up to national level, aiming for the National Championships in August. There is also a Spring Festival, which is an individual, rather than team event. The levels are Open (roughly elementary), Intermediate (roughly novice), Novice (roughly prelim) and P70 and PC80 (easy prelim) levels. In addition Area 12 runs a Prix Caprilli competition, which is a dressage test with two small jumps in it, where the emphasis is on the rider rather than the horse.

There are some eligibility restrictions at the different levels – please refer to the rulebook (pages 8-10) or chat to the dressage manager

As a branch we have had a lot of success competitively in the past, including winning the Open National Championships, and you have to be in it to win it.

For competitions horses must be 4 years and over. In dressage, riders can ride at multiple different levels on different horses. Riders may compete at 2 levels at open/intermediate or intermediate/novice, but only 1 level if competing at PC70 or PC80.

Championship tests are generally harder than the qualifying test, so not the time to step up a level.

Dressage team selection expectations – to be selected at a particular level, we would like to see that you have been out regularly competing at (and above) the relevant level and consistently achieving good 64%+ scores, whether that’s at PC competitions, unaffiliated or affiliated. Selection will be made by our flatwork instructor, Tiggi Bentley. Do please update us with any competition results during the year, and attend flatwork rallies and team selection and practices.

Eventing

Horses must be 5 years and over. The courses will be up to height and the Championship course more so.

Tetrathlon

This event combines cross country riding with running, shooting and swimming. It is a sport suitable for all ages from under 8’s to veterans.

Competitions are usually held over 2 days with the winter season starting with triathlon competitions (run, shoot, swim) and tetrathlons beginning in April running through until October with the area competitions in July. Tetrathlon has strong links with the Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon which also includes fencing (and involves show jumping an unknown horse). SOHC has a small but keen group of tetrathletes, who have enjoyed success at all levels, culminating with a 3rd place at the Pony Club National Championships for our Open Team in 2013 – where we also fielded the youngest competitor by several years – and international selection for some.

What training do I need to do?

All levels are welcoming and encouraging so it is worth giving it a go! SOHC and Area 12 run several training sessions during each programme, ranging from running and swimming coaching to shooting practises. SOHC run shooting training, please contact Louise Aubrey Fletcher if you’d like to know more.

Horses must be 5 years and over.