by Nicolette Dernier
I have been competing in South African riding horse classes (SA riding)
in Cape Town for many years and have often heard the questions:
What are these classes? What type of horse do you need?
What do you do in each class? What do the judges look for?
As these classes are only presented in Cape Town at the moment, I hope to spark some interest elsewhere in the country. SA riding classes are aimed mainly at the following:
- A stepping-stone for beginners to the show arena to acquire experience and control
- A stepping-stone for young horses being introduced to the show scenario
- For riders who do not have a classy, top show horse who can compete in the graded classes
- For riders who do not have the finances to purchase a top showing horse.
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SA riding horse classes are mainly targeted at non-thoroughbreds such as Saddlers, Saddler X’s, Arabs, Friesians, Welsh and everyday riding horses. Thoroughbreds also compete.
Classes in SA riding
SA riding consists of nine main classes. These are:
Best walk: This class is judged on the horse’s ability to stride out and to move freely with their shoulder. The horse/pony must have a natural, ground-covering walk that is regular, free and unconstrained.
Best trot: The horse is judged on the elevation of the trot, how much expression it shows and whether the strides are long and extended. The trot must be supple, regular, sustained and active.
Best canter: This entails the ability to engage, collect and stay round. The canter must be united, light, cadenced and have impulsion, without the horse throwing its head up, fighting the bit and losing smoothness.
Town hack: The hack must be beautiful, with good conformation and paces. A town hack is a horse that a rider wants to be seen on when riding around town or in a park.
Ladies riding horse: The horse must have quality, presence and action – the type of flashy, quality horse a lady would favour. Schooling needs to be of a basic level. The horse must be obedient to change of pace and direction, focused on the rider, present itself well, and must look as if it is doing all of this effortlessly, with minimal interference from the rider.
Three-gaited horse: The horse is judged on all three paces and is normally asked to extend the trot and canter. This class is a best walk, trot and canter rolled into one.
Three-gaited pleasure horse: This class is judged the same as the three-gaited class, but the horse should be ridden with one hand (the other hand rests on the rider’s thigh). In a pleasure class, the judge is looking for the best mover, with the most pleasing and comfortable gait, controlled on a loose rein. The neck and head must be relaxed, and there must be true rhythm to its strides.
Farm horse: This is also known as handy pony and is a utility class. A test will be performed, predetermined by the judges, in which a horse will have to negotiate several different obstacles. The horse and rider are scored per obstacle and will also receive a score on style and manners.
Best rider: This is normally split into age groups (14 and under and 15 and over). This class is judged on a rider’s basic position at the three paces and his/her control over the horse.
There is no age limit to competing in SA riding horse classes. Sometimes organisers split the classes up into age groups or horses’ heights (1,5 m and under and over 1,5 m).
Turnout of horses
If the horse is a non-thoroughbred, then turn out the horse as is recommended for that breed. Saddlers, Friesians and Arabs are usually shown with their manes and tails unplaited, or manes in a stallion plait. Otherwise your horse needs to be turned out as for any showing class.
The trimming or clipping of ears and whiskers is optional, but do remember that a smart turned-out horse will look better than one with long whiskers and tufty ears. Hooves can be blackened and baby oil used to highlight the areas around the eyes, ears and muzzle. Quarter markers can be used.
Be sure to wash and condition your horse’s mane for best results (conditioner removes static). Use a show sheen or detangler on the mane. You can use household products like Mr Min or Pledge in the mane and tail. On the tail you can either leave the ends natural, or bang (cut square) the ends. A square-cut tail can look more attractive, but if your horse has a short tail, rather leave it natural.
A bridle path is recommended as a guide. Clip the bridle path the length of the horse’s ear when lying flat. Use baby powder or cornstarch on the socks to make them extra white.
What tack is used?
For SA riding classes one can use the following:
- Pelham with double reins or connectors. Children normally use rein connectors. If using a Pelham, only a cavesson noseband may be used and a lipstrap must be used with a curb chain
- Snaffle with a flash, drop or cavesson
- Double bridle
- No other type of bit, martingales, breast plates, boots or bandages will be allowed
- Spurs must be worn with the points facing down
- The type of saddle used is normally a General purpose or dressage saddle
- The colour of your bridle, saddle and girth should match. Use either black or brown. If possible, it should match the colour of your horse. The numnah must be shaped to your saddle
- Your stirrup treads should be black, as this doesn’t draw attention to your leg position
- A velvet browband with rosettes is allowed
- If your horse kicks, then a red ribbon must be tied to its tail.
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The rider’s outfit
- A helmet (children and juniors must have a chin strap) in black or navy
- A shirt and tie
- Jacket
- Gloves in either navy or black, matching the colour of your jacket and hat
- Cream or beige jodhpurs (not white – this is for the dressage/jumping arena)
- Long boots (rubber or leather) or short boots with leather gaiters. Children normally wear jodphur boots with jodhpur clips
- A showing cane is allowed, but not jumping or schooling whips
- If a rider has long hair, a hairnet should be worn
- Ribbons can be worn in a rider’s long hair (normally the children classes).
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Level of schooling
To compete in SA riding classes a horse needs to be able to walk, trot and canter. They must be able to work collected and on the bit in all three paces. Horses must be balanced in all three paces to be able to perform all three paces with minimum fuss and to be able to canter on the correct lead.
If your horse cannot do all this, DO NOT FEAR! Practise makes perfect and the other competitiors’ horses may not perform up to standard on the day. Your horse might be the only one that can be ridden with one hand, or they might be the only one to complete the farm horse test. SAH
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The author, Nicolette Dernier, on the 23-year-old Saddler-cross, Santigo. The grand old gentleman was placed in four out of his five classes at the Agri Expo this year
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The line-up at Agri Expo 2007: First was an Arab, second a Saddler-cross, third a pony and fourth another Arab – proof that the non-Thoroughbreds can excel in this sport
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