Rules

Ripley Riders Club Rules – 2025

  • The committee will not accept any liability for accidents, injury or loss to competitors, spectators or animals. Entries are accepted only on this basis.
  • All competitors must hold valid 3rd party insurance in order to compete in any class.
  • The Judges decision is final at all times.
  • No unauthorised person allowed in any ring during any class.
  • Abusive behaviour to judges and officials will not be tolerated, offenders may be suspended. Any horse or pony that the committee is considered to be dangerous, will be asked to leave the showground.
  •  Dogs or other pets must be kept on a lead at all times.
  • Competitors/Spectators under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Objections- £20.00 to be deposited to a committee member within 30 minutes of the incident. Written confirmation produced within 7 days, £20.00 will be returned if the objection is sustained.
  • All ages as of 1st January.
  • Competitors must have attained their 3rd birthday (1st Jan)
  • Falsification of riders age or height of pony will incur suspension and forfeiture of any points accumulated.
  • A height certificate must be produced should the height of any horse or pony be disputed.
  • Stallions will be permitted but must be kept under control and bitted at all times.
  • Riders/ Handlers of stallions – small breeds must have attained their 14th birthday (1st Jan) and for large breeds their 16th birthday.
  • Youngstock – Horse or pony 3 years and under, age will be calculated from 1st January in the year of its birth.
  • Pony/Horse must be four years old and over to be ridden. The age of the Pony/Horse shall be calculated from the 1st January in the year of its birth. 
  • Horses or ponies 3 years and under are only eligible for Inhand classes and must not be ridden anywhere on the showground.
  • Competitors must compete at three club shows in the current season to be eligible for trophies with the same combination of horse and rider.
  • In the event of a tie for overall trophies, the competitor who has attended the most shows during the season will be awarded one extra point.
  • All trophies remain the property of Ripley Riders Club and are presented on the understanding that they will be returned by the date stated in a clean condition, any damage is to be paid for.
  • Any horse or pony that is deemed unfit to compete, will be eliminated from all classes. Points awarded on that day will be forfeited.
  • All mounted riders and competitors in child handling classes must wear a hard hat to B.S Standard.
  • All competitors and lead rein attendants must wear correct dress and footwear in all classes.
  • All earrings and body studs must be removed before entering any ring as a competitor.
  • Riders are requested to proceed no faster than a walk in the vicinity of the rings, stalls, horse boxes and pedestrians.
  • A two minute call will be issued for any competitor not present when required. Notify the caravan if you are engaged in another class otherwise you will automatically be scratched.
  • The club reserve the right to refuse entry or cancel any event without prior notice.
  • Any person found to be ill-treating animals or showing excessive use of whips or spurs will be banned from further shows.
  • Spurs are only allowed in appropriate classes.
  • Competitors under the age of 16 will not be permitted to wear spurs in any class.
  • Lead rein pony not to exceed 12.2hh.
  • Lead rein pony to be ridden in snaffle bit only, with lead rein affixed to noseband at all times.
  • Lead rein competitors’ age 9 years and under (1st January).
  • First Ridden Competitors – 12 yrs and under(age as 1st jan in current year) max height of pony 128cm(12.2hh).
  • Novice competitors may only retain novice status for one season except showjumping and working hunter,
  • All show jumping classes to be guided by B.S.J.A. rules (schooling whips not allowed, maximum length 30 inches.
  • Beginners jumping classes (both showjumping and working hunter), horse/rider combination not to have won 3 red rosettes in that class in the previous season. At the commencement of the new season, Beginners Champion and Reserve champion are not eligible.
  • All working hunter classes to be judged under B.S.P.S. rules, excluding age limit.
  • All horse/pony manes must be plaited, hogged, pure breeds to be shown in a natural state.
  • Games classes to be run under Pony Club rules. No whips, crops or spurs to be used.
  • Riders/Handlers may only compete with one horse/pony in any one class, except in show jumping and handy pony.
  • All handlers of lead rein ponies must have attained their 16th birthday.

Other Notes/Guidelines:

● All competitors must have third party liability insurance.
● All competitors compete at their own risk.
● A two-minute call will be issued to any competitor not present when required. Notify the caravan if you are engaged in another class otherwise you may be
removed from the class. We always try to accommodate competitors whose classes clash. However, on occasions, this is not possible.
● Competitors under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.
● All ages as of the 1st January 2025.
● Spurs are only allowed in classes if applicable but competitors under the age of 16 years are not eligible to wear spurs in any class.
● Whips: Maximum length of 75cm (30”) in all SJ and WH classes.
● SJ and WH heights are at Judge’s discretion and subject to ground conditions.
● SJ and WH Competitors may only compete in 3 Classes per section i.e. 3 WH, 3 SJ
● Whilst mounted, competitors must wear a current British Standard/PAS approved hard hat.
● Competitors must have attained their third birthday.
● Lead rein ponies to be shown in snaffle bridle and lead rein to be attached to the noseband.
● Lead rein competitors to be 9 years and under (age as of 1st January 2025)
● First Ridden competitors to be 12 years and under (age as of 1st January 2025)
● All mounted/in hand horses and ponies must be shown in appropriate tack.
● All competitors to wear correct and appropriate show attire for the classes they wish to enter.
● If a rider or horse is involved in a fall then this should be reported to the caravan on the day.
● All earrings and body studs to be removed before entering any ring as a competitor.
● Regardless of age, the rider must be a suitable height/weight for the horse/pony, including lead rein.
● Competitors are encouraged to wear body protectors in classes and will not be deducted points in any class including showing classes.
● The winner of the Beginners Showing Class at the end of year presentation will no longer be eligible to enter this class.
● Parking is available on the showground at your own risk. The Committee accept no responsibility for damage to vehicles or its contents
● Parking is to be confined to designated areas other than Judges and Officials.
● The Committee reserves the right to amalgamate/cancel any class if fewer than 4 entries are received. In the event of cancelled class(es), entry will be refunded.
● The Committee reserves the right to omit classes from future shows if insufficient entries.
● Objections- £20.00 to be deposited to a committee member within 30 minutes of the incident. Written confirmation produced within 7 days, £20.00 will be
returned if the objection is upheld.
● Entry fees are non-refundable unless class is cancelled by RRC.
● Membership is non-refundable.
● There are no disabled toilet facilities on the showground.
● Mucking out of horseboxes and trailers on the showground is strictly forbidden.
● For full list of Club rules please see the RRC facebook page.