Classes
| When: | Where: |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 5 August | Ring 2 |
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70. REGISTERED CONNEMARA PONY, STALLION, MARE or GELDING, 5 – 7 years old inclusive. |
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71. REGISTERED CONNEMARA PONY, STALLION, MARE or GELDING, 8 - 15 years old inclusive. |
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Aim
To demonstrate the distinctive traits of the Connemara Pony; rideability, scope, versatility and suitability for child or adult.
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Entry Fee
RDS Members: €300 each entry; Non-Members: €340 each entry.
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Rules
- All ponies must be registered as pure bred Connemaras with the Connemara Pony Breeders Society or a daughter studbook and present a valid passport.
- Microchips will be examined at each qualifier and must corroborate with the passport bar code.
- Riders in both classes must be over 14 years of age on 1 January 2026.
- Riders who have competed in a CIC4*, CCI4* or CSI4* competition or higher in the past five years (with the exception of Pony, Junior & Young Riders) are ineligible to compete in these classes.
- All competition criteria (tack, whip & fence size) apply equally to the practice / warm-up arena.
- Ponies must be presented without plaits in competition.
- The RDS reserves the right to amalgamate these classes at the Final.
- Once qualified competitors / owners must enter their ponies with the RDS to compete at the Show.
- Late entries will not be accepted, except in the case of qualifiers held after the DHS close of entries date.
Tack
- Protective headgear conforming to the current recommended BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark standards – PAS 015 2011, Snell E2016 (with official Snell label and number), ASTM F1163 (2004a or 04a onwards with SEI Mark), VG1 01.040 (2014-12), UTAC / CRITT or AS/NZS 3838 (2006 onwards and must have SAI Global mark), and fitted with an adjustable harness, is compulsory for all riders. (Please note that as of 1 January 2023 hats with PAS 015 (1998) and Snell E2001 kitemarks / standards can no longer be accepted). Protective headgear conforming to the above standards is compulsory for riders under the age of 16 years and for all rider competing in performance classes. Please note, at both the qualifiers and the Final, fixed peak hats are not permitted for the Jumping Phase.
- A body protector must be worn by all riders. A correctly fitted, BETA approved, and appropriately labelled Level 3 body protector manufactured in the year 2018 or after is recommended. If a rider chooses to wear an airbag style body protector, it must be worn over a recommended body protector.
- Hunting dress is obligatory for the rider.
- Only snaffle bridles with any one of the following nosebands: cavesson, drop, flash or grackle (including the Micklem bridle) are permitted. This applies to all phases of the competition.
- Crank nosebands are not permitted.
- Martingales are not permitted.
- Fly veils / ear covers are not permitted.
- Neckstraps and/or breastplates are permitted.
- Only saddle contoured numnahs are permitted. Saddle cloths or visible logos are not permitted.
- Whips are permitted but may not exceed 75cms.
- Only blunt metal spurs or ones with rubber rowels ≤ 2.5cms (1'') facing downwards are permitted.
- Front boots of a plain colour may be worn during the Jumping Phase only.
- The same tack must be used in each phase. No tack etc. may be worn that conceals the conformation of the pony.
- No item of tack excluded from competition is allowed in the practice arena.
If for any reason, a competitor goes through the start with incorrect tack, the Judge will have no option but to eliminate that competitor.
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Qualification
The top four ponies in each category, at each of the four qualifiers, are eligible to enter for the DHS. A change of rider will not be permitted under any circumstances. Only the pony / rider combination that qualify will be allowed to compete.
A rider may enter a maximum of two ponies per Connemara Performance Hunter qualifier category. A rider may qualify a maximum of two ponies overall across the two Connemara Performance Hunter classes for the DHS.
Online entry for the qualifiers is available via the following link; https://youngeventhorseseries.ie/entries-start-lists-results/. A qualifier entry fee of €40 must be paid when submitting your entry online.
Entries must be submitted online before 8pm on the Sunday preceding each qualifier. Please note that this deadline will be strictly adhered to.
All entries for the qualifiers must be made via the online entry system. Entries will not be accepted by email, phone, fax or post.
Class running orders, start times, course plans and results will be available at the above link on the Young Event Horse Series website.
It is strongly recommended that pony / rider combinations complete at least two Connemara Performance Hunter qualifier events before competing at the Dublin Horse Show.
In the event that the age categories are split into two sections due to high numbers, the two highest placed ponies in each section will qualify for the Dublin Horse Show.
Qualifier Startlist
Startlists for the Connemara Performance Hunter Qualifiers will be made available below on or before the Thursday preceding the qualifier.
Competition at the qualifier venues will commence at or before 9am.
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Qualifiers Results
Results can be viewed from the YES! website or via Equipe.
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Competition Format
Class Format at the Qualifiers
The Flat Work Phase is followed directly by the Conformation Assessment which is followed by the Jumping Phase.
The Jumping Round must conclude with a halt and salute.
Ridden Flat Work Phase
5 - 7 year olds - worth 80 points
8 - 15 year olds - worth 90 points
Details of the Flat Work Phase can be found here.
Jumping Phase (170 points)
5 - 7 year olds - 16 jumping efforts ≤ 95 cm in height @325mpm
8 - 15 year olds - 16 jumping efforts ≤ 105cm in height @350mpm
Penalties
- Knock - 10 penalties
- 1st Disobedience - 15 penalties
- 2nd Disobedience - 20 penalties
- 3rd Disobedience - Elimination
- Fall of horse or rider - Elimination
- For every 4 second interval over the optimum time - 1 penalty
Riders who misuse the whip in the Jumping Phase will receive 5 penalties. Misuse of the whip is where it is not applied to reinforce a leg / seat aid or is inconsistent with the aids being given. Excessive use of the whip may incur elimination. Determination of excessive or misuse of the whip will be at the judge's discretion.
Riders must ride lines as intended on the course plan, from start to finish. Failure to do so will incur penalites.
A mark out of 10 will be awarded for Rhythm and Fluency of the Jumping Phase.
Conformation Assessment (10 points)
A mark out of 10 for Conformation will be awarded directly after the Ridden Flat Work Phase. The judge(s) will observe the ponies for obvious conformation defects.
Class Format at the Final
The Jumping Phase and Ridden Flat Work Phase will be in the same format as the qualifiers. In the Final the Jumping Phase will be followed by a Conformation Assessment. Once the competitor has completed the Jumping Phase, he/she will proceed to strip the pony and present in-hand to the conformation judge. The judge will give each pony a mark for conformation and movement. All three phases will run consecutively at the Final.
These classes will run as per a specific drawn order available on the official startlist on the Equipe App.
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Marking
| Phase | Points |
|---|---|
| Flat Work Phase | 80 (90) points |
| Conformation Assessment | 10 points |
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Jumping Phase: 16 fences @ 10 points each (160 points) Rhythm & Fluency (10 points) |
170 points |
| TOTAL | 260 (270) points |
In the event of an equality of points, placing will be determined by the highest total score in the Jumping Phase. If there is still a tie the pony closest (under) to the optimum time will be awarded the next qualifying placing.
| Phase | Points |
|---|---|
| Flat Work Phase | 80 (90) points |
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Jumping Phase 16 fences @ 10 points each (160 points) Rhythm & Fluency (10 points) Technique (10 points) Balance & Harmony of rider with pony (10 points) |
190 points |
| Conformation Phase | 30 points |
| TOTAL | 300 (310) points |
At the DHS Final, fluency along with jumping technique and the balance and harmony of the rider will be taken into consideration when judging the Jumping Phase.
In the event of a tie, the pony with the highest jumping mark will be the winner; if there is still a tie the pony closest (under) to the optimum time will be the winner.
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Fences
At the qualifiers the ponies will be expected to jump a track similar to that used in the Young Event-Horse Series competition.
At the Final, the course will be derby in style with several cross country / young event horse style fences.
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Course Designer
Mr Dereck Hamilton
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Awards & Prizes
Classes 70 & 71:
1st €1,750, 2nd €1,500, 3rd €1,000, 4th €500, 5th €250
The number of prizes awarded is based on the number of animals catalogued. For more information please click here.
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Cups & Trophies
Cup No. 153 – Perpetual Challenge Trophy presented to the winner of the Connemara Performance Hunter (Class 70).
Cup No. 162 – Perpetual Challenge Trophy presented to the winner of the Connemara Performance Hunter (Class 71).
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Parade
Winner and Reserve of each class are required to participate in the Parade of Champions on Friday 7 August. Further details are available here.
NB: The rules and conditions for each class and competition as published in the current year's RDS Dublin Horse Show Competition Schedule are complete, final and binding.
All exhibitors must read the current year's Schedule when entering for a class or qualifier. No other version of the class detail or rules are considered official. See link to RDS Dublin Horse Show Competition Schedule.
