H&H’s guide to intermediate classes: everything you need to know before you give them a go

With riders up to the age of 25 being able to compete, some riders in the intermediate classes will have been competing for 20 years. These riders have had plenty of time to perfect their craft, which makes these classes extremely competitive.

If you’re planning to show in an intermediate flat class, you need to know how to stand out to make the top of the line-up.

Adam Forster and David Jinks co-produce ponies and horses, and have successfully produced a number of intermediates, including Louie Chantry, Holmestones Tailor Made and Shildons Plan B, who have been extremely successful in recent years, claiming wins at Royal International (RIHS), Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) championships.

We take a look at the rules and Adam shares his advice to ensure you can make an instant impact and catch the judges’ eye for all the right reasons.

What are intermediate classes?

Intermediate classes were introduced by the BSPS as a stepping stone out of pony ranks and into the demanding hack, riding horse and hunter classes.

Riders can compete up to the age of 25.

Crucially, horses are not ridden by the judge as they would be in adult classes. Instead, they perform an individual show as they would in pony classes.

There are major finals for intermediates at both the RIHS and at HOYS, as well as at the BSPS championships.

Rules in intermediate classes

“While the age limit for riders is set at 25 across the major championships, competitors must be aware that there are subtle differences in the classifications at RIHS and HOYS,” warns Adam.

RIHS intermediate classes

The RIHS classes are orchestrated by the BSPS, so this is the rule book you should consult if you wish to compete in qualifiers for Hickstead.

Open intermediate show riding horse

This class is open to mares or geldings that exceed 148cm but do not exceed 158cm. The clue to the type is in the name!

Open intermediate hack

Again, the clue to the type of animal is in the title. This time, they should be mares or geldings over 146cm but not exceeding 160cm.

Open intermediate show hunter

This class is for a small hunter type, with horses exceeding 148cm but not exceeding 158cm.

Intermediate working hunter

This is for small hunter types but with fences incorporated. Again, horses should be exceeding 148cm but not exceeding 158cm. Fences are a maximum height of 110cm and spread of 110cm, too.

HOYS intermediate classes

Open intermediate show horse

At HOYS, those that may be aiming for hack or riding horse classes in future – or used to compete in the historical intermediate show riding type classes – contest this class. So, they should be of a hack, riding horse or show riding type.

Horses are exceeding 148cm and not exceeding 160cm.

Intermediate show hunter type

As at the RIHS, these horses should be of a small hunter type, be over 148cm and under 158cm.

Intermediate working hunter

Again, similarly to the RIHS, horses should be between 148cm and 158cm in height. They will have to face fences of up to 115cm in the qualifying rounds, and up to 125cm at the final.

Usually, intermediate championships will include only those eligible from the flat divisions, and the workers enter a show’s working hunter pony championship instead, but again, we advise that you read the schedule carefully as you don’t want to assume anything and miss out.

Type and eligibility for intermediate classes

“We never set out to find an intermediate as such,” says Adam. “If David and I have a client wanting to go into intermediate classes, we set out looking for a hack, a riding horse or a small hunter.

“If the horse is good enough to win an open small hunter, hack or riding horse class, they are more than good enough to win an intermediate class.

“In my opinion, that’s where a lot of people go wrong.”

So what makes a good one of each?

“An intermediate hunter type should always be a small hunter. So we would be looking for a scaled down middleweight, with good flat bone, short cannon bones and plenty of quality and substance. I also like it to have plenty of quality and look like a really nice show horse.

“A hack should be a thoroughbred type. It should be a small horse with plenty of quality, have a beautiful head, a big front, a lovely mover, but still have bone and quality limbs.

“The riding horse came about later than the hunter and the hack. It’s somewhere in between a lightweight and a hack. It should still have lots of quality and should never look coarse.”

Whatever type of horse you have, conformation is crucial for Adam.

“Conformation is key. These are show classes, not equitation classes, so as with any other class, we have to have something with correct conformation.

“Sometimes I hear gripes from young riders who have performed excellent shows, but are disappointed with their placing. Too often this is because their horse isn’t as conformationally correct as some others in the class.”

So assuming we now have a conformationally correct animal of a strong type, how to present it?

Tack and turnout

Knowing what to wear in showing classes can feel complicated as tack and turnout varies depending on the class you’e entering – and it’s no different for the intermediates.

What to wear in intermediate classes

The following is correct for HOYS intermediate show horse classes, RIHS intermediate show riding horse classes or intermediate hack classes. Intermediate show hunter classes have different guidance below.

The horse should have a neat, straight cut saddle to show off their front.

At this level, they should be shown in a double bridle or show pelham with two reins, but at novice level it’s expected that they will perform in a snaffle.

These horses wear a coloured plaited browband of a colour that complements them and their riders’ attire.

Riders wear either a navy blue or tweed jacket.

Male riders should wear tweed on hacks and riding horses, but female riders should wear navy if riding a hack type, and tweed if on board a riding horse type. This aligns with expectations when in open horse classes.

“This was never a rule, but it’s something that evolved shortly after the amalgamated class started. The riders wanted to clearly demonstrate to judges what they were sat on.”

Jackets should fit well and be of a traditional length.

“Every jacket should have a skirt, should fit well at the waist, and should touch the back of the saddle,” says Adam. “Personally, I find the fashion for short jackets vulgar on all ages – even in the lead-rein classes – but it’s particularly important that once in intermediates.

“I also advise young riders on our team to remove the velvet on the collars of their tweed jackets as soon as they move into long boots as, for me, it’s too childlike for these classes and on horses.”

This should be worn with a smart shirt and tie, and beige breeches.

“Lose the canary jods and show pony look at this point,” says Adam, again citing tradition and age appropriacy.

“Boots should be straight-topped with a garter strap, but if you’re starting out in showing or just dipping a toe in these classes and already have topped boots, they’ll be fine.”

A correctly fitting navy hat with a strap, brown or beige gloves, and a leather stick of an acceptable length.

Those with hack types can finish their look with a buttonhole which complements the horse’s browband and the rider’s tie.

Hair should be neat under the hat, with no loose strands. Unlike show pony classes, there should not be any ribbons in hair; a grown-up bun in a hairnet is much better.

Intermediate show hunter classes

In the intermediate show hunter classes, riders should lose the button hole, and wear a tweed jacket instead.

Take note of Adam’s suggestion above regarding velvet on the collar – this is especially applicable here where a rider’s turnout has evolved from traditional hunting attire.

This is also true of intermediate working hunter classes, where they will be expected to wear a body protector over their jacket during the jumping phase.

The horse’s tack in a show hunter class will be more workmanlike, with a plain browband, and a thicker noseband as is befitting the horse’s face.

In the intermediate working hunter ranks, take a look at our comprehensive guide to working hunter pony classes.

Correct way of going

“Way of going differs in these classes, too,” explains Adam.

Riders in the intermediate show horse, hack and riding horse type classes are expected to perform a more technical show than they would have done in pony classes.

Experienced combinations produce polished performances that may include a serpentine, a walk-to-canter transition, simple changes (flying change through walk), or a rein-back, and often perform elements of their show with one hand on the rein and one resting on their thigh.

“One handed is fine for male and female riders,” says Adam. “Traditionally, male riders on hacks would carry their cane across their laps so that they could hook on and carry their lady companion’s coat. This has been carried into the show ring, but for me, it looks too gimmicky and is unnecessary.”

Be warned, you must find and play to your strengths as, for example a bad rein-back could ruin an otherwise stunning show.

Adam agrees. “I tell my riders that sometimes, performing something more simple well is better than to attempt something more testing and it not looked polished. Any element of a show must be practised and performed smoothly and accurately.”

Also, think on your feet. If a show isn’t set, go out and impress with something different. Showmanship is important in these classes.

“It really, really is in this class,” says Adam. “Our team member Jack Owen has done four seasons in these classes, and this year was his final year in the class. By this point he went out and threw everything at his show because he knew he could pull it off.

“But I tell all my riders, if they’re pulled third or fourth and they want to win, they’ve got to go out and give it everything they’ve got.”

Hacks don’t really gallop in adult classes, but riding horses do. So in an intermediate class where both types are against each other, make sure your hack type can gallop, too.

Intermediate hunter types bridge the gap between show hunter ponies and hunters, and their way of going should reflect this. For intermediate hunter types, the individual show isn’t as technical, as befitting a small hunter. Nevertheless, the horse should be mannerly and go forwards in a correct manner, and they should always give a good gallop – an extended canter won’t do here.

“For a good gallop, a horse should lower and lengthen,” says Adam. “And it should be smooth, not fired off the corner.”

Whatever your class, make sure that you assess the size and shape of the area in which you will be performing the show to make sure that you plan accordingly. It’s no use trying to perform a serpentine, for example, if you haven’t the room to perform it in a forwards and fluid way.

Take note of what the professionals do in their shows on hacks or in supremes to pick up tips.

“I used to do this,” says Adam. “The late Allister Hood was a king at producing a superb supreme show. And don’t be afraid to do something different; I remember Jayne Ross producing a fan during her supreme show at a particularly hot Royal International. We are presenting show horses so don’t be afraid to throw caution to the wind, but equally, only do what you know you can do well.”

Don’t forget, though, do what you know you can pull off with panache!

Where to compete

All major shows and most area BSPS shows have classes for intermediates, culminating in the intermediate championship.

The National Pony Society (NPS) also hosts some intermediate classes at their championship shows, and at some area shows.

The intermediate working hunter is usually judged against the other working hunter pony winners in the championship.

To know exactly where you can field your intermediate, you can find lists of affiliated shows on the society websites.

Once you feel prepared for qualifiers, a list of RIHS qualifiers is published annually on the BSPS website, and HOYS qualifiers are published on their website each spring.

Food for thought

While the class definition for the intermediate show hunter has remained steady, the class definitions for those riders and horses requiring a plaited browband have undergone several tweaks in recent years.

In his H&H column, Simon Reynolds reports his concern for type in show horse classes. Adam explains that he holds similar concerns, and extends them to exhibits in the intermediate classes.

“We must preserve type within these ranks, because they are a cross-over from the pony ranks to the horse classes. So there’s no point in our young riders being sat on a horse that isn’t sufficiently typey because it won’t hold its own in the horse sections.”

As well as honouring the traditions and history behind each type, ensuring that each is preserved is also key in educating young riders, and safeguarding the future of showing.

“Too often young adults aren’t quite sure what type they are sitting on, and then when they do cross over into the open class they are disappointed because their horse doesn’t really fit,” says Adam.

“This is where I believe that the Royal International have got the definition right,” he explains. “They have preserved a type with a hack type class and a riding horse type class.”

For him, combining the types in HOYS’ intermediate show horse class poses a risk.

“Generally, the hack types come to the forefront in these amalgamated qualifiers. Even the good riding horses often stand third or fourth. In the Hickstead qualifiers, the riding horses stand against themselves, and for me, that’s better and makes the crossover to the horse sections easier for the young adult to understand from a presentation point of view.

“I find that in the separate classes, riders know how to present their horse, and judges know exactly what they are looking at. Whereas when they are combined, it’s not as clear.

“I fully understand why it came about from a financial point of view, but from a competitor and a producer’s point of view, I have only seen the intermediates get stronger in numbers and standard in recent years. It would be great to see HOYS further tweak their classes to reflect this in coming years.”

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