Changes aimed at standardising rules on who is and is not an amateur in showing have been agreed for classes at next year’s Royal International Horse Show (RIHS, 22-27 July).

On 17 December the Showing Council facilitated a meeting between the British Piebald & Skewbald Association, the British Show Horse Association, the British Show Pony Society, Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain, and UK Ponies & Horses, which all hold qualifying and classes and finals at the RIHS.

A Showing Council spokesperson said this was the fourth time the groups have met, with the “sole aim of standardising the amateur rule” across the five societies.

The changes are: professional producers will no longer be able to compete a novice horse on behalf of an amateur rider, without the rider losing their “amateur status”; racing and riding schools have been removed from the list of restrictions, which “should allow more people to compete in amateur classes; and breeding has been removed from the list of restrictions, with the exception of owning/standing a stallion at stud, which will not be permitted for amateurs.

It was also agreed to change the wording from “on the day when an exhibit is competing in amateur classes” to “on the showground where an exhibit is competing”.

“It is hoped by relaxing the amateur rules, with the removal of various restrictions, these classes will be opened up to a wider audience and therefore be of benefit to the societies, the shows and the wider showing community,” said the Showing Council spokesperson.

Amateur rules have come under the spotlight in recent years; some championship titles have changed hands after winners were found not to be classed as amateurs under a particular society’s rules – even if they are, with other societies.

Read the rules via the Showing Council’s website here.

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A leading showing society has announced that four-year-old hunter classes run under its rules will no longer require a ride judge.

The Sports Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB (GB)) now states that judges will not ride the exhibits in four-year-old hunter classes, with the exception of championship classes such as those held at the National Hunter Supreme championship show, where a ride judge will assess the entries.

Competitors in SHB (GB) four-year-old hunter classes should also not be asked to gallop as a class by the judge, but they should change the rein.

Judges will ride any four-year-olds presented in novice classes, and there will be a special award for the highest placed four-year-old in novice classes.

Ruth Flack, chairman of judges, rules and show committee for SHB (GB), said: “The demise of four-year-old hunter classes has been slow and steady. The numbers forward have been reducing and this has made it more difficult for shows to sustain the class in the schedule.

“We asked producers and breeders what we could do to encourage people to show their four-year-olds and most thought that it would be better if they were not required to be ready for a ride judge so early on in the season. It’s daunting for any person to take such a young horse into the ring and ask a judge to ride it, especially on a cold, windy day in a strange environment.

“Some horses may need time to learn without the added pressure of a different rider introduced at their first few shows. We all want to give our young horses the very best experiences possible at the start of their careers and this rule change gives owners the chance to prepare them over a period of time.

“It’s hoped that this new rule will encourage owners to bring their youngsters out and for shows to hold classes for four-year-olds. We aim to give this rule a try for a period of time to see if the classes are used more.”

The society’s first four-year-old class of the season will be at the spring show at Addington Equestrian on 21 April.

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Showing societies have taken action against a member of the community as a result of his “offensive” social media posts.

The British Show Horse Association (BSHA), Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB(GB)), the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) and The Showing Register (TSR) have all released statements or changed policy in relation to John Bland.

The former showing competitor has been active on social media, creating what has been described in a joint statement by the BSHA and SHB(GB) as “continuing offensive, abusive and misogynistic posts”.

The organisations held extraordinary meetings to discuss “recent bullying and harassment on social media and in particular (though not exclusively) Mr Bland’s content”.

“Both organisations considered the content of the posts to be vitriolic, generally unsubstantiated, ill-founded and in some cases, obscenely presented,” the statement said.

“As one of our judges we expect you to uphold the highest standards of decency and integrity.

“We simply have to do something to protect the integrity and mental wellbeing of our members, our judges, and our discipline of showing. We must maintain and be seen to uphold the high standards that our societies have been built upon. We cannot have social media and anti-bullying policies that quote a zero tolerance and then take no action to eliminate such behaviour.”

The statement adds that anyone who is a “friend” of Mr Bland, or with anyone else who spreads “malicious information or acts in a manner that does not meet our standards of common human decency” on social media to “please remove yourself from our judging panel”. It states that being friends with him will be seen as “tacitly supporting” what he says, and that the organisations would not tell people who to be friends with but that supporting such behaviour is outside their codes of conduct.

BSPS chair Paul Cook sent an email to judges about Mr Bland’s “offensive, abusive and misogynistic” social media content, about which he said members and judges had contacted him. It said the BSPS board’s view is that any judge who is “friends” with Mr Bland is “by default supporting, even if tacitly, his appalling behaviour”, so anyone who wants to stay on the BSPS judging panel must not be a friend of his online.

Mr Cook told H&H: “It is not compatible for any official of the BSPS to be a ‘friend’ of anyone on social media who abuses, threatens, harasses and insults others. Mr John Bland’s misogynistic, anti-Semitic and vile behaviour have no place in society today. Therefore, those who wish to remain a ‘friend’ of him or others with similar views have no place officiating for the BSPS.”

A TSR spokesman told H&H: “TSR wishes to stand alongside other showing societies to have a united front in relation to this level of unacceptable online abuse.

“We have written to all judges on the TSR O and H [open and HOYS] panel to ask them to consider any involvement in relation to online abuse coming from individuals who include John Bland, and any other pages that condone anyone who has actively targeted individuals in a public forum.”

Mr Bland told H&H he stands by everything he has posted; he said he does not consider himself a misogynist or anti-Semitic, adding: “I like Jewish people and have lots of Jewish friends.”

He described the action in relation to judges as “blackmail”, and said his lawyers believe he would have a case for that reason.

“I loved showing, I adored it,” he said, adding that he started as a professional aged 20 and had much success, “so I know about showing”.

“I’m telling the truth in everything I say,” he said. “The truth I know, and they don’t like it. If you upset the people in charge of showing, they’ll stop you doing it, so people stay quiet and put up with whatever. I don’t have to stay quiet because I’m not a member. Most people walk away but I didn’t.”

Mr Bland said he started posting vlogs online to “tell people the truth”, and that he “disagrees with everything they’re saying”.

“They’re putting blame on someone rather than taking responsibility for ruining showing,” he said, adding that concerns about horse welfare are a major factor behind his posts, and that although complaints were made to police about his online content, officers visited him and said they only had to reprimand him for referring to someone as “fat”.

“I don’t know what they’re trying to achieve,” he added. “I haven’t made anything up, I’ve said truthful things they don’t like. I’ve got 25,000 followers and they all agree with me in everything I say.”

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Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain chairman David Dixon looks forward

At last, along with the sunshine, we have light at the end of this horrendous Covid-19-driven tunnel. We finally have a plan in place for us to return to some form of normality, as long as we can continue to follow the guidelines and meet those all-important set targets.

The much-used phrase “We are all in this together” is as valid now as ever. However, I’m very aware that as we slowly emerge from under this cloud, we might all be in the same boat, but some of us are turning on the motors while others are left paddling with a stick.

The pandemic has affected each and every one of us. Many people have worked tirelessly over the past year, often covering shifts for colleagues who have been furloughed or who have been ill. Others have worked from home, which presents its own challenges.

Sadly, there have been many redundancies and we have seen small businesses go under, putting whole families under immense pressure, both financially and mentally. But most importantly, my thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones in this pandemic. So as we move forward, let’s do so with compassion and buckets full of hope for better times to come our way.

Return of ride judging

As a society, Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB(GB)) continues to work closely with The Showing Council and their showing blueprint. We are also in constant communication with Lizzie Bunn and her team at Hickstead to pave a way forward for the coming season. As with all societies, these plans are dictated by the relevant government guidelines.

Our society is steeped in tradition and has an enviable heritage. Part of that tradition is our wonderful ride judges who are revered and respected worldwide, and I so look forward to seeing their return to our rings. I’m not alone in my enjoyment of watching two judges working harmoniously together in assessing a class of ridden horses, going through the process in an efficient and workmanlike manner; the system encourages transparency and understanding between competitors and spectators.

I’m aware of concerns over the Royal International (RIHS) qualifiers and if all these classes will have ride judges.

We can’t confirm either way yet, but my view on this is simply that all horses qualify under different circumstances anyway. Some may qualify at a small, quiet indoor venue, while others qualify at a busy, large outdoor one. Some in the blustery wind and rain and others in glorious sunshine. Some from a class of two and some of a class of 22.

However, we can be sure that they will all be judged equally at the final, and I would urge competitors to produce their horses as if they were going to be ridden by a judge – and let’s hope they will be.

A time gone by

When I was a teenager, I would visit the Great Yorkshire show and stand eagle-eyed, glued to the side of the ring, watching the likes of Tatlow, Toulson and Oliver performing their art. I remember thinking they were from a time gone by, yet they were right there in front of me.

There were also the lovely broodmares and foals that the Rawdings family would present to perfection. The mares were stunning and the foals always seemed absolutely enormous to a 14-year-old me. It was here that my enthusiasm and passion was triggered.

At 18, I bred my first foal and became a member of SHB(GB). At 24, I made it on to the judge’s panel. I was assessed by a wonderful man called Dick Saunders who gave me some great words of advice and I am grateful to him for so much.

Now in my middle age, my last six years on the council has given me the opportunity to put something back into the society I hold so dear and which has given so much to so many over the decades. This society was founded in 1886 and has seen many changes and encountered challenges along the way, Covid-19 being the most recent.

However, we are not alone and other societies are facing the same difficulties. And so, now is the time I ask myself, not “What can my society do for me?” but more “What can I do for my society?”

Also published in H&H 11 March 2021

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Leading show riders say they have concerns about a change to the marking system for working hunter classes this year.

Sports Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB(GB)) has announced a new scoring structure in which 17% of the final mark given is for the initial go-round, which was not previously marked.

Liz Morley, chairman of the SHB(GB) showing committee, told H&H that the new allocation had been introduced because “it was considered appropriate as working hunters should be seen to go round in ‘company’.”

But working hunter specialist Louise Bell is worried the change has not been properly thought through.

“I feel it is a very odd thing to have changed,” said Louise. “The concern is it will give horses who have a fence down a chance of winning.

“I also feel it is going to need more manpower in the ring to keep an eye on all the horses at all times than they [SHB(GB)] have thought about.”

Other riders were frustrated that SHB(GB) — which recently pushed through a new rule making safety headgear compulsory in all classes (news, 19 December) — had made the rule change without consulting its members.

Ms Morley said the society has not thought it necessary for the change to be put up for public debate and that it had been made to “enhance the competition”.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (30 January, 2014)

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Most of us spend more than three weeks a year on our mobile phone, according to new figures from MobileInsurance.co.uk — and it appears showing competitors are as addicted as any.

But one showing society is determined to stamp out their use in the showring. Sport Horse Breeding (GB) (SHB(GB)) has introduced a new rule to tackle the problem (Katie Jerram showing comment, 11 April).

“Anyone using a mobile phone in the ring will be asked to leave,” states its members’ handbook.

The society’s Catherine Burdock told H&H: “This was prompted by a combination of factors, which included safety and etiquette.

“It does not look very professional to have competitors standing in the line-up taking and making mobile phone calls.”

Top showing producer Katie Jerram agrees with the new ruling.

“I might be very old school, but I don’t think you need your phone in the ring — even if you are standing there for an hour,” she said.

“It is distracting for judges if it rings and very disrespectful.”

SHB(GB) follows the lead of the British Show Pony Society and the British Skewbald and Piebald Association (BSPA), which have also imposed a no phone rule.

“We became fed up with people’s phones — and with their extraordinary ring tones — going off and frightening the ponies,” said the BSPA’s Lynda Lodge. “It was totally inappropriate.”

But judge and H&H columnist Stuart Hollings said he was ambivalent about the situation.

“From an etiquette point of view, it’s a very good thing, but it’ll be interesting to see how they police it,” he said.

“As far as rules go, I wouldn’t see this as a priority.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (25 April 2013)

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Showing judges who do not want to comply with a new Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB(GB)) rule on hard hats can opt to sign a disclaimer.

However, a warning has been given to any judge considering this route that he/she may not be covered by the society’s insurance in the event of an accident.

“We have given people the option of signing a disclaimer stating that if they choose to wear hats other than those in the 2006 rules, then in the event of an accident they may not be covered,” said Catherine Burdock, general secretary of SHB(GB).

“The emphasis is on ‘may not’: we are not saying they will not, because until a claim is made and all the circumstances are taken into account, we do not know what an insurer would decide.”

The rule, which came in at the start of 2006, states that judges must wear a skullcap or hat and safety harness that meets the current approved BSI or European standard.

It means made-to-measure hats that do not meet current approval — in particular, bowlers and silk hats worn in ladies’ hunter classes — are not deemed acceptable for judges in light of advice given by the society’s insurance brokers.

Some judges asked the society to think again and welcomed the offer of a disclaimer. Lucy Killingbeck, a competitor and judge, said she could not wear standard safety headgear because an injury sustained in a car accident meant she suffers severe headaches if she wears anything other than made-to-measure hats.

Mrs Killingbeck said she had spoken to 90 out of about 120 judges on the SHB(GB) panel and found only one in favour of hats to BSI or European standards being mandatory, with the rest believing judges should be given a choice to assess risk factors for themselves.

“It isn’t about vanity or arrogance, it’s about freedom of choice and comfort,” she said. “There have been no recorded incidents of judges sustaining head injuries in the ring in the UK.

“When you’re judging, you can sometimes be in the ring for 3hr or more, and safety hats aren’t designed to be worn for such long periods.”

Miss Burdock said judges who signed the disclaimer must realise they may still have to comply with individual shows’ rules.

“If a show states that all judges must wear hats to approved safety standards, judges must comply even if they have signed our disclaimer,” she said.

In the light of the SHB(GB) controversy, the British Show Hack Cob and Riding Horse Association has also looked at whether safety headgear should be made mandatory for judges, but has decided not to change its rules.

BSHCRHA board member Lynn Russell said: “The matter was brought up at the last board meeting but it was decided it should continue to be left to judges’ discretion for the time being.

“But judges and competitors need to remember that individual shows and societies have different rules and they must make sure they comply with them.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (2 March, ’06)

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