Northern Ireland Festival Working Hunter Championship Qualifying Classes Criteria
It is the horse / pony that qualifies so the rider may be different for the final.
Competitors may ride a maximum of two horses / ponies in each working hunter final. However should both animals qualify for the Evening Performance, only one animal will be permitted to participate. The rider must choose which animal goes through.
The horse / pony and rider combination must remain the same in the Evening Performance as that which competed in the final.
For age restricted classes – the rider must be the correct age for the class when they qualify.
Generic Marking Sheet for Qualifying Shows
Class 401 Festival 4 Year Old Working Hunter Horse
Open WH Stallion, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old, exceeding 148cms, foaled in 2020. Passport will be required to prove eligibility for this class. Rider to have attained their 14th birthday before 1st January in the current year. (jumps maximum 75cm)
Class 402 Festival 80cms Working Hunter Horse
Open WH Stallion, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, exceeding 148cms. Rider to have attained their 14th birthday before 1st January in the current year.
Class 403 Festival Small Hunter Working Hunter Horse
Open Small WH Stallion, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, exceeding 148cms but not exceeding 158cms. A current height certificate, not exceeding 158cms, will be required to show eligibility for this class. Rider to have attained their 14th birthday by 1st January in the current year. (jumps maximum 95cm)
Class 404 Festival 90cms Working Hunter Horse
Open WH Stallion, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, exceeding 148cms. Rider to have attained their 14th birthday by 01st January in the current year.
Class 405 Festival 1m Working Hunter Horse
Open WH Stallion, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, exceeding 148cms. Rider to have attained their 14th birthday by 01st January in the current year.
Class 406 Festival 1.10m Working Hunter Horse
Open WH Stallion, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, exceeding 148cms. Rider to have attained their 14th birthday by 01st January in the current year.
FESTIVAL OPEN M&M WORKING HUNTER PONIES
Festival Open Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony classes are divided by the height of the pony and NOT by the breed.
Mountain and Moorland WHP, Stallion, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, rider any age. Registered in the approved Pure Breed Society Stud Books of Connemara, Dartmoor, Dales, Exmoor, Fells, Highland, New Forest, Shetland or Welsh A, B, C or D. Rider any age. Rider to be the correct age to ride a stallion.
Class 407 Festival M&M Working Hunter Pony – Exceeding 143cms
Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony, Stallion, Mare or Gelding, exceeding 143cms. Rider any age. (jumps maximum 1m)
Class 408 Festival M&M Working Hunter Pony – Exceeding 133cms but not exceeding 143cms
Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony, Stallion, Mare or Gelding, exceeding 133cms but not exceeding 143cms Rider any age. (jumps maximum 90cm)
Class 409 Festival M&M Working Hunter Pony – Exceeding 122cms but not exceeding 133cms
Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony, Stallion, Mare or Gelding, exceeding 122cms but not exceeding 133cms. Rider any age. (jumps maximum 80cm)
Class 410 Festival M&M Working Hunter Pony – Not Exceeding 122cms
Mountain & Moorland Working Hunter Pony, Stallion, Mare or Gelding, not exceeding 122cms. Rider any age. (jumps maximum 65cm)
FESTIVAL MINI WORKING HUNTER PONIES
Class 411 Festival Cradle Stakes Working Hunter Pony
Working Hunter Pony, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, not exceeding 122cms. Rider not to have attained their 11th birthday on the 1st January in the current year. (jumps maximum 67cm)
Class 412 Festival Starter / Nursery Stakes Working Hunter Pony
Nursery / Starter Stakes, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, not exceeding 133cms. Rider not to have attained their 12th birthday before 1st January in the current year. (jumps maximum 75cm)
FESTIVAL OPEN WORKING HUNTER PONIES
Class 413 Festival 133cms Working Hunter Pony
Open Working Hunter Pony, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, not exceeding 133cms. Riders not to have attained their 14th birthday before 1st January in the current year. (jumps maximum 90cm)
Class 414 Festival 143cms Working Hunter Pony
Open Working Hunter Pony, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, exceeding 133cms but not exceeding 143cms. Riders not to have attained their 17th birthday before 1st January in the current year. (jumps maximum 1m)
Class 415 Festival 153cms Working Hunter Pony
Open Working Hunter Pony, Mare or Gelding, 4 years old and over, exceeding 143cms but not exceeding 153cms. Riders not to have attained their 20th birthday before 1st January in the current year. (jumps maximum 1.05m)
Novice Classes
M&M Not exceeding 122cms – (jumps maximum 58cms)
M&M Exc 122cm Not exc 133cm – (jumps maximum 69cms)
M&M Exc 133cm Not exc 143cm – (jumps maximum 84cms)
M&M Exceeding 143cm – (jumps maximum 90cms)
Cradle Stakes – (jumps maximum 55cms)
Starter Stakes – (jumps maximum 60cms)
133cms – (jumps maximum 75cms)
143cms – (jumps maximum 85cms)
153cms – (jumps maximum 90cms)
Intermediate – (jumps maximum 100cms)
Small Working Hunter Horse – (jumps maximum 90cms)
Working Hunter horse – (jumps maximum 90cms)
Cob Working Hunter – (jumps maximum 90cm)
Heights of Mountain and Moorland (M&M) Ponies:
All exhibits in M&M classes must be the correct height, as stipulated by their respective Breed Society Stud Book, and hold a valid height certificate to confirm this.