Pothunters

[intouch]

Where I work I have to run an unregistered SJ League twice a year which is good fun, but I am trying to solve a problem. Although we ask that only genuine novices enter for the novice classes, last time in both horse & pony comps we had the same three people winning novice & open classes. It really isn't fair on the real novices, and this time I am barring anyone who has come 1, 2, or 3rd in a previous league, but I know we will have the same pothunters trying to take over.
I'm thinking of saying they cannot win both novice & open, but giving them the option of entering the novice as a warm up at a reduced rate. Has anyone else any thoughts on this? I don't want to make anyone unhappy, but anything I can think of doing will have someone - or there Dad - giving out! Please help!
PS there are cash prizes involved, so it's not just the ribbons they're after.

[myEllie]

Well hopefully the novice fences will be smaller than the open fences. If novice fences are 2'6' and open are 3'6" or whatever, why don't you just say, "if you show in novice then you can't show in anything over 3'. That way, novices could still probably do a green class, but would not be able to enter in the open.

[Fifteenbobber]

There are some propper rules somewhere to distingish between a novice and an open rider. I would make it that anyperson or horse having come 1st,2nd, or 3rd in any jumping was not eligable to compete in the novice comp. BUT they can enter (can't spell this) hors concour - which means they can enter and jump but only for experience/warm up and they are not entitled to the prizes.

The only thing I find annoying is that an old experience horse cannot compete in the novice class even if the rider is a begginer. In my dressage riding club we made an exception for old (15+) horses with more than 50 point to compete in the prelim/novice test PROVIDING they were not ridden by a ridder who had won any points, that way an experienced horse could compete to give a novice rider the fun and experience of competition.

Hope this helps:)

[sweetbriar]

I too go to many local shows in my area and we always have 'pothunters' turning up. As you say, we have the same 4 or 5 people winning the same classes in different shows (even though they should be barred).

The best way of doing it I have found is to do as 'my ellie' suggested. A couple of my local shows have rules that if you enter the bigger classes (2'9/3'0) you are not also allowed to jump in the smaller ones.

Restricting it to how much money won or horses not to have been placed in the same height class do not seem to work. The pothunters seem to think that we don't know that they've already won a 2'6 class the week before. Also the show organisers and judges know who these people are but never disqualify them or apprehend them before they enter.

I'm showjumping this weekend and I bet the same old faces will turn up in my classes.

[Mossy]

No help in your present predicament, same logic as an Arab winning a local family pony class, but I was told a while ago that a pot hunter will eventually fall down a pothole!

[intouch]

Thanks for your input everyone, I think I will go with the original idea, I don't know what to do about the experienced pony and new rider, I understand when a pony is passed on to a younger family member or inexperienced rider, but last time it was a pony who had won both classed the previous year who came out with a new rider and won again! Super pony who also does registered jumping, shouldn't be allowed, what satisfaction do they get?
I nearly got clobbered last time by an irate dad - someone complained the "pony" was over height, I challenged him on it and he swore it was measured in. Do I have to keep a measuring stick at the gate, or ask for certificates?
The joys of event organising!

[Fifteenbobber]

Best of luck:) with the organisation - hope all goes well:D

[Lancashire Lass]

Hia, you have a record of the winners of the classes you've run previously Yes? - You are aware of the same competitors that are winning, so why don't you pop a notice up saying that competitors that win the Novice class this season may enter for the remainder of the season, however they will be ineligible to enter this class next season, thereby being OUT of the Novice Class. I know this doesn't solve your problem short term, but it should solve it if you run the showjumping comps on a regular basis every year. It will solve the problem for next year won't it?!!

Hope this helps.;)

[sweetbriar]

Organising and running a show is a thankless task. The thing is that you will always have them (pothunters) and you can only minimise the damage.

I think that these people are really sad because they never progress or move on. I know of one girl who deliberately takes her pony into the smaller classes when she hasn't won anything all day in the larger ones just to get a rosette. Its really pathetic.

I recently got a 3rd placing in a 2'3" class and I now only enter 2'6" and above. You have to move on and meet better/stiffer competition because thats how you and your pony improve and widen your experiences.

[Lgd]

For our Area RC unaffiliated dressage series we have a restricted class where the rider/horse combination may not have been placed 1st - 3rd in any dressage competition. If they do win during the series they can stay in the restricted group but have to move out of it the next season. This lets novice people buying experienced horses have a bash. The other limitation put on is that the combination must not have affiliated dressage points. The other classes are open and the only limitation is the usual dressage points. One class is usually run as a complete open with no points limit for anyone who wants a run out (it's usually the local event riders). Seems to work quite well and no-one seems to try and pull a fast one.