whats the difference between . . .

[iccle_me]

i know its prob a really stupid question but whats the diff between a WHP and a SHP?? also what showing classes could i do with a welsh section A other that M+M??

[Mehitabel]

a WHP is a working hunter pony. an SHP is a show hunter pony. in theory, they are the same thing but a WHP jumps and a SHP is a flat class. some welsh Bs who arent' the most typy examples of their breed plait up and do SHP. some of the finer natives can do WHP as well as their breed classes - a WHP is often heftier than a SHP. for instance, plenty of connies and NFs do plaited workers -a NF won at HOYS in the plaited workers this year.

afraid a good A though, is not a good example of other showing classes. serious showing it is really just breed classes - inhand, ridden, working hunter, leadrein or first ridden for an A, if you have a suitable jockey for the last two.

[Herbie's mummy]

SHP are like mini versions of the LW hunter.
They are finer then the WHP and more showey:)
WHP are more solid and tuffer.
You could do M&M WH or shwoing.....depends what level shows you are at:)

[iccle_me]

ive never been to a show in my life lol. however my YOs daughter is v. into showing (does all sorts of classes including sidesaddle) and has got me interested.

shes said if i get a pony she'll help me produce it ect as she wants to get a name for bringing on more of the little ponys for kids.

im 4ft 10 and about 8st. would i be ok with a section A (there one of my faves no other reason for choosing them) or should i be thinking about something bigger??

[Glider]

If you're over 14 you wouldn't be able to do SHP/WHP on a pony under 13hh (and have to be under 12 to do 12hh classes) at affiliated level, but you can ride in M&M classes. Several adults ride small ponies in these classes, although they are often on section Bs or Exmoors, but don't let that put you off!

Section As have been very successful as 12hh SHP/WHPs in the past. They are tending to look for finer types in the smaller sections these days though, and in mixed height classes an A often looks out of place.

[Mehitabel]

at your asize you'd be fine on an A, but would have more versatility on a B i think, although the same pony is unlikely to do well in both breed classes and plaited classes - and as glider says, there is an age restriction on plaited ponies. if you went for an exmoor or dartmoor, B or C, or a smaller new forest, for instance, you have all the M&M classes to do and there are plenty of them, and no age restrictions. while the exmoor doesn't have great paces for dressage and is not known for fantastic jumping ability, the other breeds could all also do dressage and jumping as a change from showing.

[Herbie's mummy]

At county level there is a restriction on age and height of the pony.

Working hunter you can have cradle stakes for ponies not exceeding 122cms with riders up to the age of seven or Cradle Stakes for ponies not exceeding 122cms with riders up to the age of eleven.
Not exc. 133cms with riders up to the age of fourteen
Exc. 133cms not exc. 143cms with riders up to the age of seventeen
Exc. 143cms not exc. 153cms with riders up to the age of twenty.
The Intermediate Working Hunter class is for horses/ponies exceeding 148cms but not exceeding 158cms with the age limit for riders being 25 years.

You are best off going for something a little bit bigger ie. a new forest, you could get a 14hh one,13hh one....etc etc, then show it in the large breed m&m classes, but often at county level the NF ponies don't stand out too much infrot of the D'd etc, there is a NF class JUST for the NF ponies AND if you wanted to do workers you could eather platt up or go native, i think the NF look nice eather way to be honest but it comes down to personal choice.

OR*lol* if you just wanted to do WH you could get a nice workers pony.
Or SHP they are very nice, but not really built for jumping, more showing.
Or if you were to get a section A you would need to find your self a small joky.
A good quality dartmoor is also very nice.

[Mehitabel]

there are M&M workers classes too herbies' mum - that was what i was talking about when i said no age restrictions.

[iccle_me]

damn im 19 i should of started younger lol.

for what id be doing to start off with i wouldnt mind just doing M+M and could always move on up so to speak if i like it (not sure if im brave enough yet!!)

love the look of an exmoor but someone on the yard metioned they dont get placed often in mixed classes as there not to everyones taste??

roll on next summer so i can start looking properly is all i can say