UPDATED
I saw on the website at one point that you had to place 1-3 to get an invitation – is that still true? No – not any longer - as this is our first year of holding a Championship Finals show – show management has determined it appropriate to further open eligibility to those who have placed in a class during 2008. We anticipate “tightening up” the eligibility in 2009, but this year since we’re building the show’s foundation with our exhibitors – it’s now open to those who’ve placed in a class at any point during 2008.
I competed in Baby Green on my horse in April this year and placed 3rd but I sold him. Can I still come and compete with another horse in Baby Green? No – you have qualified to compete in Baby Green with the horse you’d sold, not a horse that ‘s never been to the show. Bring the new horse on November 8 and 9th to qualify!!
I competed in Short Stirrups this year and did well so I moved up into Modified Hunter. Can I still compete in the Championship Finals in Short Stirrups? No – but you certainly can compete in the division that you’ve moved up to. Same response for those riders who started out in Walk Trot but have moved up to Pre-Short/Long Stirrups. If they’ve moved up to Pre-Short/Long Stirrups and placed, than they can compete in that division in the Finals.
I’ve competed and placed in the 2’ Mini Medal outside in the Novice ring, but have also shown indoors in the 2’ Pony Medal. Can I do both Equitation Medals? No – you may ride in the 2’ Pony Medal.
Can I ride in more than one Equitation Medal class Saturday night? No, just one.
What classes have qualified me for the 2’6” Children’s/Adult Medal? If you’ve been riding and placed in the Marshall & Sterling Bit O Straw or the AHJF Junior Hunter Challenge or the Children’s/Adult Equitation Division or the Pony Medal at 2’6”– you can choose to ride in the 2’6” Children’s / Adult Medal.
What if I’ve qualified for the large pony medal at 2’6” and the 2’6” Children’s/Adult Medal – can I ride in both? Please select one Equitation Medal class to ride in.
I qualified to compete in the year end EMR Equitation Finals – when are those going to be held? The EMR Equitation classes have their own Finals scheduled over the jumper course on Sunday.
I”ve been riding in the Short Stirrups division and the 2’ Pony Medal, as well as the small/medium pony division and 2’ jumper classes. I have ribbons in all three. Can I ride in all three divisions or classes at the Finals show? Yes, at this time during 2008 – as we had no exclusion between arenas as long as the rider was not jumping over 2’.
I placed and got a ribbon in the Walk Trot Mini Medal this year and am still competing at the Walk Trot level. When is my Walk Trot Mini Medal class going to be run? The Walk Trot Mini Medal will be held in the indoor on Sunday.
What if so many riders enter that we can’t possibly finish by 5pm in the indoor in time for the Medals to start? That’s another reason we’re so stringent on the pre-entry rule – so that we can move certain divisions around or assign additional rings and judges if necessary and/or potentially refuse any additional entries after Tuesday at 8pm.
Why can’t I add a class at the show if I’ve qualified for it. Show staff will be busy concentrating on the riders in the arena, ensuring the logistics of the show are running smoothly and monitoring results. By not accepting adds day of show – the class sheets will remain unaltered, and gate personnel can concentrate on ensuring the registered exhibitors enter and exit in a timely manner.
You haven’t answered my eligibility question. Is there someone I can talk to or send an email to about this? Absolutely – send Jeanne an email at pwinslow1@cfl.rr.com about your situation and work directly with her – no problem! She can also be reached for show questions between 8 and 5pm at 321-693-5551.
I’m a Jumper rider – and I show at 2 fence heights throughout the year being 2’ and 2’3”. Can I compete at both fence heights at the Championship Finals? Yes – you may if that’s how you’ve been competing all year long. However – riders on the same horse may only compete in jumper divisions that they’ve qualified in, if the difference between those divisions is 3”, no more. . That means someone who’s riding Fury and started the year at 2’ Jumper but is now doing 2’6” jumper with Fury may now compete only at the 2’6” level.
As a Jumper rider – I have ridden several horses this year. Is my eligibility criteria based on my horse and I as a team or is it just me, or just the horse? You’re qualified to compete at the Championship Show with the horse you’ve placed with during the year, at that fence height and classification* *see also previous response
Are your Jumper championship classes going to be open for professionals and amateurs both? The Jumper championship classes will be based on the same divisional criteria we’ve used all year ie; a “Children/Adults” designation means amateurs only or ie; “Training Jumper” is open to all.
How many classes are you going to have during the show? How can you fit it all in one or two arenas? We are reducing the #’s of classes for the Championship show ie; Modified Hunter will be held once on Saturday and will be comprised of one schooling round opportunity, an Over Fences class and an Under Saddle class. Those divisions like Small/Med Pony, Large Pony that have equitation components to them – will have one schooling round, one hunter over fences round, one eq over fences round, one under saddle and one eq on the flat. Those divisions that split the Eq out from the Hunters ie; Junior/Adult and Children’s/Adult – will have only one Hunter over fences class, plus their Hunter under saddle. The Eqs will remain the same ie; one Eq over fences and one Eq on the Flat.
What if there’s a tie for high points in divisions if there’s only 2 classes? The most points earned over fences will take break the tie – or at the judge’s discretion, the riders will be asked to hack off or jump two fences.
Are you going to have Finals classes for the In-Hand participants? Of course!! They will be limited however, to those classes that have filled consistently throughout the show year – and are available for reference on the Championship Show Program.
Are the walk trotters going to be scheduled to ride indoors? Yes – they will ride on Sunday in the indoors. We may open the Main Arena for limited schooling by age group shortly before the classes begin.
What about the Short Stirrup riders – do they have to go last? We always save the best for last – but as the pre-entries arrive and we have a firm grip on #’s of riders, there may come the opportunity for movement of a division or two so the day on Sunday is not so long. That’s one of the reasons for such stringent pre-entry deadlines for this show.
$’s are getting tight before Christmas – and two shows in one month is almost scary – is the Championship show going to be expensive? We’ve tried to approach this by limiting the # of classes so that a particular division is shorter by one day (in comparison to showing in a division over the standard 2 day show opportunity) and by one class – as most divisions have classes removed in order to shorten the show. The Championship classes by division are scheduled on one particular day, so that some exhibitors may return home after one day’s competition instead of having to stay for two.
How can you give out the awards ringside and still keep the show moving along? We are “staging” the awards, will have a designated awards “team” ringside and have structured a special “results” radio channel – so that as the judge radios the results into the announcer (our wonderful Gate Man Chris will not have a “results” channel on his radio – so no hearing the results at the ingate this time!!) the results are also picked up by the office and keyed directly into the computer. This enables the calculation of the high points while the riders are still lined up in the middle of the arena. As the ribbons and awards are presented for the Over Fences and Under Saddle or Flat Classes – (and probably handed off to a rider’s designated representative ringside) the high points are calced and radioed out to the announcer for announcement and presentation. Jeanne W. plans on being the primary announcer for this show and will be working hard to keep the show on track. She may need a good Marguerita by 4:00 pm tho to maintain momentum.
What do we wear for this Finals show? Riders in our main arena and our novice arenas are familiar with the formal show attire required by Horse Shows in the Park and the Finals show will be no different. Now might be a good time to send the jacket to the cleaners however for a good press. Shadbellies are not required for the Equitation Medals or the Hunter Classic on Sunday. Our Jumper riders are not normally required to dress formally, and are not for this show but if there’s a jacket and show shirt hanging in the back closet, now might be the time to dust it off and try it out. Those Jumper competitors not wearing a jacket or formal show attire are asked to dress conservatively in a long sleeved shirt or dark sweater. When in doubt - pick something to wear that day that looks good when in a picture with a beautiful ribbon!
Is braiding my horse required? Show management has noticed more and more horses and ponies at each show sporting beautifully appointed braided manes and tails. Braiding has never been a requirement at HSITP shows, but if you feel to do so may enhance your horse or pony and show them off to their best – it would be most welcome. If you’re as uncoordinated with a braid as we are, look on HSITP Classified for braiders or give her an email at pwinslow1@cfl.rr.com to get a list of braiders who may be at the show. Talented Braiders – please use that same email address to get yourself listed for the show or go directly on line to the classifieds at www.horseshowsinthepark.com !
What kind of prizes are being awarded at this show? Do we get to pick our prize like the other shows? We actually will have a prize waiting for each first place winner of each class and will hand it to you or your representative in or outside the arena. We’ve ordered longer ribbons, trimmed in gold that say “Championship Finals” on them and even more special ribbons for the Champion and Reserve winners in each division – with prizes and awards for them too. As we need to award these to you while you’re still in the arena – we’ve pre-selected a wonderful prize for each first place winner and the Champion and Reserve winners – ranging from engraved and hand-painted items, lead shanks, silver, engraved glassware – and goodies you’ve been drooling over all year long…no fear!
Is there a party scheduled for Saturday night? At this show, the party will be happening main arena center stage – as our Equitation Medal competitors round their way over the jumps…and show staff will be busy ensuring results are received and their awards are waiting for them! Our competitors families and supporters are welcome to bring their own party time to the main arena’s electric atmosphere!!
If I win one of the Equitation Medals – do I get anything that night or do I have to wait for the banquet? Horse Shows in the Park would never let you win and leave without something cool, rest assured. There will be a presentation ceremony to the winners and a victory gallop for the top 6 – 7 riders. The actual lovely award will be presented to the winners at the Annual Awards Banquet however, on Saturday December 6, and – if you can’t for some horrible reason make it to the banquet you’ll have to wait until afterwards to receive your award.
Can we bring signs or stuff to show our team spirit for our riders during Finals? Absolutely – however any sign or item must be 100% flap-free and spook proof to ensure our riders remain on their horses and ponies and safe – and behavior must be professional, sportsmanlike and courteous. Show management rules final on this one.
Is there going to be a program for this show? Jeanne is working on one for distribution at the show. If you’d like to take out an ad for the program – please contact her asap at pwinslow1@cfl.rr.com The ads can be for your business or just to provide recognition or motivation for a favorite rider or barn. They are priced very economically starting at $25.00 as all we’re trying to do is cover the cost of printing the program itself.
