Rule Suggestions for 2018
1. Measuring out of area – needs to be enforced
Permission must be sought from Council before taking pony to be measured outside of your area.
In the interest of fairness to all members, the Rules Committee has decided to remove the requirement to seek permission from Council if measuring out of a member’s area. Members are now free to measure a pony at any official SJI measuring session.
2. 50/50 Marking Sheet
Should the 50/50 Marking Sheet be used by Judges from 2018? Ponies should be stripped in all Open Classes.
The Rules Committee has decided to re-instate the requirement to use marking sheets at all IPS area shows. This issue will be addressed during the 2018 IPS Judges Seminar. The marking sheet will be simplified and guidance bands will be included on the sheet. In the interest of transparency, this information will also be added to the member’s website.
Stripping is a requirement for all Open Classes and for all other classes at the judge’s discretion. The only exceptions will be if the judge has previously seen the pony stripped at the same show on the same day, when there are two or less ponies in the class and/or during extreme weather conditions.
3. Cap on number of class entries from 2018
The issue of placing a cap on the number of class entries a competitor may have per day.
The Rules Committee has determined that the current provisions are appropriate and therefore there will be no change to the rules to facilitate this suggestion. It is the requirement of the owners and parents to determine the welfare of their animals and children.
4. Welfare issue of ponies
The tying back of ponies prior to and surprisingly directly after competition using the reins to hold the pony's head in by looping them around the cantle of the saddle. There are two issues here, 1) it's dangerous and 2) it's unethical. To elaborate if a pony were to spook and was restricted in such a way it could cause a serious accident, it is also bad practice and not how children should be taught and most importantly it raises an animal welfare issue.
The Rules Committee has determined that this point will be not be added to the 2018 Rule Book. The Committee does however agree the practice is extremely dangerous and a reminder note will be placed on the website. In addition, the Health and Safety Officer at all Area Shows will be advised to address this should it be observed at any show.
5. Bitting Rules
After ‘all ponies 12months old and over must be shown with a bit in its mouth’ add ‘the pony may be led off a leather or chain coupling attached to both sides of the bit or directly off the noseband (as per lead rein classes) at the discretion of the owner/handler. However it should be recommended that all colts and stallions are led of a coupling.
The Rules Committee agrees with this suggestion. Rule 64 will be adjusted to read “Ponies in the Breeding & Youngstock classes must be shown without hind shoes and those, one-year-old and over, must wear a bit. The pony may be led off a leather or chain coupling attached to both sides of the bit, or directly off the noseband”.
The remainder of rule 64 will remain unchanged.
The Rules Committee has also agreed the recommendation to allow handlers aged between 14 and 15 years on the 1st January of the current year to lead ponies in Youngstock classes.
Rule 65 will therefore now read: “Ponies in any of the Youngstock and Breeding Classes must be led by a competent handler over 16 years on 1st January of the current year. Handlers aged 14 or 15 years on the 1st January in the current year may also lead ponies in Youngstock classes once a written request has been submitted to Council and subsequently agreed for that year. Handlers aged 14 or 15 years may not lead colts or stallions, with the exception of colt foals”.
The remainder of rule 65 will remain unchanged.
6. Starter Stakes Rules
Revert to previous rule where the same combination of pony and rider may not compete in Stater Stakes, show or working, and 133cms SHP or WHP on the same day at the same show.
The Rules Committee has determined that the amendments to Rules 154, 176 and 177 for the 2017 will be reversed for the 2018 season and beyond. However, if the same combination wins 3 open classes in either the Open 133cms. Show Hunter class or Open 133cms. Working Hunter Class, then they will not be permitted to compete in Starter Stakes classes thereafter.
Rule 154 will now read: “For ponies, mares or geldings, 4 years old and over, not exceeding 133cms., suitable for and to be ridden by riders who have not attained their 12th birthday on the 1st January of the current year. If the same combination wins three Open 133cms. Show Hunter Classes, they may not compete in Open Starter Stakes Classes thereafter”.
Rule 176 will now read: “For ponies, mares or geldings, 4 years old and over, not exceeding 133cms., suitable for and to be ridden by riders who have not attained their 12th birthday on the 1st January of the current year. The same combination of pony and rider may not compete in any class under 123cms. at the same show on the same day. If the same combination wins three Open 133cms. Working Hunter Classes, they may not compete in Open Working Starter Stakes Classes thereafter”.
Rule 177 will now read: “For ponies, mares or geldings, 4 years old and over, not exceeding 133cms., that have not attained 50 points in Working Hunter Pony Classes, suitable for and to be ridden by riders who have not attained their 12th birthday on the 1st January of the current year. The same combination of pony and rider may not compete in any class under 123cms. at the same show on the same day. If the same combination wins three Open 133cms. Working Hunter Classes, they may not compete in Open Working Starter Stakes Classes thereafter”.
7. Working Starter Stakes Rule
I feel that young children need all the time they can get to be allowed to compete within their age category. There are many very young children riding 133cms ponies. However, to limit their years in the starter stakes category to two years is detrimental to the progress of these small children through the ranks as they could get put off for good by having to jump the bigger 133cms OPEN tracks because they were simply ‘early starters’. Many of these children would be still very young and find themselves out of the Starter Stakes classes. Also, why should they not be allowed to compete in their age category until such time as they are too old for it? Is the Starter Stakes not there to allow those younger children to be competitive amongst themselves without having to take on 14-year olds who have so much more experience, strength and length of leg than 10 / 11 /12-year olds? Penalising the younger children is the harshest of all.
However, I understand the view point that what judges should look for in a Starter Stakes pony is different to that which they seek in 133cms classes, especially in OPEN 133cms classes. I would suggest that perhaps a rider pony combination should be limited to EITHER competing in the Starter Stakes classes or 133cms classes on any one day be it WHP or SHP.
However, a novice 133cms pony in either the WHP or SHP category needs the most opportunities it can get to go into the ring and therefore should be allowed in both novice 133cms classes long novice Starter Stakes be it WHP or SHP. A successful pony would lose its novice status very quickly any way and then the 'OPEN' ruling of competing in EITHER Starter Stakes or 133cms classes (WHP and or SHP) would apply.
Please refer to suggestion 6 above.
8. Cradle Stakes
Reduce Age Limit from under 11th on 1st January to under 10 on 1st January.
The Rules Committee has determined that the current provisions are appropriate and therefore there will be no change to the rules to facilitate this suggestion.
9. Working Cradle Stakes
Fences are only 50cms or 65cms in height (rule suggests 455mm to 610mm) and I believe allowing 11-year olds to compete in this category is unfair. Many of the 11-year olds winning Cradle Stakes are also winning Starter Stakes and even OPEN 133cms classes. In my opinion, the age limit for Cradle Stakes should be reduced to those aged under 10 on January 1st in any given year, just in the same way as the First Ridden has an age limit of under 10 on January 1st. Cradle Stakes are the WHP version of the First Ridden, are they not? However, I would not like to see any child under 10 on January 1st ruled out of Cradle Stakes simply because he /she happened to ride a STARTER STAKES pony also. A Cradle Stakes rider should (similar to Starter Stakes rider suggestion above) perhaps not be allowed to compete in OPEN 133CMS WHP or SHP classes. Limiting the Cradle Stakes rider to Starter Stakes classes and NOVICE 133cms SHP or WHP classes should be considered.
The Rules Committee has determined that the current provisions are appropriate and therefore there will be no change to the rules to facilitate this suggestion.
10. SPORTS PONY CHALLENGE
a). Introduce an under 10’s version of this Competition for ponies up to 133cms. Perhaps an easier dressage test could be considered.
The Rules Committee (in conjunction with the Working Hunter Committee) has decided to allow this new competition to become more established and to review this again at the end of the 2018 season.
b). Run the competition as a league with the final at the IPS Championships replacing the Tom Robinson Gold Cup and allow double points to be earned at the final leg.
The Rules Committee is conscious of the history of the Tom Robinson Gold Cup and its significant standing in the history of the IPS. The Committee has therefore decided not to replace or substitute this competition at this time.
11. Broodmare Age
I would suggest changing the rule to 4yrs old as at 3yrs the filly is entitled to compete in Youngstock as well as broodmare classes.
I would like the broodmare rule reviewed to raise the age to 4 yrs. as at 3yrs these fillies are the eligible for Youngstock and broodmare championship which to me shouldn't be right.
In the interest of welfare of the mare, and to discourage indiscriminate breeding from unbroken 3yr olds the age should be raised to 4
The Rules Committee agrees with this proposal.
Rule 69 will now read: “Pony Brood Mare, 4 years old and over…….” The remainder of rule 69 remains unchanged.
Rule 70 will now read: “Pony Brood Mare, 4 years old and over…….” The remainder of rule 70 remains unchanged.
Rule 71 will now read: “Pony Brood Mare, 4 years old and over…….” The remainder of rule 71 remains unchanged.
Rule 72 will now read: “Pony Brood Mare, 4 years old and over…….” The remainder of rule 72 remains unchanged.
Rule 73 will now read: “Pony Brood Mare, 4 years old and over…….” The remainder of rule 73 remains unchanged.
Rule 79 will now read: “Pony Brood Mare, 4 years old and over…….” The remainder of rule 79 remains unchanged.
12. Bitting Rules
Would it be possible to make the Youngstock rule re biting clearer? We always knew the rule stated any animal once it reached a y/ling had to be bitted with a lead attached to either side of the bit NOT the noseband. It's a tad confusing & not clear enough in the rule book.
Please refer to suggestion 5 above.
13. Various Observations
Further to your request for suggestions re Rule Changes I would like to make the following suggestions.
a). Re points awarded in Working Hunter classes: I see that you have altered the points awarded at different shows and I understand the logic behind it.
However, with regards to Working Hunter there is a huge discrepancy at shows with regard to heights and technicality. This is governed by several factors but the over-riding limitation is having to cater for Novice and Open ponies in the one class. I suggest that at higher point’s shows (that is all Annual Shows and the Championship and Autumn shows) that working hunter fences are up to height and represent a challenge. Therefore, I suggest that higher points should only be awarded where there are both Novice and Open classes at the one show.
This would free up the course designers who can cater for the different needs of Novice and Open ponies. Alternatively, if a higher tier show feels unable to cater for Novice and Open the points could revert to the third tier to reflect the reduced level of difficulty (that is all IPS shows).
The Rules Committee has determined that the current provisions are appropriate and therefore there will be no change to the rules to facilitate this suggestion.
b). Should a judge who has a close connection who is actively seeking points in a certain category be allowed to judge at a show in that category even if that child is not competing?
I was going to raise this question but now there is such a huge range of points at various shows it becomes an even bigger issue. I am aware that there is a shortage of judges and this poses a problem. Maybe a judge with such an interest should be restricted to the lower two tiers in the points table?
The Rules Committee has determined that this suggestion is not practical and unreasonably casts doubt about the integrity of IPS judges. The Committee has therefore decided not to include this suggestion in the 2018 rule amendments.
14. Health & Safety
Install Safety Barriers in Collection Rings.
The Rules Committee agrees with the sentiment of this proposal and this matter will be raised with the Area Chairpersons and the Area Health & Safety Officers for immediate implementation at all IPS Area Shows.