FAQ - Question from CHSA Member

Q. I was curious to know, because it was my understanding that people could not go back to Pre-Children's once doing Children's Eq. or go from Children's Eq. back to short stirrup for that matter, if that was true. 

Can people cross enter and go backwards divisions at lower heights after showing at a 2'6" level for most of the year? 

A. You have asked some very good questions. The way the rules are written;

People can show both divisions - but not at the same show.  The Pre-Children's Hunter was really put in as a stepping stone from Short Stirrup - especially for those riders who were showing HORSES.   Short Stirrup Hunter is only 18", regardless of whether showing a horse or pony.  In Children's Hunter, the small and medium pony heights are only 2' and the large ponies are 2'6.  If you show a HORSE in Children's Hunter the height is 3'.  As you can tell - there is a large gap between 18" and 36" (3').  Hence Pre-Children's Hunter at 2' was developed as an intermediate level.

Pre-Children's Hunter at 2' (page 52 in the rule book) states that the same horse/pony & rider may not cross enter into Children's Hunter Pony, Pony Hunters or any class where fences exceed 2'6" AT THE SAME SHOW.

Children's Equitation (page 46) is for juniors who have never shown over a course where fences exceed 3', and they may not enter into any division where fences exceed 3'.  Fence heights are 2' for small and medium ponies and 2'6" for large ponies and horses.  Again, these heights are a lot closer to the Short Stirrup Equitation at 18". Usually most juniors go from Short Stirrup Hunter to Pre-Children's Hunter, and as talent permits to Children's Hunter.  Once in a while a rider will try the Children's Hunter and decide that they left out a step - and go back. 

Usually, once they go up, they continue to show at the higher height. Once a rider has jumped over 18" they may NOT go back to Short Stirrup.

Comments

[Maureen Cmara]

Regarding page 52 in the rule book for Pre-Children's Hunter where it states that the same horse/pony & rider may not cross enter into Children's Hunter Pony, Pony Hunters or any class where fences exceed 2'6" AT THE SAME SHOW. Children's Eq fences are AT 2'6", so technically they are not exceeding them. Couldn't that be interpreted to mean that you can do both Pre-Children's Hunter and Children's Eq at the same show?

[Cynthia Jensen, President CHSA]

That is correct - you could do both Children's Eq (with sm/med ponies at 2' and large ponies/horses at 2'6") and Pre-Children's Hunter at the same show. As I said, this was to 'help' bridge the gap in heights from 18" Short Stirrup - especially if you had a horse. Children's Hunter HORSE is 3' and that is double the height of SS Hunter.