Show Rules & Conditions

·       Foreign Breeds – any breed that is non-indigenous to GB, Northern Ireland & Eire (e.g. Irish horses are NOT eligible, unless they are partbreds crossed with a Foreign Breed). Warmbloods ARE eligible to take part in foreign breed classes.

·       Foreign Breed classes open to pure & partbred (min. 25%) unless schedule says otherwise.

·       The APHS-Foreign Breeds Society National Finals Championships – Foreign Breed Horse of the Year & Championships – this is a separate show. Horses only need to qualify ONCE (one card per horse) to take part in ANY class at the show, including the Foreign Breed Horse of the Year Finals classes and the Foreign Breed National Championships. Exhibitors must also be APHS-FBS members to take part in these classes. ALL OTHER CLASSES at the event are open to non-qualified horses/non-members – NO qualification is needed.

·       All foreign breed classes at all our events will be judged under APHS Foreign Breed Show Rules (American style)  available on our website.

·       The judge will not ride in any class. Horses will NOT be stripped in any championship. Individual shows are NOT required in the Foreign Breed classes at any of our events.

·       All shows are pre-entries only and classes may be capped, although additional classes may be entered by catalogued horses on the day if the class is not full (e.g. enter at least one class in advance and then you can enter more on the day).

·       Stallions and colts welcome but should be bitted and under control and to be shown by adults. N.B. Stock horses may be shown in a stock halter with a properly secured chain; Iberian horses in a serrata (with a throat lash); Arabs & Miniatures in a show halter etc. – including stallions – BUT they must be under control. The judge, steward, or any show official may excuse a horse from the ring if they deem the handler does not have full control, or if they feel they are of danger to other exhibitors, or they can request that the horse is bitted for subsequent classes.

·       Refunds are not given without a doctors or vets certificate – please note any PayPal, bank or Stripe fees will be deducted from refunds. In the case of US cancelling (for any reason), refunds will be given (less admin fees as described above) or the option of transferring entries to a future APHS event.

*   All, or parts of our events, are outdoors (e.g. London Counties is outdoors, the Northern show venue has some rings/warm up outdoors, our Invicta Show has parking outdoors, our South-West Show has one ring outside and our Foreign Breed National Finals has a ring and warm up outdoors). Exhibitors therefore accept that the weather, climate and temperature, which are out of our control, are an integral part of your experience and may impact on your visit. While we will make every effort to adhere to the printed schedule, we reserve the right to stop and start the show as necessary. If a show is cancelled (by us, the Organisers) because of the weather, you will be entitled to exchange your class ticket(s) for another APHS event (spaces permitting). 

·       Veteran classes - all our veteran classes are qualifiers for our APHS Veteran Finale held at our London Counties Show - 1st to 3rd qualify (cards may be passed down the line if these horses have already qualified, no lower than 6th place). Foreign Breed Veterans will also qualify at the same time for our Foreign Breed Veteran Championship held at our Foreign Breed National Finals for 2024.

*      All our Youth Ridden classes are qualifiers for our Youth Ridden Championships, held at our London Counties Show - 1st to 3rd qualify (cards may be passed down the line, no lower than 6th place, if the rider has already qualified.

·       Our shows are usually qualifiers (when applicable) for TGCA, BSPA and or CHAPS, Concours D'Elegance Society of GB, Sunshine Tour, Equifest, VHS etc – please see our Facebook Group (APHS London Counties) and the show specific schedule for an up to date list for each event.

·       OPEN classes are open to ANY breed of horse/pony (not restricted to Foreign Breeds) and unless specified otherwise in the schedule open to anyone - neither membership nor registration required (with the affiliating society or with ourselves).

·       Timings: allow approx. 15 mins a class for Walk/Trot and Foreign Breed classes and 30 mins a class for Open Breed classes. Please keep an eye on your rings as obviously classes with fewer entries will run through a lot quicker than those that are full. It is YOUR responsibility to be ready for your classes, this is especially true at our multi-ring events). At our multi-ring events, all rings run concurrently and so some classes will clash - you should bear this in mind when making your entries. We do tend to publish an up to date revised timetable for our shows immediately before each event on our Facebook group, once entries for each event have closed, which may show revised timings dependent on numbers forward.

·       Ridden classes - horses or ponies in ridden classes must be at least 4 years of age.

·       Ponies/Horses being led in the walk/trot and youth classes (where allowed) MUST be led off the noseband. Lead line welcome in any Walk/Trot or Concours classes, or where the schedule states. If in doubt, please get in contact and ask. If you may need assistance in the ring (for whatever reason) at all our events, this is usually not an issue, but again please check before if in doubt.

·       Training tack can comprise of martingales or Market Harlborough (used on a snaffle rein), flash/grackle noseband (used with a snaffle bit).

·       Home Produced - kept at home or on DIY/Part-Livery yard and not to have been in training with a professional (except for being sent away to be backed/broken to harness) for the past 12 months or produced/shown by a professional in the past 12 months.

*      AOTS - amateur owned, trained and shown. Owners/exhibitors not to make any earnings from the horse training or production industry (does not include working as a groom / stable hand UNLESS part of your job is to show said horses). Taking part in clinics / having lessons does NOT exclude you from this division.

*      NOVICE - not to have come 1st or 2nd at County Show / Breed Championship Show (or Equivalent), or competed and placed at RIHS or HOYS during the past 2 showing years (e.g. during 2022 & 2023 for the 2024 showing season).

*      ANY BREED - open to any breed of horse or pony, pure, part or unregistered/unknown breeding, provided horse meets the criteria of the class.

*      Whiskers - we recommend that horses / ponies sensory whiskers are NOT removed for cosmetic reasons and no horse or pony will be penalised for having them.

·       Horses should be turned out correct for their breed (with full mane & tail if correct), in all classes.

·       Current Safety Hats MUST be always worn when mounted. Junior exhibitors (under 18) MUST wear safety hats in ALL ridden classes, and Youth Handlers (under 14) must wear a safety hat in all in hand classes (we strongly advise that Junior handlers, under 18, wear a safety hat in ALL classes, including in hand). Adult riders should ensure that the Secretary is in possession of a Disclaimer Form for any non-safety conforming headgear that they choose to wear and be aware that it is not the APHS show policy for riders to wear non-conforming safety hats. (Disclaimer Forms can be found within our omnibus schedule on the home page of our website). Please note, only adult ridden riders may sign a hat disclaimer form (it cannot be signed by a Parent/Guardian on behalf of a junior exhibitor under 18 years of age). Exhibitors may wear approved safety hats (& jackets) in any class without penalty. For those entering online, it is considered a condition of entry to abide by these hat rules and ONLINE ENTRIES ARE CONSIDERED AN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OF COMPLIANCE for our show rules (of all exhibitors) & OF HAT DISCLAIMER RULES for any adult who chooses to wear a non-conforming safety hat.

·       Junior exhibitors are NOT allowed to wear spurs in any ridden class.

·       No claim can be entertained for anything that may happen to competitors, onlookers, their property, servants, or horses in connection with or arising out of the show. It shall be deemed a condition of entry that each entrant shall agree to indemnify the Promoters against any legal action arising out of any incident and to agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the show and the Showground. ONLINE ENTRIES ARE CONSIDERED AN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OF COMPLIANCE

·       All competitors must have adequate insurance to cover any incident that may be caused by them or their animals.

·       Dogs welcome at London Counties, South-West Show,  Northern Counties & Foreign Breed National Finals shows but must be kept on a lead & are not allowed in the indoor arenas or the cafe – please clear up after your pooch! Loose dogs are on site at White Horse Farm, so please keep your dogs at home or within your vehicles for this event.

·       Although every effort will be made to adhere to the printed schedule, the Organisers reserve the right to combine, cancel or change the running order of classes on the day or implement a change of judges if the needs arise and to refuse entry (to competitors, spectators, or their guests) without specifying the reason.

·      It is the policy of this show NOT to forward trophies (where presented) by post, so please check at the Secretary’s Desk before going home! 

* Prize money, where offered, may be forwarded to recipients after the show rather than be handed out on the day. In many of our championships, where prize money is offered, there must be a minimum of 10 exhibitors forward for the prize money to be presented.

·       All competitors must complete and sign an entry form (including contact address) and if needed a Track & Trace form.

·       DATA COLLECTION: By entering this event you are agreeing for your details to be held on file (to be used to contact you for return of trophies and details of next year’s event and similar events we may think be of interest to you). In addition, you are agreeing for the Organisers to use any photos posted by yourself on our Facebook Group or Page to promote the current and future events, and any photo taken by the official show photographers to be used for the same. Please note, results will be published online, sent to breed societies and magazines. Photos and videos shared on our Facebook group/page may be used for the same purpose. IF YOU WISH TO OPT OUT of your details being kept – please tick the box on the entry form.

·       If you won a trophy, please ensure it is RETURNED to us a month before the show the following year, unless winner(s) have pre-entered the (relevant) show by this date (or by arrangement with us that they will be bringing them back on the day of the show).

·       Rubbish – please clear up after yourself, use the bins provide or take your rubbish home. If the events are run under Covid (or other infectious diseases) restrictions you MUST take your own rubbish home and not use the bins. PLEASE TIDY UP AFTER YOURSELF EVEN IF IT’S NOT A COVID SHOW!!!

·       Do NOT empty trailer / lorry or muck onto the showground. Please clear obvious hay/poo piles by your lorries and trailers.

*       Only the prescribed show rings and show warm up areas should be used. Other areas on the showground must not be used (stable yards, other arenas, cross country tracks etc.).

·       The Show Organisers would like to thank all the sponsors, Judges, stewards, and helpers that run the show, as well as all our competitors to come and take part.

·       If you enjoyed the show, tell your friends, if you didn’t tell the Organisers!

·       IF YOU QUALIFY FOR MORE THAN ONE CHAMPIONSHIP (with the same horse or exhibitor) that are running at the same time, then you need to select which one you are coming forward for.

COVID-19, INFECTIOUS/COMMUNICABLE DISEASES & ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
To comply with any Covid-19 or any other infectious/communicable disease compliance measures that may be in force at the time of any of our events and to ensure everyone’s safety we MAY have to implement the following procedures. Please adhere to them – failure to do so may result in you being asked to leave the showground and forfeiting all entry fees. These may be varied, to comply with the latest guidelines, if changed by the time of the show – please check our website and Facebook Group.
֍ Anyone on site affirms that they do NOT have an elevated temperature, Covid-19 symptoms, & have not had contact with individuals who are known or suspected to have Covid-19 or any other infectious disease (horse or human).
֍ Horses attending must also be free from and not have contact with any other horses with any infectious diseases.
֍ Competitors can collect their back numbers on the day and they will have been pre-packed by the Organisers at least 4 days before the event if any of these measures are in force. Organisers may also ask competitors to use their own bridle or back numbers (competitors will be notified of their back numbers in advance of the event).
֍ No spectators at the events if Covid-19 or other infectious diseases compliance is in force. 
֍ Exhibitors will be informed of their class placing in the rings and their awards placed on a tray by the judge/steward for collection. If you would prefer your awards to be posted to you after the event, please let us know at the time of your entry, and your class sheet will be marked up accordingly. These will then be put to one side by us and posted to you after the event – postage fees will need to be paid to cover the cost for this (we will notify you to let you know).
֍ Please do not congregate near / around the ring entrances (this should be avoided anyway). No seating or watching of classes ringside.
֍ Classes may be restricted in numbers. Please do not group up when riding in the rings – there is plenty of space to overtake leaving ample room between everyone. When lining up for inspection, again please leave a safe distance between horses/ponies.
֍ We will do our best to have a photographer in attendance, however any photos may only be available for purchase online after the event if these restrictions are in place. We encourage you to post your horse wearing his/her winnings on our Facebook group as we all like to join in your celebrations, even if it is only virtually.
֍ Qualified first aid / paramedics will be in attendance at all events.
֍ Toilets – exhibitors are encouraged to use their lorries/trailers. The on site toilets are available, but are prioritised for show officials and anyone with disabilities if these restrictions are in place.
֍ Catering will be available on site at all events as a take-a-way service.