NFRC Rules & General Information

Disclaimer - All competitors compete at their own risk, neither the committee, club nor anyone acting on behalf accept responsibility for damage, loss or injury to persons, animals or property, however caused.

It is the responsibility of the competitor to read and comply with the club rules; failure to do so may result in your exclusion from the club.

1. Introduction

The National Forest Riding Club (NFRC), formerly known as Donisthorpe and District Riding Club has been established since 1981.

The club is a local riding club which attracts members of all ages and standards, from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.

The club holds events throughout the year including weekend and evening show jumping, dressage tests at preliminary and novice levels, long distance rides, clinics for specific disciplines (dressage, working hunter, show jumping) and social events.

All club events are held at the National Forest Riding Club show ground close to Knowle Hill Equestrian Centre, Ingleby Lane, Ticknall, Derbyshire unless otherwise stated.

2. Event cancellation and changes

Cancellation of club events due to bad weather will not be made until the evening before the event. Please contact the organiser between 8p.m. and 10p.m. of that evening if you have any doubts about an event going ahead.

The organiser reserves the right to cancel or substitute any class and to divide or combine any class subject to the number of entries received, and to change judges or appoint substitutes without notice.

Alterations to and rescheduling of future events will be notified to club members on the club web site, by newsletter (timing permitting) and in the entries caravan at shows.

3. First aid and safety

Qualified first aiders will be present at all jumping events. A contribution of £2.00 per competitor per event will be charged for this, payable on the first class entered.

4. Access to Club rules

A copy of the NFRC rules will be kept in the commentary van at all shows and is available to be read at any time during the shows. The rules can also be accessed at any time on the web site www.nfrc.org.uk any rule changes will be posted on the web site and e-mailed to club members

5. Height of ponies and horses

Show jumping & Working hunter classes - ponies and horses:

  • A pony is classed as being 14.2hh or less.
  • A horse is classed as being in excess of 14.2hh.

Novelty classes are mixed ponies and horses (unless enough entries to split).

The organisers and members of the committee have the right to measure a horse or pony at any time.

6. Age limits

Children who are above 4 years old and under 9 years old on 1st of January of the season and on the Lead Rein may enter any class, wit lead rein attached to nose band and riding ponies 13hh or under.

Competitors lose their lead rein status once they compete off the lead rein in any class. A separate lead rein trophy will be awarded at the end of the season.

For all other classes, there are two types of membership related to age:

  • Junior members are those who are under 17 years old on 1st of January of the season.
  • Senior members are those who are aged 17 and over on 1st of January of the season.

No horse or pony under 4 years of age will be allowed to compete in any ridden classes.

Annual Trophies & Points

To be eligible for annual trophies competitors must be fully paid members of NFRC. No points are awarded until a member has paid their annual membership. Points will be awarded from the point of joining; previous potential points will not be included.

Those members who do not provide helpers on at least two occasions will not be eligible for Annual awards. (inc setting up, show days, fence judges and clearing away)

A points system will operate throughout the season and members will gain points for classes in which they compete which will count towards their overall total at the end of the season.

To be eligible for end of season rosettes combinations must have competed on at least 3 occasions.

To be eligible for end of season trophies combinations must have competed in the discipline on at least 2 separate occasions.

All-rounder trophies are awarded to senior, junior over 10's, junior's 10 and under and lead rein members. Points must be gained in at least four disciplines to qualify for these trophies, (excluding lead rein).

Points will be awarded as per table below.

No points awarded for the Christmas LDR, Easter Fun Show.

Please note that for Show Jumping, Dressage, Combined Training, In-Hand & Ridden Showing to qualify these points for the all-rounder trophy the combination must take part in the discipline on at least two separate occasions. (i.e. May show and September Show.)

Trophies are awarded from 1st -3rd place.

All Perpetual trophies remain the property of the club and will be held by the winners for one year. These must be returned by the end of October in each year. Engraving is the responsibility of the recipient. Replicas awarded will be retained.

Any person who enters a class for which they are not eligible may have all points disqualified and may not be considered for end of season awards.

All queries about end results must be made within 48 hours of the results being published.

All results will be posted on the website as soon as possible.

Points are awarded as follows:

Discipline/Place 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
SJ, WH, CT, Dr, Showing, Forest Cross 6 5 4 3 2 1
ODE=(dr,SJ,XC) 12 10 8 6 4 2
Pleasure Rides / LDR 4 points to those who complete the ride

Competition Rules

General Information

The NFRC committee members or any person acting on the Club's behalf shall not be held responsible for any loss, injury or damage to person or property, however caused. All competitors compete at their own risk. In the event of any disputes, the organiser's decision is final. Objections must be made in writing and accompanied with a deposit of £20 to the organiser of the event, no later than 30 minutes after the incident took place. No other form of protest will be considered.

Please note that abusive/aggressive/rude behaviour towards volunteers/committee members will not be accepted and those responsible may be excluded from the show ground and membership may be voided.

The committee's decision is final.

Event Rules

The organisers reserve the right to ask for a Vet's Certificate to confirm that a horse or pony is in a condition to take part in any event. No galloping is permitted on the club show ground unless a competitor is asked to do so by a class judge. All riders are expected to ride sensibly and safely, the penalty being a request to leave the ground. It is a competitor's responsibility to present themselves for their class at the appropriate time. Any competitors failing to present themselves within one minute of being called into the competition ring may be eliminated unless the ring steward is aware of the competitor being in another ring. Showing ring stewards will excuse competitors to jump in another class provided a request is made in advance to the judge. All efforts will be made to prevent clashes of classes. Outside assistance, unless otherwise stated, including verbal assistance is forbidden on penalty of elimination from a class. Only one rider per horse/pony is permitted per class, i.e. a horse may not be entered into a class more than once with the same, or another rider. Rosettes will be awarded up to and including 6th place.

Competitors may be disqualified for:

  • Reckless or dangerous riding.
  • Ill treatment of any animal.
  • Riding a horse/pony that becomes unsound or ill on the day.
  • Taking part with any horse/pony that is considered to be a danger to any person, animal or property on the field.
  • Any breach of rules

At all events dogs must be kept on leads.

Litter should be placed in bins and must not be left anywhere on the show ground or adjacent land.

NO CARS ARE ALLOWED TO PARK IN THE LORRY PARK. THESE TAKE UP VALUBLE PARKING SPACE. ALL NON COMMITTEE MEMBERS CARS SHOULD PARK PAST THE ENTRIES CARAVAN.

ENTRY GATE TO THE SHOWGROUND MUST BE KEEP SHUT AT ALL TIMES FOR SAFETY REASONS

Clothing and equipment

Correct Dress must be worn by competitors at events.

Riders must wear a black or navy scull cap or hat which conforms to BSEN1384, PAS015, ASTF1163 and bearing kite mark or SEI mark with a three point harness at all club events when mounted. No long chaps are to be worn in any competition ring.

Leather Gaiters or half-chaps in the same colour as the matching boot may be worn for competitions.

Jackets (or long sleeved shirts if committee allow due to weather) must be worn at all times whilst jumping including practice fences.

No competitor will be allowed to compete in short sleeves, if found doing so will be eliminated.

Long riding boots or jodhpur boots should be worn when in the ring.

Muckers or wellingtons are not permitted.

Gloves may also be worn. All earrings and facial piercing must be removed or covered with a plaster.

Body protectors level three are strongly recommended for all jumping events. No whips or spurs are to be used in gymkhana games.

No spurs are to be used by Juniors without the committee's consent.

For Long Distance Rides suitable casual riding wear appropriate to the weather conditions is recommended. All tack must be in good condition and correctly fitted. For clear round jumping, casual riding wear with skull cap or hat that conforms to BSEN1384, PAS015, ASTF1163 and bearing kite mark or SEI mark with three-point harness, any colour jodhpurs, long-sleeve top, jodhpur boots (long or short) is allowed. Gloves and body protectors level three are strongly advised.