Has anyone shown in a Materiale or Suitablity class?

[AWSgurl]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Hi#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Has anyone shown in any of these classes? If so what do the judges look for and expect out of the rider and horse? I am thinking of entering my young horse in them?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#thanks for your help#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[zooka]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#My 4 year old went into the materiel class for 4yr olds this year.  They were in a group and told to walk, trot and canter.  The judge took turns watching each horse, in this case 4 horses. In one class th judge said that my horse has to fill out more... she is 17.2 in the front and still growing....  In the other class the judge made no comments at all.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#From look wise, the horses that won were solid horses that had great balance and looked a lot more mature then my baby does.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Probably not very helpful... but that is all I can really explain from our experience with the material classes.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[AWSgurl]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#did they ask you to lengthen at all???? What if you got the wrong canter lead did they care??? Were the riders amateurs or proffessionals?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#thanks for your help#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Judy F]

These classes are for the babies, so no one will be looking for lenthened strides. Gaits are judged strictly on purity, quality and correctness, not on brilliance. They do look at rideability. The horses are 60% for movement, 30% for conformation and 10% for general impression, including impulsion, balance and temperment.

[Chisholm]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I think these classes are a great idea, but one should be careful entering their horse if they plan on selling it or using it at stud.  Just as in the young horse classes.  Reputation, Reputation .....#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[zooka]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#did they ask you to lengthen at all???? What if you got the wrong canter lead did they care??? Were the riders amateurs or proffessionals?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#thanks for your help#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# There was no lengthening.  If you picked up the wrong canter lead you just changed it as fast as you could so that the judge could see what your horses canter looked like.  It was a mixture of different riders and the judges paid no attention to the riders it was all how the horse looked.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[AWSgurl]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Judy F I was just informed by one of the shows that they will be asking for lenghten trot, also my coach stated that in the suitablility classes they ask for alot more then your basic w/t/c and to be prepared.........so I think that I will be sticking to the Materiale classes that aren't so demanding of the young horse....thanks everyone for your input#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Judy F]

I can see that AWS! It would help determine if the horse has balance issues. Be sure you don't just kick him on or let him speed up. It should be enough to give with the reins so he can stretch out and cover more ground. A couple of half-halts before giving will help the stretch.

[xena_n_joss]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#dont worry... lengthen trot is a more simple movement.... Its not a full extended trot, the judge only should expect to see a legthen in stride and frame of the horse. Like Judy said you should just need to give a bit with the reins to legthen the frame without him running or speeding up. They dont want to see very much change. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#