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Rules & Regulations:

Entries:
The closing date for entries is July 17, 2024. No late entries will be accepted.

Admission to the Oldcastle Agricultural Show:
Adults: €10; OAPs and Students:accepted €5 / Children: FREE
The Financial survival of the show depends on our gatekeepers, so please help us by contributing.

Important Notice:
All Exhibitors must pay in at the gate.
Entries over €30 that are paid for before July 17th = 1 Free Admission Pass

Entries over €50, paid for before July 17th, = 2 Free Admission Passes

Entries over €80 are paid for before July 17th = 4 Free Admission Passes

Admission Passes must be handed in at the gate, & no refund will be issued for unused passes.

No abuse of stewards / security will be tolerated.
Exhibitors who do not pay the entry fee or provide a valid admission pass will not be allowed to compete, & any fees already paid will be forfeited.

Hall Exhibits:
All hall exhibits must be in place by 9am on Sunday, July 17, 2024, & cannot be removed until 5pm. The Show Committee will not be responsible for exhibits after 6pm.

Field Exhibits:
Please note that all numbers must be attached to animals before judging commences. Prize Winners must parade.Championships:
The ISA is proud to present the following Championships & wishes to acknowledge the generous sponsorship which makes these competitions possible. For the efficient running of the Championships, all concerned are requested to read & observe the following rules set out below.

The All Ireland Pedigree Suckler Type Heifer Championship. Final: Clonmany Show, Sunday, August 6, 2024

The All Ireland Suckler Heifer Non-Pedigree Championship. Final: Swinford Show, Saturday, August 25, 2024

The ISA & The Department of Agriculture present The Breeder's Choice Traditional  4* or 5* Breeding  Heifer,

 THE ALL IRELAND TRUE AND RARE TRUE BANTAM BREEDING PAIR CHICKEN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL Final; Swinford Show Sunday, August 25, 2024

THE ALL IRELAND SOFT FEATHER: HEAVY BREEDING PAIR CHICKEN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL Final; Swinford Show, August 25, 2024

 THE ISA & BELTRA SHOW SOCIETY PRESENT THE ALL IRELAND GUN DOG CHAMPIONSHIP Beltra Show, September 7, 2024

 ISA & BALLINASLOE SHOW PRESENT THE ALL IRELAND IRISH NATIVE BREED DOG CHAMPIONSHIP, Ballinasloe Show, September 22, 2024

The All-Ireland Traditional Handmade Craft Final. Final: Ballyshannon Agricultural Show, Sunday, August 18th, 2024

The Oldums All Ireland Home Baking Championship. Final: Tullamore Show, Sunday, August 11th, 2024

The All Ireland Bread Baking Championship.Final Castleblayney Show, August 5, 2024

The All Ireland Bread Baking Championship. Final: Castleblaney Show, Monday, August 5, 2024

The Bord Bia Quality Onion All Ireland Championship. Final: Virginia Show, Sunday, August

The Bord Bia 7-A-Day Best In-Season Kitchen Garden All Ireland. Final: Tullamore Show, Sunday, August 11th, 2024

The Bord Bia All Ireland Quality Potato Championship.Final: Tullamore Show, Sunday, August 13th

The Fleetwood Paints All Ireland Amateur Painting Competition. Final: Virginia Show, Wednesday, August 21st

General Rules for 2024

1. Eligibility of Shows:
Shows wishing to participate in the 2024 Championships & be eligible to hold qualifiers must have collected the Championship Fund (currently 5%) from Horse, Pony, Cattle & Sheep class prize money for the year 2024 & forwarded the amount so collected in full to the ISA within the stipulated period of not more than 30 days from the date of the show. Alternative methods of meeting this obligation are not acceptable. Any show or competitor in breach of the Rules set out below will be disqualified from participating or competing in these Championships. These General Rules & those relating to individual championships (where applicable) should be published in the show schedule & catalogue of the participating shows & must be strictly observed.
2. Qualifying Rounds: (Qualifiers) Qualifying rounds will take place at shows designated by the ISA.
3. Responsibility of Shows holding qualifying rounds:
a) Selected Shows should hold a separate class for each qualifier, from which the highest-placed animals will qualify.
b) The Qualifier class should be held as the first class in the relevant section of the show.
c) Shows must ensure that the qualifiers are held strictly in accordance with the relevant rules.
d) No other sponsor may be involved in qualifying classes.
e) Shows may charge an entry fee for each qualifying class. The ISA. will award a rosette to the successful animal(s) based on their appearance at the final.
f) A show hosting a championship final may not hold a qualifier for that championship on the day of the final other than by agreement with the ISA. However, shows that hold qualifiers for horses, ponies, or cattle may ask exhibitors to enter an exhibit in at least one other class on the show day.
g) Animals qualified for finals are not eligible to enter in any other show class where the final is held other than a qualifying class for another competition.
h) Shows should appoint competent & well-briefed persons to act as stewards, who must ensure that only animals (or other exhibits) that are eligible to compete & whose documentation is in order are allowed to proceed to the judging ring.
i) Animal passports & “Microchips,” where applicable, should be read by a veterinary surgeon appointed by the show.
j) On completion of judging, stewards must inform the successful competitors to visit the secretary's office at the show within one hour & complete the necessary arrangements for entry to the final.
k) The show must appoint a well-briefed officer who will be available at the secretary's office to assist exhibitors in completing the entry cards for participation in the final & collecting the entry fee.
l) Show secretaries must forward complete result cards, together with appropriate fees, to the Irish Shows Association within three days following the holding of the show.

2

NB. Shows must return a results card marked "No Qualifier" for any or all of the events for which no animal (or exhibit) has been selected.
4. Responsibility of Exhibitors:
a) Exhibitors accept that the judges’ decision is final in all cases. Any abuse by judges will not be tolerated. Where a dispute or case for complaint arises, the matter should only be dealt with under F below.
b) Winners of qualifiers are themselves responsible for entering their qualifiers (or exhibits) for the final in accordance with j & k above within one hour of qualifying.
c) The winners of the qualifiers will compete in the final.
d) The ISA, in conjunction with the sponsor, reserves the right to alter or amend the rules of the competition as may be necessary, where appropriate.
e) Shows & competitors must contact the Irish Shows National Office for details of any championships, not the sponsor involved.
f) Objections must be lodged in writing with the show secretary at the show or an I.S.A. representative within half an hour following the completion of judging, together with a fee of €50 or other stated fee, which is refundable in the event of the objection being upheld.
g) Any exhibitors that make a false declaration or misrepresent a fact regarding themselves or their exhibit are liable to disqualification and/or forfeiture of any prizes awarded. The owners of Champions & Reserve Champions, if they so wish, are invited to submit the animals’ passports to the I.S.A. head office, where they will be endorsed & officially stamped with the seal of the ISA as a permanent record.
5. Responsibilities of Shows Hosting Championship Finals:
A deduction of 5% of the prize money will be collected by the show & forwarded to the I.S.A. within 30 days of the final. Championship finals must start no later than 2pm on the day of the show, & the advertised time of starting should be adhered to as far as practicable. If necessary, other show classes should be either postponed or relocated to allow for this.

Notice of Interest to Championship Participants:
Irish Law (EU Directive):
Under Irish law, all horses moving from one location to another must be accompanied by their passports. It is in your own interest to ensure that this is the case. Failure to do so is an offence under Irish Law and is liable on summary conviction to result in a fine of up to €3,000. All passports must be registered with the name of the current owner.
Embryo Transfer:
Where a foal is produced by this method, the dam's passport must bear a declaration dated, stamped, & signed by the stallion owner (or accredited practitioner where AI is involved) stating the date on which the dam was last covered (or inseminated) & the name of the covering stallion.

Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine.
Specific Requirements: Horses & Other Equines.
Premises Registration:
As of May 1, 2012, any premises (including shows, fairs, & markets) where horses or other equines are gathered must be registered with the Department. Owners/persons in charge of such gatherings are required to submit a completed application form for registration & to keep records of movements on/off their premises. Records must be retained for at least 3 years, as they may be required by the Department for the purposes of tracing disease.
Records required are:
● The name & address of the owner/person in charge of the premises from which the equine came.
● Premises registration number from which the equine came
● Passport number/UEL number of the animal
It is therefore important that show organizers contact their local DVO in advance so that consideration can be given to compliance with the requirements outlined above. Any further information on the requirements for moving horses & equines to shows will be provided on the Department’s website at http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/animalidentificationmovement (Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine)

Important notice:
Horse-riding is a dangerous sport, & all competitors in Ridden Classes are strongly advised, for their own safety, to wear appropriate headgear that complies with up-to-date safety standards.

Important Notice to animal owners involved in showing Animals:
The ISA would like to advise all animal owners who have their animals insured to have the insurance cover extended to cover them while showing animals at shows; it may cost very little or nothing at all depending on who you are insured with.

Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine. Important information for organisers of shows & exhibitors of cattle:
Keepers wishing to show cattle are now required to obtain a certificate of compliance prior to the movement of an animal to the show. This ensures that the animal(s) in question have the necessary TB, BR and BVD tests recorded on the department’s database & that the keeper presenting the animal is not restricted by the department. Certificates of Compliance can be obtained online from the Animal Identification & Movement (AIM) system through the www.agfood.ie facility or from the Cattle Movement Notification Agency. When applying for a certificate of compliance, keepers should not specify a destination herd.
On the day of the show, the certificate of compliance should be presented to the Show secretary, along with the bovine passport for the animal.

The keeper & the show secretary will then sign the Movement Notification section of the certificate, which will then be sent to the local DVO for recording on the AIM system.
Please note that only cattle for which a valid Certificate of Compliance is provided to the Show secretary can be shown on the day of the show.

Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine. Specific Requirements - Sheep
Identification:
All sheep must be individually identified with appropriate ear tags issued in accordance with the requirements of the National Sheep Identification System (NSIS).
Movement Documentation:
All consignments of sheep being moved must be accompanied by a completed dispatch document. Individual details of each sheep in the consignment must be recorded on the document. Sheep from non-restricted flocks only can be moved to shows. In the case of flocks restricted following the diagnosis of scrapie, only sheep possessing the ARR/ARR genotype may be exhibited. The movement of the ARR/ARR genotype sheep must be accompanied by the relevant movement permit (SCR/10), which can be obtained from the District Veterinary Office in the county where the flock is located.
AIM Notification:
The movement of sheep to & from an Agricultural Show within the state must be recorded on AIM. This is done using a copy of the owner’s sheep dispatch document, as follows:
1. The owner/keeper presents the signed & completed dispatch document to the show secretary, who checks it to ensure that it is completed in full.
2. The show secretary fills in the MART section of the dispatch document with:
(i) the show number;
(ii) the date of the move back to the source holding;
(iii) stamps it with the show’s stamp;
(iv) signs the dispatch document.
3. The show secretary then forwards the completed pink section of the dispatch document to the local DVO within 7 days of show movement.
4. The show secretary keeps the white copy for his/her records.
5. The source/destination keeper keeps the bottom yellow copy to enter it into their flock register. The ultimate responsibility for fulfilling the requirement lies with the show secretary.
Flock Register:
All movements of sheep to & from shows must be recorded in the keeper’s flock register.
Exports to Northern Ireland:
All sheep must be accompanied by a TRACES intra-community trade certificate for ovine animals. A TRACES message, corresponding with the TRACES certificate, will be sent for each animal or consignment being dispatched to the show (this will be performed by department officials of the DVO). Exhibitors are advised to contact the show society in Northern Ireland well in advance of any show to determine the suitability of the show for the return of animals (e.g., premises and sheep status) & whether the authorities will have officials & veterinary staff present to supervise & process documentation for animals returning to origin. For further information, please see www.irishshows.org

Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine. Important information for organisers of shows & exhibitors of cattle:
Keepers wishing to show cattle are now required to obtain a certificate of compliance prior to the movement of an animal to the show. This ensures that the animal(s) in question have the necessary TB, BR & BVD tests recorded on the Department’s database & that the keeper presenting the animal is not restricted by the Department.
Certificates of Compliance can be obtained online from the Animal Identification & Movement (AIM) system through the www.agfood.ie facility or from the Cattle Movement Notification Agency. When applying for a certificate of compliance, keepers should not specify a destination herd.
On the day of the show, the certificate of compliance should be presented to the Show secretary, along with the bovine passport for the animal.
The keeper & the show secretary will then sign the Movement Notification section of the certificate, which will then be sent to the local DVO for recording on the AIM system.
Please note that only cattle for which a valid Certificate of Compliance is provided to the show secretary can be shown on the day of the show.

Cattle Class Rules

1. All Pedigree animals are prohibited from entering in the Commercial Classes.

2. Continental cross-commercial cattle will not be eligible to compete in the Aberdeen Angus & Hereford Cross Classes. 

3. All tag numbers & dates of birth must be included on the entry form; otherwise, they will be disqualified.

4. In the commercial section, all First prize winners’ ear tag numbers will be read.

5. No Continental Cross Bred Cattle may be exhibited in non-continental classes.

6. Animals being exhibited in any of our finals must be accompanied by just one handler in the ring.

7. Any exhibitor found in breach of these rules will be disqualified.

 

Department Regulations for the Exhibiting of Cattle:

1. Each animal being exhibited must have passed the standard tuberculin:test. 

2 Each animal must be from a herd which is not restricted to T.B.

3. Each animal must be transported directly to the show & back to the herd owner’s farm.

4. Each animal must be transported in the herd owner’s own vehicle & must be cleaned & disinfected just before departure.

5. No animals should be allowed to come in contact with other cattle on the way to show. 

6. At the Show grounds, steps must be taken to ensure that there is no contact between the animals. 

7. If the herd has been listed for testing by a practitioner, the whole herd must be tested, not just those animals being transported to the show.

8. Exhibitors should apply to their DVOs for the appropriate certificate of compliance, as early as possible, before the date of the first show at which they propose to show the cattle.

The ISA Cattle Subcommittee has put forward the following recommendation on use of live weight for the cattle classes, e.g. calves under 12 months

not to exceed 460kgs & Autumn born calves & calves U 6 months, it recommends that weight not exceed 320kg.

Another suggestion is to use no more than 1.7kg live weight gain per day from the birth date to the show date.

This proposal would also be suitable for Interbreed Pedigree Calf Championships.

 

Oldcastle Agricultural Show Rules & Regulations:

1. Intending exhibitors are particularly requested to read the rules carefully & not to enter anything for exhibition unless they are prepared to comply with the regulations.

2. All Hall exhibits must be in their place at 9am on the 16th of July. No exhibits will be admitted after this time. Judging will commence at 10am. No exhibits may be removed from the hall before 5pm.

3. No entry will be received except online, properly filled in, & by the proper entry fee, & lodged with the secretary no later than July 17, 2024.

4. No refund of the entry fee will be made in any case, for entries that are not sent forward for competition or that are disqualified from competition for failure to comply with the regulations.

5. The Committee has the right to refuse any entry, to cancel or amalgamate any classes or reduce the number of prizes, if there are insufficient entries. A class must have at least two exhibitions.

6. All objections must be in writing & lodged with the secretary before 5 pm on the day of the show, accompanied by a fee of €30, which will be forfeited in case an objection is deemed frivolous.The committee in charge of that section will decide all disputes & objections. 

7. No animals will be allowed into the Show Grounds without a halter, & must be led by the halter while being judged. All cattle must be tied to the penning provided, no animals are allowed in trailers.

8. Allanimals being exhibited at the show, except where otherwise stated, must have, from the time of entry to the date of the show, the bone-fide property of the exhibitor in whose name it is entered.  All other exhibits must be either grown or made by the exhibitors.

9. No exhibits will be allowed to compete, if they bear any mark of ownership.

10.  Exhibitors may enter cattle, sheep, & dogs in any class for which they are eligible, but any animals, that obtain a 1st Prize cannot be exhibited in any other class at the same Show. They shall, however, be eligible for any other special prize.

11. While every possible reasonable care will be taken, neither the show, its officers, nor any other steward or staff shall be in any way responsible or accountable (for any cause or circumstance whatever) to exhibitors or their staff.

12. Vases for cut flowers, boxes & trays for fruit & vegetables must be supplied by the exhibitors. Eggs must be displayed in dishes.

13. No person will be allowed to remain in the show hall while judging is in progress except those officially retained.

14. Exhibits can only be removed upon receipt of the exhibits by the steward in charge after 5 p.m.

15. The decision of the judges, appointed by the committee, will be final in every case. No disrespect to judges or officials will be tolerated. The exhibitor may be asked to leave the show.

16. Articles previously exhibited are not eligible for competition.

17. The whole arrangement of the exhibits will be under the control of the committee.

18. During the show, exhibits may not be handled, tasted, removed, or in any way interfered with by any exhibitors or any person except the steward.

19. The committee will not be responsible for exhibits left in the hall after 5pm on show day & must be removed before 6pm.

20. All prize winners in the field section must parade or forfeit their prize money. 

21. The scales of the Oldcastle Show used on the day are the only accepted weights. Animals will only be weighed once, except in the case of a dispute. 

22. Chief Stewards decision is final in all matters.

23. Classes maybe amalgamated should there be insufficient entries. Vouchers may be given in lieu of prize money. 

24. The Chief Steward reserves the right to order the removal of any animal considered a danger to the public.

 

Horse & Pony Section


 

PLEASE READ THESE GENERAL RULES COVERING EXHIBITING HORSES OR PONIES AT OLDCASTLE AGRICULTURAL SHOW

 

  • All animals should be restricted to designated “Horse or Pony Only” areas. At no time should a horse or pony be in a general “Public” viewing area.

  • All exhibitors are to obey Oldcastle Agricultural Show members and stewards tasked with aiding the running of the show.

  • All animals should have a valid passport, & all exhibitors should have a premises registration number, owner's name, & address of the horse’s place of origin.

  • All exhibitors have a responsibility to protect their own safety as well as that of their fellow exhibitors & general public. Make sure all animals are well handled, fit for purpose & do not knowingly present a danger to themselves or others.

  • All ridden animals must be four years old & over. The age of an animal shall be calculated from the 1st January in the year of its birth. 

  • An animal must be shown in the name under which it was originally registered with the AHS, BMS, BSHA, BSPA, BSPS, CHAPS, ISH, IPS, NPS, Native Breed Stud Books, SHB (GB), BS or any other recognised passport issuing society. 

  • Mountain & Moorland ponies must be registered in the main body of their respective Breed Society Stud Books to compete in classes restricted to registered Mountain & Moorland ponies.

    • Small Breed M &M: 

      • Small Breeds: Exmoor, Shetlands, Dartmoor, Kerry Bog Pony
        Welsh Section A & B.

    • Large Breed M & M:

      • Connemara, Dales, Highland, Fells, New Forest, Welsh Section
        C & D.

    • HEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS FOR PURE BRED M & M:

      • CONNEMARA 12.2hh – 14.2hh (128cm – 148cm)

      • DALES Preferred height Range: 14hh – 14.2hh (142.2cm – 148cm)
        (Ponies outside this range are to be placed at the discretion of the judges.)

      • DARTMOOR Not exceeding 12.2 h (127cm)

      • EXMOOR Preferred height range: Stallions / geldings 11.3hh – 12.3hh (119.4cm – 129.5cm) Mares 11.2hh – 12.2hh (116.8cm – 127cm)

      • FELL Not exceeding 14hh (142.2cm)

      • HIGHLAND Not exceeding 14.2hh (148cm)

      • KERRY BOG PONY Not exceeding 12hh (121.9cm)

      • NEW FOREST Not exceeding 14.2hh (148cm)

      • SHETLAND Not exceeding 42″

      • WELSH SECTION A: Not exceeding 12 h (121.9cm)

      • WELSH SECTION B: Not exceeding 13.2hh (137.2cm)

      • WELSH SECTION C: Not exceeding 13.2 h (137.2cm)

      • WELSH SECTION D: Exceeding 13.2 h (137.2cm)
        There is no upper height limit

  • The identification of the animal must be in accordance with their passport at all times. This includes all markings & whorls. Removal or addition of features is not permitted. 

  • Exhibitors are required by DAFM to carry the passports for their horses or pony when competing or travelling. 

  • Exhibitors must comply with the registration requirements as set out in the class rules. 

  • Mares with a living foal born during the current season may not be shown in any ridden classes. 

  • No animal or rider may leave the ring without the permission of the Judge or Ring Steward. 

  • No rider may ride more than one animal in a class except for the jumping phase of Working Hunter classes. 

  • Once a class has commenced, there shall be no change of rider, except in a championship if a rider has more than one exhibit eligible to compete. The substitute rider must be eligible for the class, & the Ring steward must be informed of the change of rider. 

  • A fall of animal or rider while mounted in any class will result in disqualification, & they MUST leave the ring dismounted. 

  • Animals displaying continued disobedience or leaving the ring, whether mounted or dismounted, will be disqualified.

  • MEASUREMENTS: The Oldcastle Agricultural Show Committee reserves the right to measure any type of class by their official Veterinary Surgeon on the Showground unless exhibitors are able to produce a valid Height Certificate to the Veterinary Surgeon and steward in charge on the day.

  • CANCELLATION OF OR ALTERATION TO CLASSES: The Oldcastle Agricultural Show Committee reserves the right to cancel, divide, amalgamate or otherwise change any class. For safety reasons, all classes will be limited to a maximum of 30 entries per class. 

  • CONTAGIOUS DISEASE: All exhibitors are asked to be aware of animals on the Showground & ensure that all exhibits are fit and well. If any exhibitor has reason to believe that an animal is unfit, please report this to the Show Office. 

  • INSURANCE: 

    • (a) It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to insure all property & livestock on the Showground or elsewhere which is his own or for which he is responsible. 

    • (b) The Show requires exhibitors to obtain Employers Liability insurance where this is required by statute. 

    • (c) The Show also requires public liability and Products Liability insurance with a minimum indemnity of £1,000,000 to protect their liability.

  • Stallions: In the interest of safety, stallions may only be ridden or handled by persons over the age of 16 in a bridle, with the exception of Small Breeds Mountain & Moorland stallions, where the rider / handler must have attained their 12th birthday by January 1 of the current year. Stallions are not permitted in any Young Handler, Junior Ridden M&M, Lead Rein or First Ridden classes. 

  • HATS: It is the sole responsibility of riders to ensure that at all times whilst on horseback, they wear correctly fitting 3-point protective headgear which complies with the latest British Safety Institute Standard. Riding hat safety standards

Any riding hat should meet the current safety requirements, as set out below: (Standards are subject to change.)

PAS 015 (1998/2011) with BSI Kitemark:  PAS015 is a safety standard for riding hats managed by the British Standards Institute (BSI). This standard is reviewed every two years, & it is the highest safety standard for riding hats in terms of shock absorbency, penetration, & retention.  Hats to the 2011 standard are preferable.  The BSI Kitemark is a quality mark indicating that hats are subjected to on-going quality control, usually by regular testing of randomly chosen batches of hats.

VG1 BSI mark: VG1 is a safety standard. The BSI Kitemark is a quality mark indicating that hats are subjected to on-going quality control, usually by regular testing of randomly chosen batches of hats.

ASTM F1163 2004a onwards with the SEI mark: ASTM is an American standard similar to PAS 015 (1998), but its testing doesn’t include mechanical strength (crushing). 

Snell E2001/E2016: Snell is an American standard and a high-performance standard that includes all aspects of ASTM and PAS 015 testing but includes testing for higher impacts to replicate a kick from a horse and landing on uneven surfaces.

AS/NZS 3838 2003 onwards: These are Australian & New Zealand standards, respectively.

A previous standard, EN1384/BSEN1384, was withdrawn in 2016, so hats with this standard alone are no longer acceptable.

The show accepts no responsibility for any injury arising from a failure to comply with this regulation. Top hats and bowlers may be worn by riders aged 21 and over at the rider’s own risk. Handlers of horses or ponys in the in-hand classes who are under 14 years old on the day of the show must wear properly secured hats to the current British Standard.

  • The correct dress should be worn in all classes. Gaiters may be worn; however, chaps are not permitted in any class. 

  • Body Protectors:

    • Body protectors may be worn and are recommended whilst competing in Working Hunter classes. Body protectors are obligatory in all working Hunter and performance classes for riders under 21 years of age.

    •  BETA Level 3 (purple) 2009 Standard or any later revision, correctly fitted (2cm below rib cage).

    • Air Jackets: When an air jacket inflates, the sudden noise startles horses in the immediate vicinity, thereby causing difficulties for the other competitors. 

      • It must only be used in addition to a normal body protector. 

      • Air jackets must not be worn under any item of clothing.

  • Medical armbands are Recommended if a rider has a medical condition which first-aid medics should be aware of. Photo identification required on Medical armbands

  • Earrings and / or body studs must not be worn by riders / handlers under 21 years old.

  • Mobile phones, earpieces, and communication devices MUST not be used in the ring. 

  • Spurs / Dress spurs must not be worn in any show Show pony, working hunter pony, or any ridden Mountain & Moorland class 

  • Show canes are not to exceed 75 cm (30”) in pony classes. Hunting crops is permissible. 

  • In Lead Rein & First Ridden classes, reins must be of a normal length & not knotted or stitched together in a short loop. In lead rein classes, the reins must not be attached to the saddle. 

  • In Lead Rein classes, handles on saddles are permitted. 

  • Under no circumstances may tack be changed during the judging of a class. 

  • If competing in a championship, the same tack used in the class must be worn. Whips are not considered tack. 

  • All Lead Rein ponies must be shown in a suitable snaffle bridle only. 

  • Bit-less bridles & running gags are not permitted unless otherwise stated in the class-specific rules. 

  • In WH and WHP classes, the use of any type of noseband & martingale is permitted. 

  • Boots of a plain colour only may be used for the jumping phase of Working Hunter Pony classes. Boots must be removed for the conformation section of the class. Boots are not permitted for any other classes. 

  • No bandages or protective pads on any animal's legs or feet are permissible in any class 

  • In the interest of safety, long hair should be tidy and appropriately secured. 

  • Unless otherwise stated in the class wording, any suitable bit is accepted in all showing classes.

  • The Family Pony Ring is a fun ring for children starting their careers. All help & support to the children is allowed & encouraged.

JUDGING OF CLASSES 

1. In all cases, the judge’s decision is final. Exhibitors must respect all judges’ decisions & obey ring stewards’ directions. The Oldcastle Agricultural Show Committee reserves the right to request an exhibitor leave the showgrounds should the show’s head horse steward deem the need arise.

2. No person, including exhibitors, handlers, or grooms, should enter the ring at any time without the judge’s permission.

3. A class is deemed to have commenced when the Judge enters the ring & the exhibits are present. 

4. Exhibits will not be allowed into the ring after the ponies/horses have been asked to trot. 

5. The class is deemed to be over when the Judge has given permission for the class to leave the ring.

6. If a mistake in the marks is discovered, even after dismissing a class, it MUST be corrected & any qualification/result amended.

 

Prize Money Allocation Rules

Where there are no more than 2 entries, classes may be
amalgamated or cancelled at the show’s discretion.
Where entries total 3 or fewer, only 1st place prize money will be awarded.
Where there are 4 or 5 entries, only 1st and 2nd place prize money will be awarded.
Where entries total 6 or more, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize money will be awarded.