Club Rules

Rules updated 1st January 2020

  1. Full and correct attire must be worn by all competitors and their grooms. All riders must wear correctly fitting headgear to PAS015 or higher, whilst mounted anywhere on the Showground. Junior members are also compelled to wear them when competing in hand. Grooms must wear suitable hats whilst attending in the ring.
    All forms of safety and rider protection are encouraged and as such back protectors are accepted at all events.
  2. There must be no galloping or cantering unless in a collecting or judging ring.
  3. Misuse of whips or spurs will not be tolerated under any circumstances. NO spurs are allowed in any mountain & moorland classes, juniors may also not wear spurs in Showing Classes. Maximum length of whip – 30 inches/75cms except in Dressage Classes.
  4. All entries are to be made on the entry forms provided or via the Online Booking System.
  5. Classes will only be delayed for competitors at the discretion of the Judge and committee.
  6. Failure to exhibit any animal entered will entail forfeiture of entry fee. Entry fees are non-refundable.
  7. It is the responsibility of the Competitor to ensure they are aware of the status of the rings and attend their booked in classes. No refund or transfer of classes.
  8. No horse or pony under 4 years of age may be ridden on the showground.
  9. No child under the age of 3years may compete in Leading Rein Classes, and no child under the age of 4 years may compete in any other classes.
  10. Stallions and Colts may not be ridden or led by juniors who have not attained their 14th birthday in the current year. Any animal not kept sufficiently under control will be asked to leave the showground immediately by any Judge, Steward or Official of the Club. Stallion owners are reminded that it is forbidden to run out their exhibit along the horse-box lines.
  11. Dogs must be kept on leads and under control at all times.
  12. Do not muck out your horsebox or trailer on the showground,
  13. Jewellery, indeed, any items that may become entangled and cause danger and/or discomfort to horse or rider are not permitted.
  14. Fall of horse or rider in any class requires that the horse/pony is to be led from the ring.
  15. Enteries accepted on the day are non-refundable. Entries fee paid online in advance are refundable within 5 days of the event or on cancellation of the event by the Club.  Any fees paid to HorseMonkey credit/debit card fees, or other 3rd party fees are not refundable.
  16. The committee and judges reserve the right to refuse an entry in the event of any unsoundness such as lameness, coughing or dangerous behaviour etc
  17. All winners of class trophies must guarantee their safe, undamaged return to the show secretary AT LEAST one month before the next presentation. Any damage or unreturned trophies will be charged for.
  18. The committee reserve the right to refuse membership and entries.
  19. The committee reserve the right to cancel or amalgamate classes in the event of insufficient entries.
  20. The committee reserve the right to change times or order of classes from those published.
  21. The committee reserve the right to exclude anyone from behaving in an abusive manner, causing a disturbance or riding dangerously. Any person participating in any way at this Show who conducts themselves in a manner which may be deemed to bring the Show into disrepute, or who is acting in a way which may be abusive to any animal, person, official, judge or steward will be disqualified from competition and will be escorted off the Showground.
  22. INSURANCE: Bolton and District Riding Club cannot accept liability for injury to persons or animals, or for any loss or damage to your property at the Show nor for any injury caused to a member, non-member whether participating or observing on the Showground. You should therefore make arrangements to be suitably covered by insurance. When exhibiting horses and ponies at the show which could cause injury to other members/non-member or public, the riding club must therefore insist that you have adequate public liability insurance.
  23. B & DRC is an equal opportunity show, competitors with disabilities are welcome to attend and compete and should declare to the Secretary on entry. See rule 21.
  24. Objections should be made in writing to the secretary together with £20, which is returnable if the objection is upheld. Any objection MUST be made within 20 minutes of the class ending.
  25. ALL COMPETITORS will be deemed to have read and accepted these rules as a condition of their participation on the Showground.
  26. NO CLAIMS CAN BE ENTERED INTO.
  27. Please can you all take you litter home with you and leave the showground as you would expect to find it.
  28. NOVICE: All competitors must ride in a snaffle bridle, combination (Rider/Horse/Pony) must not have won an overall end of year champion in any class in a previous year, or qualified for HOYS or RIHS in the previous year or current year.  
  29. THE JUDGES DECISION IS FINAL
  30. Competitors must enter in your own name. It is against club rules to use a membership in someone else’s name for a different rider or handler. No substitutions of Rider, Handler or Animal are allowed. If this is found out any placing in a class will be disqualified
  31. No horse /pony/rider can compete at the BDRC Points Shows, if they have qualified HOYS in the current year.
  32. No horse/pony that has been placed in the top 5 at the RIHS in the current year can compete at the BDRC Points Shows.
  33. Professional Producers may compete at the Points shows Hors Concours (HC) only.  HC means they will be judged and can ask the Judge for comments, but will not be placed.
  34. Social Media Rule: No member may post or transmit any material which could damage the name or reputation of The Club, its officials or its Judges. Any person found guilty of this would constitute a breach of the club rules and could result in the person being removed / banned from the club and showground.
  35. No rider may compete with a restrictive injury such as but not limited to a cast or break etc.
  36. FLU VACCINATION AND HORSE PASSPORTS – All Horses and Ponies attending any Bolton & District Riding Club events must be in possession of a valid Horse Passport and Vaccination Record. The vaccination record must show that the Horse or Pony has had the Flu booster within 12 months of the show date or had the first 2 flu vaccination prior to the show. The club reserves the right to check passports at any time and evict any animal which does not have a valid passport or vaccination card.