Frequently Asked Questions

Actual prize money is the amount of money taken home on the day. Notional prize money is the amount the horse/pony is graded on, is a set amount and smaller than the amount awarded. Example - Any horse that wins a British Novice can be awarded any amount of prize money on the day, the rider may win £50 for example. However, for this win a maximum of £15 will be graded as Notional winnings. The Notional amounts for each placing in each class can be found in the rule book, page 51 onwards. National classes and qualifiers only have Notional money graded when a double clear is achieved.

Any registered horse is eligible for the classes, according to their Notional (Actual winnings for Grade A horses) winnings. If a junior is competing the horse they themselves must registered as a Pony Associate member before they compete but otherwise are eligible for the same classes as the horse, unless specifically stated otherwise in the schedule.

Notional money is designed to allow horses and riders to remain in Novice classes for longer. If all Actual money was graded, horses would jump out of classes much quicker, too quick for the development of a horse and/or rider.

If you've just got your membership and registration numbers through you should have also recieved your welcome pack which will include a Rules and Year Book. You can use this to view which classes you and your horse or pony are eligible to compete in.

The basic rules are designed to allow novice horses and riders to compete against other novice horses and riders. The four National classes that many people begin to use when they first join have prize money limits which refers to the amount of winnings that your horse or pony has previously won. For example, British Novice classes start at 90cm for Senior and 80cm for Juniors. You can only compete in a British Novice class if your horse or pony has Notional winnings of £99 or less. The next 3 classes increase in height and the prize money limits also increase.

National classes (British Novice, Discovery, Newcomers, Foxhunter) for both senior and juniors have First Rounds, Second Rounds and Finals. To qualify for a Second Round, four double clears must be achieved within the qualifying dates and whilst the horse/pony is within the Notional prize money limit. With this achieved Second Rounds can be entered and depending on the class the top combinations will qualify for either Horse of the Year Show or the Scope Festival of Show Jumping.

Once a pony has Notional winnings of £50 a JMB Height Certificate will be requested when the pony is next due for renewal, or if a change of ownership request is received.