Do I Show As 3 Year Old or 4 Year Old?

[halo]

My lovely youngster is currently 3 years and 6 months old, he will officially be 4 in July.

He is going away for 4 weeks of backing from tomorrow.

I am hoping to do some showing with him this year but don't know whether he now classes as a 4 year old (as in this is his fourth year as of 1st January) or still as a 3 year old as he won't officially be 4 until July.

We did a couple of in-hand classes with him last year in which he behaved perfectly, bless him.

All the schedules I have seen state that no horse may be ridden unless 4 years old or over but again does that mean actual age or in 4th year.

I would rather do a couple more in-hand type classes with him but I'm not actually sure where we stand

Confused of Wales

[cubic]

He's officially 4 as of 1st January 07 for showing. There are usually some 4 and over inhand classes around, especially at local level.

[halo]

Thank you

So, if we went to a show, say in June, and I wanted to do a ridden class would we be OK to do this?

[cubic]

Yes, you'd be fine to do that at the vast majority of shows. At affiliated level you'd be able to show your 3yr 6month old could be ridden at a show now, although unafiliiated shows may vary on their rules.

[halo]

Fab, thanks.

He's only just being backed but have seen a few shows that may be suitable for us to start at if he's ready for it