Entering: All foals yearlings and two year olds (fillies colts and geldings) must hold an SSH Breed Society passport OR be over-stamped by the SSH to be eligible for entry at an SSH Grading.

• Entries must be accompanied by the appropriate fees and submitted prior to the closing date.
• Owners must be Fully paid SSH members.

Secretary: Upon arrival at the venue please present yourself to the SSH secretary and present your horses' passport. You will be issued with Bridle numbers.

• Bridle numbers of foals need not be attached to the foals halter but can be attached securely on either side of your mares bridle
• In the case where both mare and foal are being graded the foal will carry the same number as the mare followed by the letter "A" in the catalogue
• Yearlings and two year olds must have their bridle numbers attached to their bridles.

NB Handlers of Mares with foal at foot must assure that the foal is securely led by a second handler whilst outwith the arena and for the conformation assessment.

Conformation Presentation & Trot Up:

• Each entrant will be presented in catalogue order.
• Each entry will be called forwards by the steward.
• Handlers should ensure that they are on standby so as not to cause delay to the days proceedings.
• Foals will be assessed at the same time as mares that are being graded.

Foals are presented parallel to the judging panel and will be assessed for conformation the foal should then be turned 180 degrees to face the opposite direction. The handler should then walk away from the judges over a distance of approximately 20 meters, turning clockwise the mare and foal should then walk back to the inspectors.

It is essential that foals are well prepared at home to lead alongside your mares.

Mares and foals should then be walked away from the judging pannel and turned loose.

• No leg wear allowed
• Foals must be plaited
• No corrective shoeing allowed
• Mares must be presented in a snaffle bit
• Mares to be presented in black or brown bridle
• Handlers must be dressed in white, trousers shirt and trainers
• Hard hats are recommended

Yearlings and two year olds will follow the same protocol as mares but will NOT be loose jumped. Yearlings and two year olds are scored following the same protocol as foals. See mare grading page for details.

Scoring Foals will be awarded a separate score for walk, trot, canter and conformation. The individual movement scores will be added together to provide and overall score for movement. The Movement score and conformation score are then added together and divided by two to provide an overage average score.

Premiums The score of your foal yearling or two year old will dictate which premium they are awarded.

• First Premium. For youngstock scoring 70 points or over
• Second Premium For youngstock scoring between 60 - 69 Points
• Third Premium For youngstock scoring 59 Points or lower

Parade Once all youngstock of the same catalogue group have been assessed, handlers should make their way to the main arena whereby the scores and results will be read out. Rosettes will be awarded. A Critique will also be given publicly highlighting the youngsters' strengths and weaknesses.

NB Whereby the numbers of entrants forwards is insufficient for a group critique, youngstock will be awarded their critique immediately after the assessment prior to being asked to leave the arena.

Secretary At the end of the assessment all handlers should then make their way to the secretary to return bridle numbers and collect their passports. Score sheets will also be issued.