Shamrock Awards

Introduction

Shamrock Awards are a means to measure your progress, experience and qualifications as you and your horse advance through the various stages of the sport. They are used to show your and your horse's level of experience and they must be undertaken in order.

The grades are awarded to horse and rider independently of each other. It is therefore possible for a experienced gold horse to bring a new inexperienced rider up through the grades and v-s-v. The rider and horse keep the grade they have achieved for a period of time but if not competing for a prolonged period they can be downgraded requiring a further ride to re-quality - see the rules for details.

All riders must wear a hat to BHS standard when mounted and spurs are not allowed.

Bronze SHamrock

• 1 x 32km (20 miles) 1 x 40km (25 miles)
• 10-13kph (6-8mph)
• riders must be 9yrs +
• horses must be 5yrs +
• horses must be vetted before and up to 30 mins after the ride is completed

Silver Shamrock

• 1 x 48km (30 miles) at 10-13kph (6 - 8mph)
• 1 x 64km (40 miles) at 10-16kph (6 - 10mph)
• riders must be 10 yrs +
• horses must be 5yrs +
• riders and horses must both have their Bronze Shamrock
• 48km (30 mile) - horses to be vetted within 30 mins of ride completion
• * 64km (40 mile) - horses to be vetted before, midway and up to 30 mins after the ride is completed.

(* Time stops when presenting for the vet at the mid-way point. Horse and rider have a compulsory hold for up to 40mins when the horse should be encouraged to eat and drink).

Gold Shamrock

• 2 x 80km (50miles)
• 10-16kph (6 - 10mph) for qualifier, 10kph (6mph) + for final
• riders must be 10 yrs +
• horses must be 6 yrs +
• riders and horses must both have their Silver Shamrock

(Time stops when presenting for the vet at the mid-way point. Horse and rider have a compulsory hold for up to 40 mins when the horse should be encouraged to eat and drink).