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.
(* 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).
(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).