US Nationals English Pleasure Open Class

Was anyone else out there surprised about the size of the first rounds of the EP class? I could not believe it. I watched on line last night and was shocked that there were only a handfull of entries. The EP class used to be one of the largest. The differences between the horses was shocking too. I admit I liked Vegaz, Gotta Wear Shades, and Afire's Heir, but just a few years back, those horses would have been park horses. Our Country classes are jam packed with horses that should be English Pleasure horses...... I don't know, it just seems maddening to me. Granted I was watching on line, but anyone who was there have any comments?

I thought Country Pleasure was such a great idea when it was first introduced all those years ago. But it quickly became just another version of English Pleasure in my opinion. Now it is the number one class and what are we going to do with the nice quality horses out there that are true Country Pleasure horses that are getting beat by English Pleasure horses?

CEP are English horses that did not make it at the EP level and HP horses are CEP horses that did not make it at the CEP level. Been going on for years. TRUE HP horses are finding themselves with nowhere to go.

I agree with you on the fact the CEP really no longer exists. I own an Ali Jamaal daugher that was trained by a very well known farm in TX. In 1992 she did very well in CEP. As is would stand now and say 5 yrs ago, she might make a good huntseat horse if they didn't deduct for all her action.

I did see the finals of the EP class and was excited to watch the workoff between Vegaz and Afire's Heir. It was nice to see the hard work the horses were doing.

DELGADO wrote:

CEP are English horses that did not make it at the EP level and HP horses are CEP horses that did not make it at the CEP level. Been going on for years. TRUE HP horses are finding themselves with nowhere to go.

Well said. It's so unfair -- I have what would be considered a great hunter anywhere else, but probably won't cut it at even the Class 'A' level. It's maddening!

The only place that you will find real hunters is in the sport horse division in Hunter under Saddle, though most of those horses ARE expected to go over fences. The differences in the two show hack classes is interesting too....Sport Horse Show Hacks are expected to have real extensions and not so high motion.....MR Show Hacks are EP and CEP horses that can do different degrees of what they do. The bits allowed for MR show hacks and SH show hacks are different as well - the MR bits are not legit for SH show hack.

Eliza wrote:

DELGADO wrote:

CEP are English horses that did not make it at the EP level and HP horses are CEP horses that did not make it at the CEP level. Been going on for years. TRUE HP horses are finding themselves with nowhere to go.

Well said. It's so unfair -- I have what would be considered a great hunter anywhere else, but probably won't cut it at even the Class 'A' level. It's maddening!

DON'T GIVE UP!!! If I acted on that thought I'd never leave the barn!...get out there and get your horse seen and have a great time in the meantime!

McShaneArabians wrote:

Eliza wrote:

DELGADO wrote:

CEP are English horses that did not make it at the EP level and HP horses are CEP horses that did not make it at the CEP level. Been going on for years. TRUE HP horses are finding themselves with nowhere to go.

Well said. It's so unfair -- I have what would be considered a great hunter anywhere else, but probably won't cut it at even the Class 'A' level. It's maddening!

DON'T GIVE UP!!! If I acted on that thought I'd never leave the barn!...get out there and get your horse seen and have a great time in the meantime!

Oh, I plan to! I just know that when it comes time to show at Canadian Nationals, we will place in the SHUS class but will most likely not make our cut in MR HP. But, I've got to try...

We always got to try. That is what kept me going in the past and now what has driven me to purchase my Shaddofax filly. Got to try...

With a filly out of Shaddo -- you will NOT go wrong!