The Area 5 Oxfordshire Show

To be held at Lower Lodge Riding Centre, Charney Road, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13 5HW

Sunday 21 st June 2026

First class at 10.00am prompt

Entries close 14th June 2026

Judge: Mrs Angela Wells

Safety hats to current safety standards must be worn whilst mounted by all Junior and Adult competitors at all times. For exceptions see Class rules.

Entry per class Members £12.00 Non-Members £15.00 Or enter three classes £30 Members – Non-Members £40 (use Class 6 and specify in class notes which three classes you are entering).

Class 1. The Adult and Junior Equitation Class

Kindly sponsored by Hilary Vernon Informed Bitting

The Side Saddle Association Equitation Championships Open Qualifying Class

Run under SSA rules defined in the current Members’ Handbook. Open to SSA Members and Non-Members. Members carrying their current Championship Points Cards are eligible for SSA rosettes to 3rd Adult and 3rd Junior places and SSA Championship Points. Southernden Side Saddles sponsor a rosette to the highest placed Member aged under 14 on 1st January of the current year. A rosette sponsored in memory of The Late Mr R Philpot is offered to the Adult Member and Just So Elegant Side Saddle Hire sponsor a rosette for the Junior Member, judged to be the best turned out.

Class 2. The Classical Ladies Side Saddle Qualifying Class

Kindly sponsored by Kingswood Equestrian

Open to SSA Adult Members and Non-members, aged 18 and over on January 1st of the current year, riding side saddle, on horses exceeding 148cm (14.2hh). To be judged 25% conformation and action, 25% manners and & way of going, 25% rider, and 25% turnout of horse & rider. Judges may request a short show, but exhibits; but horses will not be stripped. Traditional habits must be worn. Fancy Dress and Period Costumes NOT permitted. NB Silks Hats are permitted to be worn in this class AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY. Judges must use the mark sheet provided. The highest placed horse/rider combination qualifies for the Final to be held at the National Side Saddle Show. In the event of previous qualification, the Qualification Card may be passed down to fourth place. The highest placed horse/rider combination qualifies for the Final to be held at the National Side Saddle Show. One special rosette and the qualification card will be given to the qualifying combination at rider. each show, this may not always be the winner. If the winner has already qualified they may be passed down to fourth place. Qualifiers kindly sponsored by Mrs. T. Mitchell and Mr. L. Mitchell. Qualifying combinations are required to become Full Members of the SSA 21 days prior to the National Side Saddle Show or as soon as possible if qualified after that date to be eligible to compete at the Final. Combinations qualifying between one National Side Saddle Show and the next may carry forward the qualification, for that year only. The four highest placed Riding Horse, Hack (not ex 160cm), Cob or Hunter, Mare or Gelding, 4 years and over, ridden by a SSA Adult Member qualify for the current year’s BSHA Championship Show Mears Ladies Show Horse Championship. Combinations qualifying after the current year’s BSHA Championship Show may carry forward the qualification, to the following year. SSA Members who qualify for The Mears Ladies Show Horse Championship, will not be required to join the BSHA in order to compete in any Side Saddle class at the BSHA National Championship Show. If the BSHA Championship Show entries have closed at the time of qualification, competitors will not be charged a late entry fee for the Championship.

Class 3. Best Horse or Pony Ridden Side Saddle

Kindly sponsored by LAW Animal Physiotherapy

Open to horses and ponies 4 years old or over: conformation & manners will be taken into consideration; horses/ponies will not be stripped. A Special rosette will be awarded to the highest placed Adult and Junior Members of the SSA carrying their current Championship Points Cards. The Highest placed coloured exhibit ridden by a competitor aged 16yrs or over (who has not already qualified) receives a Special Rosette and qualifies for the Side Saddle Final at the CHAPS Championship Show. Open to any type of exhibit. Riders/Owners need not be a member, or their exhibit registered with CHAPS at the time of qualification, but in order to compete at the Championships, the Rider/Owner must be a showing member and their horse/pony registered with CHAPS before entering the final. Lead rein riders are eligible for this class. Leaders must be correctly dressed.

Class 4. The Contemporary Ladies Side Saddle Qualifier

Kindly sponsored by Izzey Carrick

Open to SSA Adult and Junior Members and Non-members riding a Native, Part Bred, Heavy or World Breed horse / pony side saddle. To be judged 25% suitability of horse/pony for rider, 25% manners and way of going for type, 25% rider, and 25% turnout of horse & rider. Conformation will not be taken into consideration. The Judge will request a short show. Traditional habits must be worn. N.B. Silk hats are permitted to be worn in this class AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY Judges are requested to use the mark sheet provided. The highest placed horse/rider combination qualifies for the Final to be held at the National Side Saddle Show. One special rosette and the qualification card will be given to the qualifying combination at each show, this may not always be the winner; if the winner has already qualified they may be passed down to fourth place. Qualifiers kindly sponsored by The Langley Family Qualifying combinations are required to become Full Members of the SSA 21 days prior to the National Side Saddle Show or as soon as possible if qualified after that date to be eligible to compete at the Final. Combinations qualifying between one National Side Saddle Show and the next may carry forward the qualification, for that year only.

PLEASE NOTE YOU MAY ONLY ENTER EITHER THE CLASSICAL OR THE CONTEMPORARY CLASS AT SHOWS AND ONLY QUALIFY FOR ONE OF THE FINALS UNLESS YOU HAVE TWO HORSES/PONIES OF A DIFFERENT TYPE

Class 5. Costume Concours d’ Elegance

Kindly sponsored by Hilary Vernon Informed Bitting

The sole criterion for this class is the elegance of the picture presented by horse/pony and rider, and the way of going of the horse/pony. Safe tack must be used. Detailed inspection of the rider’s period costume is not required. Fancy dress is not permitted. Competitors are required to walk, trot and canter. No individual show is required, but the judge may ask small groups of 3 or 4 riders to give short displays. A Special rosette will be awarded to the highest placed Adult and Junior Members of the SSA carrying their current Championship Points Card. Competitors should produce a brief resume about their costumes for the commentator.

SUPREME SHOW CHAMPIONSHIP

Kindly sponsored by Marlake Rosettes & Sashes

Open to all riders placed 1st or 2nd in any class

Championship Sashes to the Champion and Reserve.

Entries in advance or on the day (at additional charge). You can book using our Secure Online Entry System.
Payment is secure and it goes directly to SSA Area 5.
You will receive an email confirmation of your booking and payment.

Entry per class Members £12.00 Non-Members £15.00 Or enter three classes £30 Members – Non-Members £40 (use Class 6 and specify in class notes which three classes you are entering).

Rosettes:
Area 5 rosettes to sixth place in all classes. Special rosettes to all Juniors who have not competed side saddle before. Additional rosettes sponsored by Marlake Rosettes.

Area 5 Show Points Awards
To the Adult and Junior Area 5 Member of the SSA gaining the most points in the current year at the Area 5 Novice Training Show, Area 5 Spring Show at the H.O.P.E Show, Area 5 Summer Show with Atherstone & District R.C. Show, Area 5 Oxfordshire Show and the Area 5 Autumn Show on the same horse/pony. 6 points for first place, 5 points for second place and so on down to 1 point for sixth place To be presented at the Area 5 AGM

Adult riders not wearing such hats do so at their own risk.
1. All classes shall be ridden side saddle and judged under SSA Rules SEE CURRENT SSA HANDBOOK.

2. Classes may be divided for the purposes of preliminary judging if numbers require

3.Judges’ decisions are final

4.Entries close 14th June. LATE ENTRIES will be accepted if classes are not already full, at an additional cost of £5.00 each.

5.The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry and to alter, amalgamate or cancel classes

6. Please keep dogs on leads and close to your lorry only.

7. There will be no ambulance in attendance although there will be trained First Aiders on the showground.

8. All competitors and those in attendance are reminded of their individual responsibilities with regard to Health & Safety, not only to themselves but others on the show ground. This responsibility extends to safe parking of vehicles and management of horses/ponies

9. No responsibility will be accepted by SSA Area 5 for any accident howsoever it is caused

10.FALLS: A fall of horse/pony or rider in any class run under Side Saddle Association rules will result in disqualification, and the rider must leave the ring dismounted. It is strongly recommended that medical advice is then sought before competing in any other class.