Oakfield Specific Rules, Restrictions & Class Definitions

Riders will be expected to familiarise themselves with the various rules relating to tack and shoeing, if you are uncertain please ask a judge BEFORE you ride. Judges are available on Friday afternoon/evening for tack checks.

FEIF sport rules were updated on 1st April 2019. Permitted bits have changed and any sort of hoof boots or barefoot horses are now allowed.

Oakfield Shows are run on FEIF (International Federation of Icelandic Horse Association) General Rules – Page 65 and Sport Rules and Regulations 2019 available HERE (page 141 onward) with the following exceptions:

• Icelandic bits or any curb bits including Pelhams with or without roundings may NOT be used in Novice or Intermediate classes
• Horses may be part shod in Novice or Intermediate classes as long as no nail holes are visible in the back hooves (shoes must not be removed specially for competing at the show).

Please note these points. They are not included in the individual FEIF test information and unfortunately people have been disqualified because they were unaware of these rules…

Class restrictions have been working well and are encouraging people to enter and to move up to the next level when they are ready.

Oakfield Farm shows are open to any Icelandic Horse owner/rider. Our shows are NOT an IHSGB organised event and do not contribute to UK rankings. The Oakfield Farm third party insurance covers this event.

We have three levels of class: Novice, Intermediate and Experienced riders/horses.

Experienced riders who wish to give their young or inexperienced horses track experience in the novice classes may do this by riding them HC in these classes.  Qualifier marks will be as normal but do not give a place in the final.

NOVICE CLASS EXCLUSIONS – These exclusions only apply to riders over 18

Horse Exclusions, you may NOT enter Novice classes if your horse:

• has received an average qualifier mark of 4.5 or over in any FEIF sport class
• has received an average qualifier mark or 6.0 or over in novice/intermediate tölt (T8 or T7) or novice/intermediate four gait (V5) in the last 3 years.

This mark is the average mark in the qualifier section of the test (ie an individual gait can be marked higher and the finals marks can be higher)

Rider Exclusions, you may NOT enter Novice classes if:  

• You have previously been placed first in any class on any horse above novice level, o
• You have won Novice Tölt (T8) or Novice Four Gait (V5).
• You have ridden in an A final in an open class and received marks over 5 on any horse.

You may still enter Novice Tölt if you won Novice Four Gait or vice versa. The novice and intermediate riders will both ride the same Group Four Gait test (V5) but ride in separate finals grouped by rider and horse experience.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS EXCLUSIONS – These exclusions only apply to riders over 18

Horse and rider combination shall not have won an Individual Four Gait with Fast Tölt (V1) class or Individual Five Gait class.

Horse and rider combinations that have won T3, T2 or T1 Tölt classes may not enter the Group Tölt (T7).

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Novice classes

Beginner’s Tölt T8 – Riders compete together in groups of 2 or 3 on the track and are instructed by the speaker.

• Starting on the left rein, show any speed tölt.
• Return to walk,
• change rein,
• show any speed tölt on the right rein.

The speaker will direct the riders, and the judges will look for good tölt aids from the rider, a good rhythm from the horse and the way in which the partnership are in harmony, not the highest action or greatest speed. The 6 highest placed riders compete in the A final on Sunday. If there are sufficient participants, we may organise a B final for the riders placed 6th -10th.  The winner of the B final can take part in the A final.  If the winner of the B final chooses not to ride in the A final no other rider may take their place.

Novice Group Four Gait (V5) – Riders compete together in groups of 2 or 3 on the track and are instructed by the speaker. (Please note the order of the gaits is specific to Oakfield shows as it is the easiest order for novice riders to change gaits.  FEIF rules differ.)

• Show tölt, walk, trot and canter, on the rein decided by the majority in each group.

The speaker will tell the riders when to change gait etc. This qualifier is for both novices and intermediate horse/rider combinations and two separate finals will be held.  The 6 highest placed riders in each category compete in separate finals on Sunday. If there are sufficient participants, we may organise a B final for the riders placed 6th -10th.  The winner of the B final can take part in the A final.  If the winner of the B final chooses not to ride in the A final no other rider may take their place. 

Intermediate classes

Group Tölt T7 – Riders compete together in groups of 2 or 3 on the track and are instructed by the speaker.

• starting on the left rein, show slow tölt.
• return to walk
• change rein
• show tölt at the speed best for the horse.

Intermediate Group 4-gait (V5) – Riders compete together in groups of 2 or 3 on the track and are instructed by the speaker. (Please note the order of the gaits is specific to Oakfield shows as it is the easiest order for novice riders to change gaits.  FEIF rules differ.)

• Show tölt, walk, trot and canter, on the rein decided by the majority in each group.

The speaker will tell the riders when to change gait etc. This qualifier is for both novices and intermediate horse/rider combinations and two separate finals will be held. The 6 highest placed riders in each category compete in separate finals on Sunday. If there are sufficient participants, we may organise a B final for the riders placed 6th -10th.  The winner of the B final can take part in the A final.  If the winner of the B final chooses not to ride in the A final no other rider may take their place. 

Open Classes

FEIF Sport Tölt T1 – Riders compete individually, they are not instructed by the speaker.

• show one round of slow tölt,
• change rein,
• show one round of tölt with extension on the long sides,
• one round of fast tölt.

PLEASE NOTE: AT THE END OF THE TEST YOU MUST RETURN TO WALK BY THE MIDDLE OF THE LONG SIDE. FAILURE TO DO THIS WILL LEAD TO DISQUALFICATION. THIS IS A FEIF RULE. See above.

The 6 highest placed riders compete in the A final on Sunday. If there are sufficient participants, we may organise a B final for the riders placed 6th -10th.  The winner of the B final can take part in the A final.  If the winner of the B final chooses not to ride in the A final no other rider may take their place. Open to all horse and rider combinations. This class is mainly ridden by experienced riders and horses as it requires fast tölt.

FEIF Sport Tölt T2 – Riders compete individually,  they are not instructed by the speaker.

• show one round of any speed tölt,
• show one round of slow, calm tölt.
• change rein,
• show one round of slow to medium tölt with the reins in one hand and no contact with the horse’s mouth and minimum corrections.

PLEASE NOTE: AT THE END OF THE TEST YOU MUST RETURN TO WALK BY THE MIDDLE OF THE LONG SIDE. FAILURE TO DO THIS WILL LEAD TO DISQUALFICATION. THIS IS A FEIF RULE. See above.

The 6 highest placed riders compete in the A final on Sunday. If there are sufficient participants, we may organise a B final for the riders placed 6th -10th.  The winner of the B final can take part in the A final.  If the winner of the B final chooses not to ride in the A final no other rider may take their place.

At Oakfield shows we run T2 riding individually only and not T4. This class is aimed at experienced riders as it requires tölt on a loose rein which means a well balanced horse and rider are required to maintain it.

FEIF Sport Four-Gait V1 (old FIPO 4.1 class) –Riders compete individually, they are not instructed by the speaker and may ride the gaits in any order on the rein of their choice but this must be the same rein for all gaits.  All gait changes should be made in the centre of a short side. 

• show half a round of walk,
• show one round of trot,
• show one round of slow tölt,
• show one round of canter,
• show one round of fast tölt.

PLEASE NOTE: AT THE END OF THE TEST YOU MUST RETURN TO WALK BY THE MIDDLE OF THE LONG SIDE. FAILURE TO DO THIS WILL LEAD TO DISQUALFICATION. THIS IS A FEIF RULE. See above.

The 6 highest placed riders compete in the A final on Sunday. If there are sufficient participants, we may organise a B final for the riders placed 6th -10th.  The winner of the B final can take part in the A final.  If the winner of the B final chooses not to ride in the A final no other rider may take their place. This class  is mainly ridden by experienced riders and horses as it requires fast tölt.

FEIF Sport Five-Gait F1 (old FIPO 5.1 class) –Riders compete individually, they are not instructed by the speaker and may ride the gaits in any order on the rein of their choice but this must be the same rein for all gaits. All gait changes should be made in the centre of a short side.

• show half a round of walk,
• show one round of trot,
• show one round of slow tölt,
• show one round of canter,
• show two long sides of fast pace

PLEASE NOTE: AT THE END OF THE TEST YOU MUST RETURN TO WALK BY THE MIDDLE OF THE LONG SIDE. FAILURE TO DO THIS WILL LEAD TO DISQUALFICATION. THIS IS A FEIF RULE. See above.

 The 6 highest placed riders compete in the A final on Sunday. If there are sufficient participants, we may organise a B final for the riders placed 6th -10th.  The winner of the B final can take part in the A final.  If the winner of the B final chooses not to ride in the A final no other rider may take their place. This class is mainly ridden by experienced riders and horses as it requires fast pace.

Figures Test (Tölt In Harmony)– Rules are HERE (page 179).  Held in the arena if being run. This will be a level 1 test only. 

Fancy Dress Riders will be expected to make a fool of themselves tölting round the track dressed in silly clothes while the rest of us have a good laugh. This will take place after supper on Saturday. There is no entry fee for this class. This class is suitable for all horses and riders and can be done in hand if preferred.