2025 Coast to Coast Show

Rules for the 2025 Coast to Coast Virtual Show

Cost:

Registration (per owner entrant, can enter multiple ponies for each registration fee): Non-DPCNA members $30, DPCNA Members $5

Each class entry: $20

Submissions & Payment deadline: October 31, 2025

Your video may be submitted via email or uploaded below:

Email your video as an attachment or transfer in Google Drive to dalesponycna@gmail.com with subject C2C 24 Show Your Entry Number.

NOTE: If you are unable to transfer using either of these methods, please email Jennifer at dpcnasecretary@gmail.com for additional options

Classes/prizelist:

Your entry in the DPCNA virtual show supports the DPCNA mission. Classes will include in-hand, ridden, driven, and discipline specific classes. We will split classes by age, colt/stallion, mare/filly depending on number of entries. The more entries, the more we will split the classes.

The current class list is (Instructions for each class are below):

Class 1: In Hand 3 and Over (Full-bred or Part-bred Dales only)

Class 2. Youngstock In Hand under 3 (Full-bred or Part-bred Dales only)

Class 3: 2025 Foals with Dam (Full-bred or Part-bred Dales only)

Class 4: Ridden Walk, Trot (Full-bred or Part-bred Dales only)

Class 5: Ridden Walk, Trot, Canter (Full-bred or Part-bred Dales only)

Class 6: Driving (Open to all Mountain and Moorland Breeds)

Class 7: Great all-rounder (Open to all Mountain and Moorland Breeds)

The classes denoted open to M&M breeds will include: official Mountain and Moorland breeds (Shetland, Exmoor, Dartmoor, Welsh, Connemara, Highland, Dales, Fell, Newforest) and breeds/types with Dales pony foundation (Gypsy Vanner, Cob, and Canadian).

Great All-rounder Champion and Reserve Champion

NEW this year!

To qualify: Pony must be full-bred or part-bred Dales. Winners will be determined by points, where most points win.

Class points - 1 point for each class entered

Ribbon points - 1 point for getting a ribbon (1st through 6th), plus an additional point for each pony in the class that the pony places above

Owner-handler points - 1 point for ponies presented/ridden by their owners

General Rules:

Registration: All entrants must be located in North America. All videos must be from after the end of the last virtual show (October 2024).

Class 1-6 entrants: Dales ponies must be registered in the Dales Pony Society Stud Book or in the X Section of the stud book. In Process or DPSA please detail, approval required.

Attire: The DPCNA dress requirement is show casual, with appropriate safety headgear. Please see individual classes for details.

Rider gear: Whips and crops must be 30 inches or less, with the exception of driving. No spurs are allowed. Please see individual classes for details.

Dales pony grooming: Ponies should be shown in their natural state, which means no plaiting/braiding. Ponies should be presented clean and well-groomed, with manes and tails as full and flowing as possible. Feather should be full if possible.

Videos should be filmed in landscape, as they will be uploaded to YouTube. Any video submitted to this show may be used to promote the breed though DPCNA social media, which may include edits to the original video.

Additional Information:

Equestrian professionals may ride in this show, but please specify if you have a professional rider on the application.

Classes 1-3: In-hand (Dales only)

In-hand video guidelines

INSTURCTIONS (See below for video example and pattern):

Handler should remain at the left shoulder of the pony (keep the pony on your right side).
Start the video with videographer watching the pony enter the arena or field.
Walk your pony towards the videographer, halt, and announce: class number and age of pony. Videographer videos the pony as it walks towards him/her and square halts in front of judge.
While pony stands, film the pony from right side around to left side. Zoom in as videographer passes over the shoulder, hindquarters, hooves, and hocks. Be sure to get the entire right and left side of the pony in frame along with zoomed in video of the shoulder, hindquarters, hooves, and hocks. Please move the tail out of the way so the judge can see the hocks clearly.
Walking: Handler will then walk the pony briskly away from the judge in straight line (Centerline), make a clockwise loop to turn around and come straight back to the videographer.
Trotting: Come back straight towards the videographer and then past them, with the videographer on the left side of the handler.
Trotting: Trot the pony away from the judge clockwise, around the arena, really getting some speed up, and keeping handler’s legs in sync with pony. TIP: Run as fast as you can to really show off the pony's movement.
Stop at the far end of the arena and nod. This completes the in-hand video.

TIPS: The judge is looking for straight powerful action and the pony should be trained to trot freely when asked. The handler should run at the pony’s shoulder and in time with the pony’s stride. This takes time to get right so it is worth practicing before video. Handlers need to be fit to run fast and long!

NOTE for Mare are foal: Only the mare needs to be on a lead. The foal may run alongside their dam freely.

Helpful Information

Hander: wear smart casual clothes. Unbacked Ponies: wear a halter/headcollar, long leather lead or a neutral lead rope.

Backed ponies: wear a bridle with a snaffle bit or similar.

NO EDITS: Please do not splice/edit your video. Each video should be continuous.

Classes 4 & 5: Ridden Classes (Dales Only)

Ridden Video Guidelines

Traditional-Walk/Trot

A Traditional class is judged on conformation and quality of the gaits. Ponies should be well-balanced, free, active, and covering the ground energetically. The entry should include a figure eight at trot, collected on the bends but really pushing into extension across the diagonals and finishing with an extended trot on the long side of the ring before a smooth transition back to walk. You may do a rein back; the pony should step back for four paces without being hauled backwards and then forward to a square halt. Canter is not expected and a break from trot to canter will be penalized by the judge.

Walk your pony to the ‘judge’/videographer, show right side view of pony. ‘Judge' walks around pony at halt filming same as in-hand, all views hooves up, close-up and zoom out.
Pony walks squarely away from the judge showing good walk and action.
Pony trots back towards the judge, continues past and away on a large, well defined ‘show’ which includes a figure 8 and a showy extended trot on diagonals and long side.
Pony smoothly transitions back to walk, square halt, rider bows and walks off.

TIPS: The judge is looking for straight powerful action and the pony should be trained to trot freely immediately when asked.

Walk/Trot/Canter

The pony will be judged on the ride and conformation. The pony will be expected to display walk, trot and canter on both reins in an individual show, rider’s choice, which should include a strong trot and an extension of pace at canter.

Walk your pony to the ‘judge’, halt.
'Judge' views pony at halt same as traditional carefully examining all sides of pony, close up hooves, hocks etc. and step away.
Pony then walks away from the judge. Turns, trots back, past and away.
Pony begins to show. Trot and Canter paces on both reins.
Hand gallop long side showing a good quick, balanced pace.
Transition smoothly to halt. You may do a rein back; the pony should step back for four paces without being hauled backwards and move forward to a square halt.
Rider bows walk off.

TIPS: The judge is looking for straight powerful action and the pony should be trained to trot and canter moving off freely (and coming back to trot or walk) when asked.

Helpful information

Ponies are turned out clean and tidy as for in-hand classes but with suitable tack for ridden classes (can be western or english tack), snaffle or plain mullen bit no curb or shank, no bling, no whip (stick only). Riders attire is show casual - ENGLISH OR WESTERN, riders choice. Tall boots or paddock, western boots, breeches, or jeans. Jacket optional. Spurs are not allowed even for ponies in western tack.

Class 6: Driven Class (open to M&M)

Driving Class Video Guidelines

Driving Class Judge’s Directions

Judged on suitability of harness and vehicle and fit. Standing still to command. Walk on to command. Trot on to command. Moving straight towards the camera at walk and then trot. Side view to check tracking up. Reverse 4 strides on command, stand for approximately 5 seconds. Walk forward 2 strides then halt. Figure of 8 at the trot. Halt. Walk on. A general guide to the driving ‘show’ is here, with an example of a common show pattern above.

Helpful information

Ponies are turned out clean and tidy as for in hand classes but with suitable tack for driving classes. Horses are also judged on suppleness and should move happily in harness. Drivers are judged on their skill to British Driving Society standards including the ability to drive

coachman style.

You can use either a leather, or synthetic harness, both are acceptable. The judge is looking for a ‘workman like’ turnout, with correct fitting of the harness, which is also comfortable for the horse and with a two wheel carriage you require a sliding back band saddle. It is important to always carry a whip which is the correct length, where the lash can reach the shoulders of the horse or pony.

Class 7: aLL-roUNDER (Open to M&M)

This class highlights the versatility of the M&M breeds. Be creative, limit videos to 3 minutes.

Examples of some video clips to consider for this class, this is your opportunity to show what your pony does well. Do all of these OR get creative with your own ideas showing off your great all-rounder. The below are just examples of ideas for this class submission, but are not required for the submission:

TRADITIONAL WORK

Dales have a rich history in farm work and snigging. Show us your M&M pony doing any traditional work to highlight the usability of the native breeds.

LIBERTY

Show us your best moves with you and your pony at liberty. Qualities the judges look for are willingness of your pony to move forward freely without brace, communication between pony and handler, and creativity. Some things you may consider adding to the video is your pony moving at each gate, free jumping, and other fun tricks your pony knows at liberty.

JUMPING

Show us your best jumps with you and your pony. Qualities the judges look for are willingness of your pony to move forward freely without brace, quality of the jump, and creativity.

OBSTACLES

Show us you working through obstacles with your pony. Qualities the judges look for are willingness of your pony to move forward freely without brace, communication between pony and handler, and an iron constitution. Obstacles examples/ideas:

Clutter box: A box or space large enough for the pony to step in. The box or space should be filled with objects that make noise when the pony steps on them (e.g. parts of pool noodles, milk cartons, empty boxes, etc.). Boxes should be as full as possible to ensure the pony cannot walk around the objects, but over them. The pony must step inside the box with each hoof as they walk through.
Pool noodle gate: Pool noodles should be hung or suspended in some manner to allow the pony to walk through the dangling pool noodles.
Steps or Bridge: A series of steps made out of various materials or a bridge should be walked over. Steps can be made from wood, filled tires, or other suitable materials.

2025 DPCNA-Dales Pony Conservancy North America Coast to Coast (C2C) Virtual Show

Submissions Due October 31, 2025

Rules for the 2025 Coast to Coast Virtual Show