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CLIFDEN HIGH PERFORMANCE FINAL -FRIDAY, 23rd  AUGUST, CLIFDEN SHOWGROUNDS
 Kindly sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland |Final Prize fund:  €3,000

Winner: Perpetual Trophy & €1,200 (€100 of which goes to Breeder)
2nd €750; 3rd €300; €4th €150; 5th €100; 6th €100; 7th €100; 8th €100; 9th €100; 10th €100

RULES FOR QUALIFIERS & FINAL: The Clifden High Performance Final is run by the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society the aim of displaying the versatility of the Connemara pony. This class has been developed to highlight the performance aspect of the Connemara pony over fences with emphasis on the rideability, scope, versatility and suitability for child or adult.
The Clifden High Performance Final will take place on the last day of the Annual Connemara Pony Show, Friday 23rd August 2025, at the CPBS Showgrounds in Clifden, Co. Galway.

Six qualifiers will be held at shows nationally at which each of the top four ponies placed at each qualifier will be eligible to compete at the High Performance Final. The qualifiers and the final will be primarily run under the Irish Pony Society Rules for the Working Hunters pony classes following the same scoring system.

Qualifier entry fee is €25 per pony (enter for qualifiers is through the show hosting the qualifier). Ponies that qualify for the Clifden High Performance Final must collect a signed qualifying card from the Secretary of the qualifying show. The completed card must be sent to the CPBS Office with entry fee €40 per pony.

AT THE QUALIFIERS :At the qualifiers ponies will complete two phases.

PHASE ONE: JUMPING PHASE
Pony & rider combinations will be asked to jump a course with a minimum of 9 numbered fences. Courses should include a double and a triple combination at a minimum height of 1m and 1m wide. A minimum of three fences at the qualifiers should be built to a height of 110cm high and 110cm wide. Each fence will be marked out of 10 and then a mark out of 20 will be awarded for the way of going. The total jumping and way of going mark is then divided by 2 with any penalties then deducted. Penalties: knock -10, 1st refusal -15, 2nd refusal -20, 3rd refusal Elimination. A rider fall will incur elimination. This will complete Phase One.

PHASE TWO: SHOW PIECE & IN-HAND ASSESSMENT
Each pony will be asked to show a walk, trot, canter and gallop. Unless otherwise requested, ponies will be required to show canter on both reins with a simple change of canter lead through trot. Following this the pony will be stripped and judged for movement, conformation true to breed and type true to breed (i.e. Connemara Breed Standards). The total marks for Phase Two will be 45 consisting of manners (10), performance (10), movement (10), breed conformation (10) and type (5).

AT THE FINAL:PHASE ONE: JUMPING PHASE
At the final ponies will be asked to jump a course of a minimum of 12 numbered fences which will include a double and a treble up to a maximum height of 110cm and width of 110cm. A joker fence will also be included, which will carry double marks but will be at maximum height (110cm) and will pose a certain level of difficulty above the other fences on the course. Weather permitting the river may be used with an optional fence being provided. This will complete Phase One.

Phase Two: Show Piece & In-hand assessment.
In Phase Two, each pony will be asked to show walk, trot, canter and gallop. Unless otherwise requested, ponies will be required to show canter on both reins with a simple change of canter lead through trot. The pony will be stripped and judged for movement, conformation true to breed and type true to breed (i.e. Connemara). The total marks for phase 2 will be 45 consisting of manners (10), performance (10), movement (10), breed conformation (10) and type (5).High Performance is expected.

RULES FOR QUALIFIERS AND FINAL
1.Open to registered Connemara ponies in possession of a CPBS passport, aged 5 yrs old and over.
2. Passports of qualifying ponies and microchips will be checked at the qualifier and must be presented at the final.
    Microchips will be checked at the final. Ponies must be registered in the name of the current owner.
3.Stallions must be ridden by a rider that has attained their 14th birthday before the 1st of January of the current year.
4.Bitless bridles and gags not allowed. Pelhams must have two reins leading from hands to the bit or a single with leather roundings, three ring snaffles must have two reins or a set of roundings.
5.Only front boots allowed in Phase One. Boots must be removed for Phase Two.
6.Spurs are not allowed.
7.Running martingales only.
8.Riders who have not attained their 16th birthday before the 1st of January of the current year must wear a body protector for Phase One. Body protectors may be removed for Phase Two.
9.A rider may compete no more than two ponies at any one qualifier, but only one pony may be chosen to compete at the final – this choice must be declared at the relevant Qualifier. (It is recommended that if you intend to compete at the High Performance Final that you attend as may Qualifiers as possible in preparation – ponies already qualified will compete in other qualifiers Hors Concours (HC).