HALTER
Emphasis should be on conformation. Horse should be hardy and spirited looking. Eyes should be bold, clear, alert, and well placed. Nostrils should be prominent and open.
Horse should track evenly and be willing to move out at the trot. Horse should stop smoothly and move nicely with legs well under the body.
Horse should have a good attitude towards others in the class.
Halter stance is not important, but handler should stand horse to the best of his ability. The better the stance, the better the horse will look. Judge may ask the handler to position the horse better with no points being deducted for asking.
NOTE: Do not take off points for lack of clipping or trimming. Do not take off points for type of tack. Do not take off points for handler’s appearance. Do not take off points if horse is not standing still as long as horse is not a threat to other people or horses. Allow handler to ask questions if unsure about something.
WESTERN PLEASURE
Horse to be shown at walk, trot, and lope. Horse should be well in hand and working calmly, but extremely low head carriage and extreme collection will be penalized.
Horse should look the same under saddle as he does in the pasture. ie: head at natural position.
A slow docile horse should not be preferred over an alert, active animal. Controlled spirit to be preferred over “zombie-like” robotic response so long as the horse responds to rider’s guidance smoothly and quickly.
Loose rein to be preferred over tight rein.
Horse may be asked to slow, stop, or reverse. The reverse should always be done towards the middle of the arena, and not towards the fence. Horse may be required to back if the judge chooses. Horses should stop and back smoothly, but a sliding stop is not preferred to a smooth controlled slowing. If the judge chooses to facilitate placing the class, individual entries may be worked off, separated from the rest of the class.
Faults include breaking gait, head-tossing, chomping the bit, wringing the tail, wrong lead, interference in any gait, poor wind, poor physical conditioning, kicking, biting, bucking, threatening other entries, failure to follow judge’s instructions, or other faults at the judge’s discretion.
Some horses travel at a slower or faster rate of speed then others so the speed they travel in the class should have no bearing on how they are placed. As long as the horse is under control at all times, speed should not be a factor. When passing a horse the rider should pass on the inside, and announce to the rider being passed of his intentions so as not to startle anyone.
In Walk/Trot classes, the horse will only be asked for the walk and trot. No lope will be called for. All other rules apply.
In Equitation classes, the rider is to be judged on posture, seat, hands, legs, and foot position. Loping on the wrong lead in Equitation is not a major fault but not correcting the wrong lead is. Posting should not be done in Western classes and will be judged accordingly. Only one hand should touch the reins in Western classes with the free hand down to your side and out of the way.
Equitation classes are to be judged on how well the rider handles his horse and how well the horse responds to the rider.
ENGLISH PLEASURE
Horse to be shown at walk, trot, and canter. Extended trot is not to be asked for. Horse should be well in hand and working calmly, but extreme collection will be penalized.
Controlled spirit to be preferred over “zombie-like” robotic response so long as the horse responds to rider’s guidance smoothly and quickly.
Horse should look the same under saddle as he does in the pasture. ie: head at natural position.
Horse may be asked to slow, stop, or reverse. The reverse should always be done towards the middle of the arena, and not towards the fence. Horse may be required to back if the judge chooses. Horses should stop and back smoothly, but a sliding stop is not preferred to a smooth controlled slowing. If the judge chooses to facilitate placing the class, individual entries may be worked off, separated from the rest of the class.
Faults include breaking gait, head-tossing, chomping the bit, wringing the tail, wrong lead, interference in any gait, poor wind, poor physical conditioning, kicking, biting, bucking, threatening other entries, failure to follow judge’s instructions, or other faults at the judge’s discretion.
In Walk/Trot classes, the horse will only be asked for the walk and trot. No canter will be called for. All other rules apply. Posting is not required in Walk/Trot classes or in Pleasure classes. If a rider does post and is not on the correct diagonal, then no points shall be taken off as these classes are to be judged on the horse and not the rider. Cantering on the wrong lead is a major fault.
In Equitation classes, the rider is to be judged on posture, seat, hands, legs, and foot position. Cantering on the wrong lead in Equitation is not a major fault but not correcting the wrong lead is. Rider should also post and if on the wrong diagonal will be penalized. Both hands should have contact with the reins at all times. Equitation classes are to be judged on how well the rider handles his horse and how well the horse responds to the rider.
TRAIL
Trail classes will consist of at least 5 different obstacles. Judging will be based on how calm the horse is in navigating the obstacles. Points will be given for attempting each obstacle so if a rider skips it then a zero will be given for that obstacle.