ENGLISH PLEASURE
To be shown on the rail as a group and to walk, trot and canter both directions of the ring on light contact. May be asked to back. Horses should back straight and easily and stand quietly
Pleasure horses will have gaits that are extremely comfortable to ride, will carry the head at a natural level with the nose slightly in front of the vertical, and will be easy to guide. The quality of the movement and the consistency of the gaits is of major consideration. The horse shall be in a frame, lightly collected with bend throughout the body and flexion at the pole
Horses should be obedient, have a bright expression with alert ears, and should respond willingly to the rider with light leg and hand contact. Horses should be responsive and smooth in transitions, performing transitions immediately when asked. Horses will move from the walk to the canter with no trot or “shuffling” steps and will perform transitions downward in the same manner.
To be judged on performance, quality of gaits, manners and conformation.
The following will be penalized according to severity.
* Quick, short or vertical strides
* Being on the wrong lead and/or wrong diagonal
* Breaking gait
* Excessive speed at any gait
* Excessive slowness in any gait, loss of forward momentum
* Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for
* Head carried too high
* Head carried too low (such that poll is below the withers)
* Over flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical
* Excessive nosing out
* Failure to maintain light contact with horse’s mouth
* Stumbling
* Consistently showing too far off the rail
* Head carried too low so that poll is below the withers consistently
ENGLISH EQUITATION
To enter the ring as a group and to work at least one direction walk, trot and canter. The judge MAY ask for specific maneuvers such as collect/extended gaits, work without stirrups etc on the rail. The Judge MAY ask for a pattern off the line up to be executed individually or a pattern MAY be posted.
An Equitation Pattern is designed to evaluate the rider’s ability to execute, in concert with their horse, a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence and maintaining a balanced, functional and fundamentally correct body position. The ideal Equitation pattern is extremely precise with the rider and horse working in complete unison, executing each maneuver with subtle aids and cues. The horse’s head and neck should be carried in a relaxed, natural position, with the poll level with or slightly above the withers. The head should not be carried behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance.
The exhibitor’s overall poise, confidence, appearance and position throughout the class as well as the physical appearance of the horse will be evaluated.
The exhibitor should perform the work accurately, precisely, smoothly, and with a reasonable amount of promptness. Increasing speed of the maneuvers performed increases the degree of difficulty; however, accuracy and precision should not be sacrificed for speed. Exhibitors that perform the pattern sluggishly and allow their horse to move without adequate impulsion, collection or cadence will be penalized.
HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
Horses to be shown under saddle, not to jump. Shown at a walk, trot and canter both ways of the ring and may be asked for a hand gallop. Horses should back straight and easily and stand quietly. Horses will be asked to change to canter from the flat-footed walk or trot, and will perform these transition immediately with no shuffling steps.
Hunters under saddle should be suitable to purpose. Hunters should move with long, low strides reaching forward with ease and smoothness, be able to lengthen stride and cover ground with relaxed, free-flowing movement, while exhibiting correct gaits that are of the proper cadence. The quality of the movement and the consistency of the gaits is a major consideration. Horses should be obedient, have a bright expression with alert ears, and should respond willingly to the rider with light leg and hand contact. Horses should be responsive and smooth in transition. When asked to hand gallop they should move out with the same flowing motion and there should be an obvious difference in gait. The poll should be level with, or slightly above, the withers to allow proper impulsion behind. The head position should be slightly in front of, or on, the vertical. The horse should travel in a "long and low" frame with the horse lightly collected with flexion at the poll and a rounded/lifted back. The horse shall not travel on the forehand.
This class will be judged on performance, condition and conformation. Maximum credit shall be given to the flowing, balanced, willing horse.
Faults to be scored according to severity:
* Quick, short or vertical strides
* Being on the wrong lead and/or wrong diagonal.
* Breaking gait * Excessive speed at any gait
* Excessive slowness in any gait, loss of forward momentum
* Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for
* Head carried too high
* Head carried too low (such that poll is below the withers)
* Over-flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical
* Excessive nosing out
* Failure to maintain light contact with horse’s mouth
* Stumbling
* Consistently showing too far off the rail
* Head carried too low (such that poll is below the withers consistently)
* Over-flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical consistently
ROAD HACK
Type and Characteristics: Head well shaped, attractive and proportionate; mane may be roached; natural (not set) tail; strong, well- shaped neck with good length of rein; good strong sloping shoulders; medium high withers the same height as the croup; chest indicative of strength; moderately muscled forearm; back well-proportioned with height; powerful across the loin; good depth of girth; well- shaped proportionate quarters showing strength; sloping pasterns of good length; feet of proportionate size. The horse and pony must present an appearance of overall substance with refinement. The Road Hack horse should be able to travel long distances in a short period of time. Endurance is of major consideration as well as the horse moving in a manner that will expend the least amount of energy as possible. The head will be at a natural height and nose will be in front of the vertical. There will be no excessive knee action and no trailing behind of hocks which will use unnecessary energy. Soundness is required and blemishes may be penalized. Braiding of mane and tail is optional.
The walk: straight, four beat and flat-footed with medium contact.
The trot: straight and true; may be required as follows: normal on light to medium contact -
Strong trot
The canter: normal on light to medium contact:
Hand gallop
To be judged on performance, substance, conformation, and manners.
SHOW HACK
Type and Characteristics: Head neat, finely drawn and elegant. Mane must not be roached and may be braided; neck of sufficient length with a trim throat-latch; neck to blend into shoulders which are medium width and not too heavily muscled; medium high and well defined withers the same height as croup; chest well developed but in proportion; forearm not too heavily muscled; back moderately short but well proportioned with height; moderately deep girth and well-shaped proportionate quarters; sloping pasterns of good length; feet of proportionate size. Show hacks must have vitality, animation, presence, balance and clean fine limbs showing supreme quality. Soundness is required and blemishes may be penalized. Braiding of mane and tail is optional.
The walk: straight, four beat and flat-footed
The trot: free, light and crisp, may be required as follows - Collected with rider sitting – Extended on contact - medium speed with legs moving forward with impulsion and the rider posting or sitting.
The canter may be required as follows; Collected - Normal - Extended
Hand gallop under control.
To be judged on performance, quality, conformation and manners
HUNTER PLEASURE
A horse who is suitable for the hunt field and is also a pleasure to ride. Horses will enter the ring as a group on the rail and will walk, trot and canter both ways of the ring. May be asked to back up and should back straight and easily and will stand quietly.
See specific class descriptions.
SUITABLE FOR DRESSAGE
To be shown both directions of the ring as a group. Horses will be asked to walk, trot and canter and will be asked to perform movements specific to a Dressage horse test such as a leg yield, collected or extended gaits, a square halt, etc. Horses will be judged on movement, quality of gaits, conformation and their suitability to continue training as a Dressage horse.
To be shown on the rail as a group and to walk, trot and canter both directions of the ring on light contact. May be asked to back. Horses should back straight and easily and stand quietly
Pleasure horses will have gaits that are extremely comfortable to ride, will carry the head at a natural level with the nose slightly in front of the vertical, and will be easy to guide. The quality of the movement and the consistency of the gaits is of major consideration. The horse shall be in a frame, lightly collected with bend throughout the body and flexion at the pole
Horses should be obedient, have a bright expression with alert ears, and should respond willingly to the rider with light leg and hand contact. Horses should be responsive and smooth in transitions, performing transitions immediately when asked. Horses will move from the walk to the canter with no trot or “shuffling” steps and will perform transitions downward in the same manner.
To be judged on performance, quality of gaits, manners and conformation.
The following will be penalized according to severity.
* Quick, short or vertical strides
* Being on the wrong lead and/or wrong diagonal
* Breaking gait
* Excessive speed at any gait
* Excessive slowness in any gait, loss of forward momentum
* Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for
* Head carried too high
* Head carried too low (such that poll is below the withers)
* Over flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical
* Excessive nosing out
* Failure to maintain light contact with horse’s mouth
* Stumbling
* Consistently showing too far off the rail
* Head carried too low so that poll is below the withers consistently
ENGLISH EQUITATION
To enter the ring as a group and to work at least one direction walk, trot and canter. The judge MAY ask for specific maneuvers such as collect/extended gaits, work without stirrups etc on the rail. The Judge MAY ask for a pattern off the line up to be executed individually or a pattern MAY be posted.
An Equitation Pattern is designed to evaluate the rider’s ability to execute, in concert with their horse, a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence and maintaining a balanced, functional and fundamentally correct body position. The ideal Equitation pattern is extremely precise with the rider and horse working in complete unison, executing each maneuver with subtle aids and cues. The horse’s head and neck should be carried in a relaxed, natural position, with the poll level with or slightly above the withers. The head should not be carried behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance.
The exhibitor’s overall poise, confidence, appearance and position throughout the class as well as the physical appearance of the horse will be evaluated.
The exhibitor should perform the work accurately, precisely, smoothly, and with a reasonable amount of promptness. Increasing speed of the maneuvers performed increases the degree of difficulty; however, accuracy and precision should not be sacrificed for speed. Exhibitors that perform the pattern sluggishly and allow their horse to move without adequate impulsion, collection or cadence will be penalized.
HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
Horses to be shown under saddle, not to jump. Shown at a walk, trot and canter both ways of the ring and may be asked for a hand gallop. Horses should back straight and easily and stand quietly. Horses will be asked to change to canter from the flat-footed walk or trot, and will perform these transition immediately with no shuffling steps.
Hunters under saddle should be suitable to purpose. Hunters should move with long, low strides reaching forward with ease and smoothness, be able to lengthen stride and cover ground with relaxed, free-flowing movement, while exhibiting correct gaits that are of the proper cadence. The quality of the movement and the consistency of the gaits is a major consideration. Horses should be obedient, have a bright expression with alert ears, and should respond willingly to the rider with light leg and hand contact. Horses should be responsive and smooth in transition. When asked to hand gallop they should move out with the same flowing motion and there should be an obvious difference in gait. The poll should be level with, or slightly above, the withers to allow proper impulsion behind. The head position should be slightly in front of, or on, the vertical. The horse should travel in a "long and low" frame with the horse lightly collected with flexion at the poll and a rounded/lifted back. The horse shall not travel on the forehand.
This class will be judged on performance, condition and conformation. Maximum credit shall be given to the flowing, balanced, willing horse.
Faults to be scored according to severity:
* Quick, short or vertical strides
* Being on the wrong lead and/or wrong diagonal.
* Breaking gait * Excessive speed at any gait
* Excessive slowness in any gait, loss of forward momentum
* Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for
* Head carried too high
* Head carried too low (such that poll is below the withers)
* Over-flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical
* Excessive nosing out
* Failure to maintain light contact with horse’s mouth
* Stumbling
* Consistently showing too far off the rail
* Head carried too low (such that poll is below the withers consistently)
* Over-flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical consistently
ROAD HACK
Type and Characteristics: Head well shaped, attractive and proportionate; mane may be roached; natural (not set) tail; strong, well- shaped neck with good length of rein; good strong sloping shoulders; medium high withers the same height as the croup; chest indicative of strength; moderately muscled forearm; back well-proportioned with height; powerful across the loin; good depth of girth; well- shaped proportionate quarters showing strength; sloping pasterns of good length; feet of proportionate size. The horse and pony must present an appearance of overall substance with refinement. The Road Hack horse should be able to travel long distances in a short period of time. Endurance is of major consideration as well as the horse moving in a manner that will expend the least amount of energy as possible. The head will be at a natural height and nose will be in front of the vertical. There will be no excessive knee action and no trailing behind of hocks which will use unnecessary energy. Soundness is required and blemishes may be penalized. Braiding of mane and tail is optional.
The walk: straight, four beat and flat-footed with medium contact.
The trot: straight and true; may be required as follows: normal on light to medium contact -
Strong trot
The canter: normal on light to medium contact:
Hand gallop
To be judged on performance, substance, conformation, and manners.
SHOW HACK
Type and Characteristics: Head neat, finely drawn and elegant. Mane must not be roached and may be braided; neck of sufficient length with a trim throat-latch; neck to blend into shoulders which are medium width and not too heavily muscled; medium high and well defined withers the same height as croup; chest well developed but in proportion; forearm not too heavily muscled; back moderately short but well proportioned with height; moderately deep girth and well-shaped proportionate quarters; sloping pasterns of good length; feet of proportionate size. Show hacks must have vitality, animation, presence, balance and clean fine limbs showing supreme quality. Soundness is required and blemishes may be penalized. Braiding of mane and tail is optional.
The walk: straight, four beat and flat-footed
The trot: free, light and crisp, may be required as follows - Collected with rider sitting – Extended on contact - medium speed with legs moving forward with impulsion and the rider posting or sitting.
The canter may be required as follows; Collected - Normal - Extended
Hand gallop under control.
To be judged on performance, quality, conformation and manners
HUNTER PLEASURE
A horse who is suitable for the hunt field and is also a pleasure to ride. Horses will enter the ring as a group on the rail and will walk, trot and canter both ways of the ring. May be asked to back up and should back straight and easily and will stand quietly.
See specific class descriptions.
SUITABLE FOR DRESSAGE
To be shown both directions of the ring as a group. Horses will be asked to walk, trot and canter and will be asked to perform movements specific to a Dressage horse test such as a leg yield, collected or extended gaits, a square halt, etc. Horses will be judged on movement, quality of gaits, conformation and their suitability to continue training as a Dressage horse.