All About Show Classes
- Walk Trot
- Riders who are not yet proficient at the canter.
- Beginner
- Riders new this year to showing
- Cross Rail
- Riders beyond “beginner” but as yet not jumping a course exceeding 1’.
- 13 - Under
- Riders not yet 13 years old as of last December 31.
- 14-17
- Riders 14-17 as of last December 31.
- 18-over
- Amateur Riders 18 and over as of last December 31.
- Open
- Open to any rider of any age.
- Novice
- Riders not yet having won 3 blue ribbons in this class. (note, smaller shows may have different limits of blue ribbons for this class)
Basic Class Definitions
- Equitation
- Judged on the Rider’s correctness of form and control of the horse.*
- Pleasure
- Judged on the Horse’s ease of going, should be “flat” across the top, easy going, easy to ride.*
- Under Saddle: (English only)
- Judged on the Horse’s athleticism and motion, should be more forward moving than a pleasure horse, on the bridle, all business.*
- Country Pleasure
- Horses to be judged at a walk and at their “favorite gait.”
- Halter
- Judged on the horse’s conformation, shown “in hand” or on a halter.
- Showmanship in/at Hand
- Judged on the handler’s ability and showmanship presenting the horse, “in hand” or on a halter (a bridle for English).
- Walk/Trot
- For riders not yet proficient at the canter, these classes will be judged at a walk and trot only. Walk Trot over fences classes will be held over rails on the ground.
- Over Fences
- A class in which a horse is jumped. To be judged as a “hunter”, or on style, not speed. Rails down, refusals, etc are considered disobediences and are considered adversely in placing.
- Jumpers
- A class in which a horse is jumped against time, and incurs “fault” points for disobediences such as rails down, refusals, and time penalties.
**Judging is subjective, and completely up to the discretion of the judge. There is an AHSA (American Horse Shows Association) manual, which gives rules for each class, however the end decision is left to the judge. Personal preference will ALWAYS play a part in horse show judging.
The definitions of these classes/divisions are standard to most horse
shows. Larger shows will offer more of a selection such as as
Green Rider, Baby Green, Long and Short Stirrup Classes, and more technical
classes such as medal classes and Mini and Grand Prix For the sake
of not confusing you at this point, I have only explained those classes
offered at local and BTS shows.
-Ruthanna