You think your horse looks better, has a flashier action, or jumps higher or more smoothly than anyone else's. The only way to find out is to enter the world of horse shows. If your're right, the judges will concur, and you'll go home with a handful of ribbons and trophies.
Professional and serious amateur riders spend many months and miles on the road to compete at major shows. It can be a major undertaking to transport horses, tack, and other equipment necessary to show your horse at its best. A ringmaster ushers in classes and keeps them running smoothly. Judges select the winners, while stewards enforce the rules. Officials must pass written tests to be licensed by the American Horse Shows Association, the governing body for most American horse shows. In jumping events, the ground crew under the supervision of the course designer, sets up fences according to the designer's plan. The crew will also reset any fence that may be knocked down.
Colors represent the order of finish:
With arched necks and elevated legs, American Saddle Horses step around the ring. These proud and magnificent horses seem to thrive on attention and applause as they are exhibited in either three or five gaited classes.
Fine
Harness Classes
Three-gaited horses drawing light buggies are assessed
according to their quality, manner, and performance at
the walk and park trot.
Gaits
Both three and five-gaited horses perform at the walk,
trot and canter. In addition, five-gaited horses are
shown at the slow gait and rack, in which their hooves
strike the ground individually.
Western or stock-seat classes demand responsiveness, agility and savvy. Horse and rider engage in competitions that are derived from the cowboy's work around the corral or out on the trail.
Trail Horse Classes
Trail horses are required to work over and through such
obstacles as gaits, logs, bridges, and water.
Stock Horse Classes
Figure-eights and sliding stops are among the tests that
show how well a horse can work cattle.
Parade These entries perform at an animated walk and the parade gait, the latter a straight high-prancing movement not to exceed five miles an hour.
As sturdy and comfortable as an easy chair, the stock saddle
is also made for work: heavy stirrups provide foot protection
against brush, while the horn is a lasso's "hitching
post."
Based on manners and performance required in the hunting field, these classes place a premium on form over fences. Conformation counts in certain divisions, while only performance is assessed in Working classes.
Appointment
Classes
"Appointments" refers to the fox hunting
clothing and tack worn and carried in these classes. Some
events are open only to members of recognized hunts.