WESTERN AND ENGLISH PLEASURE
Pleasure is the art of the horse, this class is judged on the performance of the horse not the rider.
CLASS ROUTINE
Once all the competitors have entered the arena and are moving in the direction the judge has asked for ( if direction not indicated then always go on the left rein) the judging will begin.
Your judge will direct a command to the ringmaster, he/she will then give you the command, listen carefully so that you hear the commands clearly. The judge will ask the riders to walk, jog (trot for English), lope (canter for English), reverse and stop, not always in this order. Always have your horse on the inside lead unless otherwise directed. The judge will be looking for a natural moving, smooth riding horse. The judge will be watching for safe and sensible riding. When doing the walk, the judge will be looking for a distinct four beat walk and the horse should appear to be going somewhere. During the jog/trot, the horse should travel in a square, cadenced manner. He should be round over the back with his hind feet well under him and travel with energy, yet be relaxed. Being consistent is very important in this class. The judge will be looking for the horse that truly is a pleasure to ride and the rider looks like he/she is having fun and enjoying the ride.
In many show tie downs/martingales are prohibited. In Fun Country Riders they are allowed. In cases of a tie, the rider without a tie down/martingale is placed above. There should not be any kind of splint boots or leg wraps on the horse in pleasure classes.
ATTIRE
Western riders should be dressed in long pants/jeans, a long sleeved shirt with a collar and cuffs a cowboy hat and boots with a heel. Chaps are optional. On very hot days a short sleeved shirt is allowed.
English riders should be dressed in a breeches, a rat catcher shirt, a dark coloured jacket , boots and a helmet. On very hot days the jacket can be removed.
How to hold English snaffle bit reins
Pleasure is the art of the horse, this class is judged on the performance of the horse not the rider.
CLASS ROUTINE
Once all the competitors have entered the arena and are moving in the direction the judge has asked for ( if direction not indicated then always go on the left rein) the judging will begin.
Your judge will direct a command to the ringmaster, he/she will then give you the command, listen carefully so that you hear the commands clearly. The judge will ask the riders to walk, jog (trot for English), lope (canter for English), reverse and stop, not always in this order. Always have your horse on the inside lead unless otherwise directed. The judge will be looking for a natural moving, smooth riding horse. The judge will be watching for safe and sensible riding. When doing the walk, the judge will be looking for a distinct four beat walk and the horse should appear to be going somewhere. During the jog/trot, the horse should travel in a square, cadenced manner. He should be round over the back with his hind feet well under him and travel with energy, yet be relaxed. Being consistent is very important in this class. The judge will be looking for the horse that truly is a pleasure to ride and the rider looks like he/she is having fun and enjoying the ride.
In many show tie downs/martingales are prohibited. In Fun Country Riders they are allowed. In cases of a tie, the rider without a tie down/martingale is placed above. There should not be any kind of splint boots or leg wraps on the horse in pleasure classes.
ATTIRE
Western riders should be dressed in long pants/jeans, a long sleeved shirt with a collar and cuffs a cowboy hat and boots with a heel. Chaps are optional. On very hot days a short sleeved shirt is allowed.
English riders should be dressed in a breeches, a rat catcher shirt, a dark coloured jacket , boots and a helmet. On very hot days the jacket can be removed.
How to hold English snaffle bit reins
WESTERN & ENGLISH EQUITATION
Equitation is the art of riding. This class is judged on the performance of the rider not the horse. Here are a few tips to help you to understand what the judge is looking for in a rider.
CLASS ROUTINE
Horses enter the arena according to how the judge has asked, listen carefully to your ringmaster so that you know what your commands will be. Classes are worked at walk, trot/jog and canter/lope in both directions of the arena. Your horse should always be on the inside lead unless otherwise directed by the judge, the judge will be looking for the leads. \when class routine is complete, the judge will then ask you to line up. Often the judge will ask you for additional individual work, for example dismount and mount, backup your horse or a simple pattern work. Be sure to listen closely to the ringmaster during show classes.
RIDER POSITION
For Western, arms should be in a straight line with the body, with the arm that is holding the reins bent at the elbow. Only one hand is used (with curb bit) and hands should not be changed. Hands should be above the saddle horn, and as near to it as possible. Position of the free hand is optional although it must be relaxed and away from equipment. You may stay two handed throughout the show class if using a snaffle bit.
Judges will looking at your position in the saddle. You should sit in the saddle relaxed with a straight back, even shoulders and arms close to your body. Stirrups should be just short enough to allow your heels to be lower that your toes keeping the ball of your foot in the stirrup (or irons), when you take your foot out of the stirrups the stirrup should hang level with your ankle bone.
PATTERN WORK
Judges have the choice of either posting a pattern ahead of the class or verbally explaining the pattern to the riders once they have completed their rail work. You may ask questions before the class begins.
Equitation is the art of riding. This class is judged on the performance of the rider not the horse. Here are a few tips to help you to understand what the judge is looking for in a rider.
CLASS ROUTINE
Horses enter the arena according to how the judge has asked, listen carefully to your ringmaster so that you know what your commands will be. Classes are worked at walk, trot/jog and canter/lope in both directions of the arena. Your horse should always be on the inside lead unless otherwise directed by the judge, the judge will be looking for the leads. \when class routine is complete, the judge will then ask you to line up. Often the judge will ask you for additional individual work, for example dismount and mount, backup your horse or a simple pattern work. Be sure to listen closely to the ringmaster during show classes.
RIDER POSITION
For Western, arms should be in a straight line with the body, with the arm that is holding the reins bent at the elbow. Only one hand is used (with curb bit) and hands should not be changed. Hands should be above the saddle horn, and as near to it as possible. Position of the free hand is optional although it must be relaxed and away from equipment. You may stay two handed throughout the show class if using a snaffle bit.
Judges will looking at your position in the saddle. You should sit in the saddle relaxed with a straight back, even shoulders and arms close to your body. Stirrups should be just short enough to allow your heels to be lower that your toes keeping the ball of your foot in the stirrup (or irons), when you take your foot out of the stirrups the stirrup should hang level with your ankle bone.
PATTERN WORK
Judges have the choice of either posting a pattern ahead of the class or verbally explaining the pattern to the riders once they have completed their rail work. You may ask questions before the class begins.
