HORSE SHOWS IN THE PARK
2008
CLASS SPECIFICATIONS

All Hunter classes will be judged on performance and soundness, manners, & way of going. Horses/ponies may be jogged for soundness at judge’s discretion. Equitation classes judged on seat, hands, position and overall equitation per standards as set forth by USEF; suitability to count.    No Martingales to be used on flat

Schooling Hunter—Classes have been provided to allow for warm-up at the designated fence height.  Classes will be judged and ribbons awarded.  Class/Card remains open at designated fence height until fence heights change as show progresses.

Pre-Green Horse/Pony—Fence height 2’. Open to horses/ponies in their first 2 years of showing who have not competed / jumped higher than 2’6” at a show.

Green Hunter —Open to horses and ponies in their first 3 years of showing.   Walk, trot, canter both ways of ring.    Fence height 2’3”.

Modified Hunter—Open to riders or horses/ponies who have not competed/jumped higher than 3’.

Pony Hunter—Open to children and juniors mounted on ponies 14.2 hands or less.   Fence height 2’ for small/mediums and 2’6” large pony.   Ponies may be measured by show management.  Suitability of pony for a rider shall be determined by the height and weight of the rider in relation to the size of the pony as well as the compatibility of the rider and pony.   

Low Hunter —Open to all Horses/ponies ridden by professionals or amateurs with no restrictions. 2’6”

Children’s Hunter —Open to riders 17 years of age or younger on horses or ponies.  To be judged on performance with emphasis on manners and suitability as a child’s mount.  Same horse/rider combination may not cross enter into Jr/Amateur at the same show.  Fence height 2’6”

AHJF/Dover Sadldlery Junior Hunter Classic —  Riders may never have competed over fences exceeding 2’9” in height. The first phase is to be shown over a course of eight hunter type fences 2'6" in height (in & outs excluded) and include two changes of direction. Open numerical scoring (using the Dover Hunter Challenge scoring system) will be used. The top scoring six riders will be invited into the ring for Phase II. Phase II will consist of six elements or fences and each rider will be scored for the second round. The first and second round score will be added for a total class score. The rider with the highest score is the class winner. Embroidered saddle pad to winner, and custom AHJF/Dover ribbons to 6th place

Marshall & Sterling Bit O Straw Hunter Classic—a course of fences to be ridden at 2’6”.  Open to horses and ponies ridden by amateurs. Horse or pony not to have jumped over 2’9” at any show.

Marshall & Sterling Children’s/Adult Equitation Medal—Open to amateur riders of all ages.  Fence height 3’.  Tests 1-17 may be required of the top four riders, flat phase at judges’ discretion.  Judged on hands, seat, guidance and control of mount.  One rider per horse.  3 riders needed for Marshall & Sterling points to count.  Riders who place 1-6 invited back to compete in year end Finals Competition This class may be ridden on the jumper course at show managements discretion.

Junior / Am Adult Hunter and Equitation Divisions —Open to Juniors 17 and under and  Adult Amateurs 18 and over on horses or ponies. Manners and suitability emphasized.   Fence height 2’9” or 3’, please specify to Paddock Master which height you’ll be jumping prior to start of class.  Same horse/rider combination may not cross enter into Children’s Hunter on the same show weekend. 

3’ Hunter—Open to horses/ponies ridden by amateurs or professionals at fence height of 3’.

EMR HUNTER CHALLENGE - A Hunter course, consisting of at least 2 changes of direction, rollback and a trot fence.  Additional tests of the horse or pony’s versatility within the hunt field may be addressed at the judges or course designer’s discretion.  Riders who place 1-6 in this class are invited back for year end Hunter Challege competition

Pleasure —Open to horses/ponies with no restrictions. Judged on manners, suitability as a pleasure mount, appropriate behavior as demonstrated with other horses/ponies, and responsiveness.  Versatility class may ask for objectives asked typical of a horse given to practical hunt field or everyday use as a pleasure mount ie; gate manipulation, carrying items, side passing over pole, mounting / dismounting.    No martingales on flat.

Leadline:  Class LL1 and LL2—Class to run at a specific time on the program within the Novice Arena.  Open to riders who have not reached their 7th birthday and have not competed in any classes in a USEF or HSITP Recognized show other than leadline.  Riders may be judged on elementary fundamentals of horsemanship. An adult is required to lead each entry.

Walk — Open to riders 5 years of age and up who have not yet trotted in a horse show. Trainers/adult sponsors requested to be in the ring.   Judged on proper seat, hands, position, and control of horse or pony.   Change of direction and halt.   No cross entry into walk-trot unless moving up.

Walk-Trot —Open to riders who have not yet cantered in a horse show.   Walk and trot both ways of the ring.  No martingales on the flat.   May cross enter into Walk-Trot/Canter One at a Time, Walk/Trot Cross Rails, W/T Cross Rails Mini Medal and Baby Green Horse/Pony W/T.   Classes may ask for sitting trot, extended trot and halt.

Walk-Trot Cross-Rails—A course of 6-8 cross rails to be jumped from a trot.   W/T Riders may cross enter.   Riders not to have cantered in a show.   May cross enter into all walk-trot classes, including Baby Green, and W/T/Canter 1 @ Time.

Walk-Trot Cross Rails Mini Medal—Open to riders of all ages who have not yet cantered in a show.   Walk and trot both ways of the arena.   May be asked to sit the trot, extend the trot and/or halt from the trot.   Judge may ask a question of each competitor.   Over fences portion will consist of approx. 6-8 cross rails to be taken at a trot.  Riders who place 1-6 in this class are invited back for year end Finals competition

 

Baby Green Horse/Pony—Open to Horses/Ponies in their first 1-2 years of showing that have not jumped over 2’.   May be ridden by a amateur or professional.   No martingales on the flat.   Walk and trot both ways of the ring.   Hunter Hack and cross rails class may be taken at a trot or canter, consistency of gait to count, simple changes allowed. May cross enter into Pleasure Horse/Pony division.

W/T/Canter 1 @ Time—Riders will be asked to trot each way of the arena, line up on one side of the arena, then one at a time, canter. W/T riders may cross enter. Restricted to riders who have not yet cantered in a group in a show. Green horses or ponies should show in Baby Green WTC 1 @ Time.

Pre-Short/Long Stirrup—Open to beginner riders of all ages who have shown 2 years or less.  This class is ideal for the inexperienced rider on an experienced horse.   Crossbars will be 12” with flowers at the middle section, and should be jumped at a trot or canter—consistency of gait to count and simple changes allowed. No cross entry of rider with walk-trot divisions or short/long stirrups.  Flat class will W/T/C as a group.  

Short/Long Stirrup Hunter/Equitation— Fences set at 2’.   Division may be split into A/B or by age of rider if entries warrant.   Rider not to have jumped fences over 2’ at a show.   May cross enter into Baby Green Horse/Pony, 2’ Mini-Medal, Pre-green Horse/Pony, small/med Pony Hunter or 2’Jumper classes, excluding the 2’ EMR Equitation Challenge. 

2’ Mini Medal— Rider not to have jumped fences over 2’ at a show .  Riders who place 1-6 in this class are invited back for year end Finals competition.  No cross entry allowed between Mini-Medal and EMR Equitation Challenge at 2’.

***Any request to drop back into a previously graduated from status (ie; walk trotter having competed in cross rails w/t/canter class now wishes to return to walk trots…..) must be addressed to show management with clear indication of why the request should be considered.   Safety of the rider is the most critical determining factor.   Such requests must be made in writing and will be granted only once per rider.   Show management will make final decision.

Fall of Horse or Rider - A courtesy fence is not permitted following a fall of the horse/pony or rider in any class.

 

EMR EQUITATION CHALLENGE

An equitation class open to junior and adult amateurs on ponies or horses who have not shown over 3’6” at a recognized USEF horse show. The top 15 riders with most points earned in this class during the 2008 show year in each fence height category are invited back for year end Equitation Finals competition. Points will be tracked and maintained on www.horseshowsinthepark.com .   Fence heights as stated on show program.  Proper show attire required. The class will be judged pursuant to USEF equitation standards. Martingales are not permitted in any flat phase.  Class may be held in the jumper arena, over a course designed by the rider of at least 8 but no more than 12 jumps within a maximum 3 minute period of time. The jumper course will be available in the show office the day before the show after 3pm, and posted by 8:00 a.m. each morning.  Trainers and riders will be allowed to walk the course prior to start of the class.

In and outs are considered one obstacle and may not be jumped separately.  Each jump may be jumped twice in either direction, but no more than twice. Square Oxers and verticals may be jumped from either direction, liverpools are not permitted.  Riders must use their stirrups.  The course should include at least 2 changes of direction and a combination.  Riders will be judged upon their equitation and horsemanship, and greater points may be given to the riders who demonstrate the ability to create and ride to a greater level of challenge in the course of their design. 

Upon entering the arena, the rider should face the judge at the nearest point to the judge, halt, salute; wait for the judge’s audible tone or signal and proceed to ride their course.  The rider’s salute, while halted, should consist of the reins held in the left hand while they nod their head and wave their right hand over their right thigh.  Halting and saluting the judge before and at the conclusion of the course is considered mandatory; riders who fail to do so are eliminated.  Jumping less than 8 obstacles is cause for elimination. Riders who jump more than 12 fences receive a 5 point deduction per fence over 12 jumped.    If the tone sounds at the end of 3 minutes and the rider is still actively jumping, the rider must halt nearest the judge, salute and answer the assigned question.   In and outs are considered one obstacle, however faults incurred at each obstacle are scored separately.   Riders who jump more than 12 jumps will be eliminated.  If a rider knocks down a fence, they may not take that fence again from any direction.  Should a horse refuse a jump, that jump must be taken and cleared before the rider may proceed on their course.  A total of three refusals on the course will signal elimination.  At the conclusion of their course, the rider should approach the judge, halt, salute and wait for a question to be asked of them by the judge.  The same question may not be addressed to each rider but will be of similar difficulty.  Questions will pertain to general horsemanship, equitation, and stable management.  Riders should state their response clearly and concisely, turn and trot out of the arena, breaking to a walk shortly before the outgate.

Open Numerical Scoring will be utilized and the rider’s score announced at the completion of the jumping phase.

The top 6 riders may be called back into the arena for a Flat Testing Phase at the judges’ discretion.  The flat testing phase will consist of walk, trot, canter, and other general tests of equitation as called forth by USEF.