Competition - A Beginners Guide - Types of Shows/Classes

Gymkhanas ( or mounted games ) : These are some of the best classes. They are usually help at pony club and shows some times have a day where everyone plays them. Basically there just games ( like potato sack races, egg and spoon races and others ) on horse back. There a lot of fun. To learn more about them go to the mounted game section of Know Your Horse.

Equitation class : These judge how well you ride. The judge looks for your position and the way you ride your horse. This class can be on flat ( i.e. you go through the paces. There can be walk , trot classes and classes which cover all 4 gates ( though usually you don't gallop )) or over fences.

Hunter classes : These classes ( like equitation ) judge your horse rather than the rider. They look at it's conformation and how it performs. These classes are held allot in breed shows ( shows where only one breed is used, such as an AQHA or POA show ). They are usually over fences or in divisions where there is jumping and than a flat class etc.

Trail Class : This is a lot of fun. This class is basically like being out on a trail. You enter an arena where there are different obstacles. You than go through the course of obstacles doing all kinds of activates. You may have to pick up buckets, open gates, back up, trot poles or even jump a fence.

Round The ring : Though I have never been in one of these classes or even seen one be done I can tell you a little about it. Basically they have an arena where they place a number of jumps around the arena ( along the wall ). Than the riders go in and ride around jumping each fence. The only thing is there usually judging you and your horse so if you have a knock down or a refusal you can be eliminated. ( it's much like a hunter class ).

Show jumping : This is my favorite activity. Show jumping is very fun because you get to race around a course and leap fences. In show jumping you are not judged on the way you ride or how you horse jumps. However the fallowing are important in show jumping.
~ every knock down is 4 faults
~ every refusal is 4 faults ( 3 refusals and your out ) - this may be changed in the next little while ( with more penalties for refusals ).
~ you have a time allowed which you must ride in ( if you go over the time than your in trouble, every second over the time allowed is .5 faults. )
Basically your goal in show jumping is to get a "clear round" which mean no faults. Learn more about show jumping on the " Show Jumping Page ".

Dressage : Dressage mean "training" in French and basically that's what it is. When you go to a dressage show you are showing off what you and your horse know. In dressage classes you go over all your paces ( they are looking for a good change of pace ), do circling ( 10 and 20 meter circles usually ), halting, changes of direction and other things. It's kind of hard to describe so if you would like to know more go to the dressage page ( in know your horse ).

Cross Country or Horse Trials : This is another fun event. In x-country you ride in the outdoors over rustic fences at a swift pace. Obstacles in x-country include logs, water, stones ( such as stone fence ), down hill jumps, and man made obstacles ( All the fences are solid ). You are usually timed and there is a pace you need to keep if you plan to make the optamom good time. You will also loose points if you have problems with your horse. The cross country phase ( as exsplained ) is usually combined with dressage and showjumping over a one , two , or three day span to create a " Horse Trial ". ( also called an " Event " or " Eventing " ). Learn more about eventing by going to the " Eventing Page ".

Halter classes : In a halter class you show your horse/pony in halter in front of a judge. Your pony must have good conformation and be very well turned out. In halter classes you never want to be between the judge and the horse. So if the judge is on the left side you should be on the right ( and right-left ).

Picking your class : When picking a show class(s) only choose one(s) that suites you and your horse. Don't enter a 4 foot jumper class if you know very well you and your horse can't jump it.