Rainbow Horse Club

Dream it....Wish it....Do it

 

 

 

 

SHOWMANSHIP

 

What is Showmanship?

Besides halter, showmanship is the only class in a show that is performed in-hand, or on the ground. It was designed as a class that would showcase the horse's willingness on the ground, the handler's grooming ability, as well as the handler's leading abilities. You and the horse are to follow a pattern as marked by the judge. You will be scored on the horse's appearance, the horse's movement and behavior, as well as your leading skills. Both English and Western riders may participate in showmanship, since it is not a riding class.

The Horse's Condition

The horse must be impeccably groomed, as well as clipped in the proper areas. The horse must be at a proper body weight; not too fat and not too thin. He should have a shiny and clean coat, as well as noticeable muscle tone. Muscle tone reflects on how much exercise the horse is receiving, and how well he is being kept. The horse's hooves should not show any signs of cracking or bruising, and they should have a healthy appearance.

HUNTER UNDER SADDLE

Hunter under saddle is the preliminary class for English riding disciplines. The rider works the horse at the three gaits and does not do any jumps. Hunter under saddle derives from fox hunts, when riders would ride into the field after the foxes.

HUNT SEAT EQUITATION

Hunt seat equitation classes judge the rider only, including his or her position on the flat and over fences and overall effectiveness while riding. Therefore, it is not imperative that the horse has perfect movement or jumping form, but it needs good manners and an attractive way of going that does not detract from the rider's performance. Although temperament is not judged, horses with a more tractable temperament are generally easier to ride, and can therefore help riders demonstrate their skills.

SHOW HACK

Type & Characteristics  
Show hacks must have vitality, animation, presence, balance and clean fine limbs showing supreme quality.  Soundness is required and blemishes may be penalized.  Braiding of mane and tail optional.

Gaits  
a) The walk - straight, 4 beat and flat footed.
b) The trot - free, light & crisp, may be required as follows:  
(i) Free on a light contact  
(ii) Collected with rider sitting.  
(iii) Extended - on contact - medium speed with legs moving forward with impulsion and with rider posting or sitting.

c) The canter - may be required as follows  
(i) Collected.  
(ii) Normal.  
(iii) Extended.

d) Hand gallop under control.

Horses to enter the ring at a walk. May be shown at a walk, trot, canter and hand gallop;  collected and extended gaits to be called for;  to stand quietly.  Only 8 horses to gallop at one time.  To be judged on performance, quality, conformation and manners.

 

 

                    HUNTER OVER FENCES

 

 In Hunter Classes, the Horse will be judged on manners, jumping style and way of moving.   Extreme speeds will be penalized. Three refusals in any over fences class constitutes disqualification.

 

                        WESTERN PLEASURE

Western Pleasure is a western style competition at horse shows that exhibits the manners and suitability of the horse for appropriate gait cadence and speed, along with suitable disposition. Most light horse breeds in the United States and Canada may compete in western pleasure classes, either in open competition or at shows limited to a single breed. However, horse conformation and temperament play a role in this event, and hence animals that are calm, quiet, have collected, soft gaits and the strong muscling required to sustain slow, controlled movement will be the most competitive.

 

WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP 

Western horsemanship judges on the correctness of the rider's seat, hands and feet, the finesse in riding, and the strength of his or her lines and angles as the competitor rides a series of maneuvers in a 30- to 60-second pattern devised by the judge and posted the day of the event. The pattern may include a variety of different maneuvers, many of which mimic elements of western pleasure, reining, western riding and trail classes.  For example, Straight lines — meaning walk trot, jog and lope on a straight line — and a lot of circles, arcs and turnarounds. There's always a stop and a back. Judges can ask for circles, spins, quarter-turns, half-turns, turn-and-a-half, any combination of turning on the haunches or forehand and sidepassing. Extending the gut to a hand gallop or extending the trot is very popular now. You'll commonly see straight-line patterns where the exhibitor is asked to maneuver up and down the arena in a straight line, adding different, difficult maneuvers.

  

GYMKHANA 

 A series of games held on horseback:

BARREL RACING- A timed event in which horse and rider race around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern. There are time penalties (5 seconds)  for knocking over a barrel.

 

 

 

Pole bending is timed event that features a horse and one mounted rider, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line. This event is usually seen in high school rodeos and 4-H events as well as American Quarter Horse Association, local National Barrel Horse Association shows, Paint and Appaloosa sanctioned shows as well as at many gymkhana or O-Mok-See events