Some Classes You Will Find at Horse Shows

You have just bought a horse to show and this will be your first time out there. If you are going to be riding western style, here are a few classes you will find at most shows.

Western pleasure...this is a class where the judges looks for how well the horse handles, how low they keep their heads, and how well the transition from a walk to a jog to a lope. They will also watch how slow (yes slow) the horse moves at a lope and jog. In western riding a horse's jogging and loping gates are slow and easy. They will also watch the rider. They will be watching to make sure there are no unnecessary moves by the rider, how well they position themselves on the horse, and how well they handle their horse.

There are usually western beginners, western intermediate, and western advanced classes. Beginning classes usually only do the walk and jog gates while the intermediate and advanced classes will do all the gates.

Some shows will have classes called walk-jog only. This is the same as beginner's classes just under a different classification.

Then there are usually speed races such as barrel races, pole bending, and speed race.

The barrel race, of course, is fairly popular. This is when the horse maneuvers around three barrels, which are set up in a triangle pattern, and must do it in the fastest time without knocking the barrels over.

The pole bending is a slightly harder type of speed race where the horse must twist in and out of poles which are set up so many feet apart. The horse used in this event must be very agile and able to "bend" with ease.

The speed race is a smaller version of the barrel race in which the horse must circle only one barrel. Yet, they must do it in the fastest time and without knocking the barrel over to win.

Some shows will have fun classes also. They can have classes such as lead line, dollar class, and even costume classes.

The lead line is fun to watch since this is for the children. This is where the owner of the horse or another adult leads a child of a certain age on the horse. They are all winners and all receive blue ribbons. It is so cute.

The dollar class is where you ride the horse bareback, place a dollar under your leg, and then the judge will have you do the different gates. If you lose your dollar you are out. This is fun because usually they will keep it going until there is just one person left. If it continues for too long, then the judge will usually judge the best rider who still has their dollar. Here is a hint on this one. If you are not in a couple of the classes right before the dollar class take the horse out and ride him a little hard and get him sweaty, then the dollar will stick to him.

Then they will sometimes have the fun and funny costume class where the rider and the horse have coinciding costumes. In other words, yes, the horse is to be dressed up some way also. Some of the costumes you will see are absolutely hilarious.

Then there is the potato race. This is where a potato is put on a barrel at the end of the ring. Another barrel is placed at the other end and is set right side up. The rider must ride the horse to the barrel with the potato, pick up the potato, and run back to the upright barrel and throw the potato in. There is no score if the barrel is missed.

Some shows will have a class called the rescue race. One person stands at the end of the ring, the rider rides to the person and that person must swing him/herself onto the back of the horse; and then they must run out of the ring with both riders still on. If the person fails to mount the horse or fails to hang on, there is no score. This class can provide for much amusement.

These are just a few of the classes you will encounter at horse shows. Of course, here are mostly the fun classes. There are numerous other classes that are for showing and not for fun. These will always vary from show to show. But if you go only for the speed races, I guarantee you will have the time of your life showing your horse.

Source:Showing horses for several years