The "Showmanship at Halter" event is also known as "Fitting and Showing." In this class, exhibitors are judged on how well they present their horse while performing a specific pattern. Generally, showmanship is the first class of the day and sets the tone for the rest...

The western horsemanship event is judged both on how the horse performs for the rider and the rider's skill. Judges evaluate the rider's position and tests the ability of the rider and the horse to perform a prescribed pattern. Rider's Position The rider should sit in...

Horse Judging Basics  Choose your subscription For a 6-month subscription: Horse Judging Basics: Teams and Judges (6 months) For a 12-month subscription: Horse Judging Basics: Teams and Judges (12 months) This self-directed course is designed to teach new coaches,...

These courses are designed to offer practice horse judging classes for teams, coaches, and anyone else who wants to improve their horse judging skills. Each course has 6 classes, with questions, placings, cuts and recorded critique of each class. The fee for each...

Equitation over Fences is judged primarily on how riders are positioned on the horse and how effective they are in using their aids while communicating with their mount when completing a course. Course Requirements The course may prove to be more challenging than a...

The western riding class is one of flying lead changes. It is a combination of control and skills, mixing techniques from trail, reining, and equitation. This is a judged event and is not timed. The horse is judged on these criteria: Quality of gaits Lead changes at...

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has set the generally accepted description of a reining horse in A. General of their NRHA Handbook, and is as follows: To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse...

Timed event classes may also be referred to as "games," "gymkhanas," or "O-Mok-See." Generally the fastest time wins and deviating from the described rules or pattern will result in either a time penalty or disqualification, depending on the rule infraction. Judging...