Horse Shows

American horse shows association (A.H.S.A.)-The governing body of horse shows is the American Horse Shows Association with headquarters in New York City. For administrative purposes, the A.H.S.A. is divided into eleven geographical zones and 19 divisions. There are 8 special committees, 11 regional committees, 21 division committees.

Officers include a Chairman of the Board, President, a First Vice President, 11 additional Vice Presidents (one representing each geographical zone), a Secretary-Treasurer, an Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, an Executive Secretary and a Recording Secretary—and there is a board of 50 Directors.

Approximately 400 shows are recognized by the American Horse Shows Association.

Horses are shown in 19 divisions. They are:

Arabian                                    Hunter                                Roadster
Combined Training Events        Jumper                               Saddle Horse
Dressage                                  Junior Exhibitors                 Shetland Pony
Equitation                                 Morgan                              Tennessee Walking Horse
Hackney                                   Palomino                            Welsh Pony
Harness Pony                           Parade                               Western
                                                Polo Pony

CLASSIFICATION OF SHOWS-Recognized shows are classified as: regular, local or honorary.

An honor show is one which has no violations of the A.H.S.A. rules or only a few minor ones and has been designated an Honor Show, for one year.

Shows are rated A, B and C, as a basis for reckoning points towards the Association's annual awards in the various divisions.

A—An A show must have a specified number of classes and premiums in the various divisions. These minimums are higher than shows with a B classification; e.g., a show with an A rating in the regular working hunter section of the Hunter Division, must have at least 6 classes and premiums totalling a minimum of $600. In the Jumper Division, there must be at least 7 classes and a minimum of $1,000 in premiums. At A shows, triple points toward the Division High Score Awards accrue for ribbons won.

B—Comparable figures for a B show are 4 classes and $300 for working hunters and 5 classes and $500 for jumpers. At B shows, double points toward the Division High Score Awards accrue for ribbons won.

C—A C show is one that does not qualify as an A or B show. At C shows, normal points accrue for ribbons won.

A local show is one which is limited by the following:

Duration not in excess of 48 hours, four sessions.

Not over sixty classes.
 
Cash prizes not in excess of $250 (except 100% sweepstakes).

Prize list and catalog must carry on the cover the designation "Local

Show Member." Exempt from certain regulations of the A.H.S.A.

SHOW OFFICIALS—Officers of a recognized show usually include at least a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
The show administration also generally includes an Executive Committee, special committees, a Show Secretary and a Show Manager.

Normally the officials at a horse show include the officers, judges (one or more for each division, one or more A.H.S.A. stewards and time keepers.

Other Show Personnel include:

Ringmaster—Announcer—Recorder—Blacksmith (Shoeing smith)—In" and "Out" Gatemen—Jump Crew—Manager and Veterinarian.

THE A.H.S.A. STEWARD—Recognized Shows are required to appoint and identify in their Prize Lists and Catalogs one or more A.H.S.A. Stewards.

The A.H.S.A. Steward is the representative of the American Horse Shows Association and an officer of the show. He is not to be confused with the ring steward.

A Recognized Steward is a person approved by the Stewards' Committee of the A.H.S.A. and issued a Steward's card. Only recognized Stewards in good standing may officiate at Recognized Shows.

The duties of the A.H.S.A. Steward are:

To verify the enforcement of Association rules.

To protect the interests of exhibitors.

To report to the Directors of the show any offense or violation of the rules committed by an exhibitor, judge or official.

To furnish the A.H.S.A. with a written report as to the conduct of the show within three days after its completion.

Specific application of the A.H.S.A.  Steward's responsibilities include:

Verifying that all jumper courses  conform to the minimum requirements.

Verifying the weighing of riders in classes requiring minimum weights.

Ascertaining that all animals in any division whose rules require it, are correctly measured.

Supervising and recording "time out" in the event of a horse casting a shoe or breaking of equipment.

Requesting that the judge ask for veterinary opinion as to the soundness of a horse, where this is considered necessary—and obtaining the veterinarian's written confirmation of any opinion rendered.

JUDGES—Recognized Judges are grouped in three classifications: registered (senior), recorded (junior) and guest. In all cases, they are 21 years of age or over.

Individuals who believe they are qualified apply to the American Horse Shows Association for recognition as a judge and give as references several registered judges. Based on the indicated experience, ability, judgment and character of the applicant, the Judges' Committee of the A.H.S.A. classifies the applicant as a Registered (senior) or Recorded (junior) Judge—or refuses to recognize the individual.

A Guest Judge is an individual member of the A.H.S.A. not enrolled as a judge, who receives special permission from the A.H.S.A. to officiate as a Registered Judge upon request of a particular show, for that show only.

There are approximately 1000 judges (Registered and Recorded) recognized by the A.H.S.A.

RIBBONS—Ribbons are awarded to indicate the judges' placing in each class. In classes involving prize money, there are usually four awards —sometimes, particularly in "stakes," six. In equitation classes there are almost always six. In larger shows, five ribbons may be awarded in most classes and in several there may be eight awards.

In each division at least, and usually in each section, championship and reserve are awarded, based on points accumulated during the show except for horsemanship. Ribbons indicating awards are as follows:

1st Place-Blue, 2nd Place-Red, 3rd Place-Yellow, 4th Place-White, 5th Place-Pink, 6th Place-Green, 7th Place-Purple, 8th Place—Brown.

If a 9th and 10th ribbon are given, they are: 9th Place-Gray, 10th Place-Light Blue.
The colors of championship ribbons are as follows:

Grand Champion                            —        Blue, red, yellow and white
Reserve to Grand Champion           —        Red, yellow, white and pink
Champion                                       —        Blue, red and yellow
Reserve Champion                         —        Red, yellow and white

CLASSIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS-An amateur is a person over 18 years of age who has not engaged in any of the professional activities listed below. Competitors in Amateur classes must have an Amateur card issued by the A.H.S.A.

A professional is a person who engages in horse activities either as a means of support or as a method of increasing personal income in substantial degree. Such horse activities include:

Breeding, riding, driving, schooling, training or boarding horses. Instructing in horsemanship. Buying, selling or dealing in horses.

Owning or managing a racing, show, schooling, livery or boarding stable for horses, or a riding academy or circus.

A professional is also one who:

Accepts employment in connection with horses in a racing, show, livery or boarding stable, riding academy or circus.

Accepts remuneration directly or indirectly for exercising, schooling, riding, driving or giving instruction.

Permits the use of his or her name, photograph or other form of personal association as a horseman or horsewoman in connection with advertisements or articles to be sold and receives a consideration for it.

One who is hired in the exclusive capacity of riding instructor, such as at a summer camp.

Any member of a professional's family (over 18) who aids or assists in the activities which make another member of the family a professional.

Children are classified as riders who have not reached their 18th birthday. For show purposes, "birthday" shall be defined as the 31st day of December following the actual date of birth.

TYPES OF CLASSES—Maiden—for entries which have not won one first ribbon (at a regular member show in the particular division in which they are shown).

Novice—for entries which have not won three first ribbons (at a regular member show in the particular division in which they are shown).

Limit—for entries which have not won six first ribbons (at a regular member show in the particular division in which they are shown).

SCORING JUMPERS-
A.H.S.A. Rules                        F.E.I. Rules
Knockdown—Front                 4 faults 4 faults
Touch-Front                             1 fault   No faults
Knockdown—Hind                  2 faults 4 faults
Touch-Hind                              2 fault   No faults
Disobedience
(Refusal, run-out, loss of gait or forward motion, unauthorized circling)
First     3 faults 3 faults
Second 6 faults 6 faults (cumulative)
Third                            Elimination                 Elimination
Fall—Horse and/or Rider                              Elimination              8 faults

F.E.I.—These initials stand for Federation Equestre Internationale, the international body regulating horse shows with offices at Brussels, Belgium. F.E.I, rules differ from A.H.S.A. rules largely in these respects:

Time is almost always a consideration (frequently not the fastest time, but there are time limits). In most classes there is a "time allowed" and a "time limit." Exceeding the time allowed is penalized by a quarter fault for each second. Exceeding the time limit (twice the time allowed) is penalized by elimination. The time allowed is normally based on a speed of about 380 yards a minute. In some classes, it is a little less than this.

There is no distinction between a front and hind knockdown— both are penalized with four faults. There is no penalty for touches.

A fall of horse or rider is penalized by eight faults rather than elimination.

Obstacles which jumpers have to negotiate include: the same as hunters, and in addition, triple bars, oxer, double oxer, hog back, Liverpool, parallel sheep hurdles, single bars and a variety of brightly painted obstacles.

SADDLE HORSES—The gaits of a three-gaited saddle horse are walk, trot and canter. These horses are frequently referred to as "Walk, Trots."

The gaits of a five-gaited saddle horse are walk, slow gait (running walk, fox trot or stepping pace), trot, rack and canter.

A Combination saddle horse is one which is shown both: (a) to a four-wheeled vehicle at a walk and trot and (b) under saddle at a walk, trot and canter.

FINE HARNESS HORSE-An American Saddle Horse breed, with long mane and tail, which is shown to a four-wheeled road show wagon without top (or top down) at an animated "park gait" (trot) and at an animated walk.

Frequently the Fine Harness Horse is both driven and ridden in a "Combination Class."

REGISTERED—A registered horse is one whose name, identity and number are recorded in the recognized stud book of any country for its particular breed.

GREEN HORSES—Green horses are inexperienced or young horses. A green hunter is one that is in his first or second year of showing. A green jumper is one which has not shown in the jumper division at a recognized show prior to January 1st of the current year.

HUNTERS—In working hunter classes, the entry is judged entirely on performance—style of jumping, manners and way of going and even hunting pace—the extent to which they are believed to be agreeable mounts to hounds.
In conformation hunter classes, in addition to performance, the entry is also judged on conformation (build and appearance), quality, substance and soundness.

A qualified hunter is one which has been hunted regularly and satisfactorily for one or more seasons with a pack of hounds recognized or registered by the Masters of Fox Hounds Association of America or England. A letter or certificate from the Master of the pack is required.

A corinthian class is one in which, in addition to performance and/or conformation, consideration is given to brilliance of performance, apparel and appointments. In these classes, riders must be amateurs and members of a recognized hunt and ride in proper hunting attire.

Hunters are usually classified as:

Lightweight                   —        Up to carrying 165 pounds
Middleweight                —        "   "       "        185     "
Heavyweight                 —        "   "       "        205     "
Small                            —        Not exceeding 15.22 hands.

Thoroughbred — Registered in any stud book recognized by the Jockey Club

Types of obstacles which hunters have to jump include: natural post and rail, aiken, stone wall, chicken coop, brush, a plank fence, white gate, bank and rail, snake fence, in and out.

A SCURRY—This is a jumper class in which time is a consideration. The horse with the lowest aggregate of elapsed time in seconds, and least faults, wins.

STAKE—This is a class in which the sum of the entry fees and any added amounts is awarded to the winner and winners of the lesser awards in decreasing proportion—usually limited to horses shown in other classes in the same section or division which are not stake events. The entry fees are usually higher than in other classes.

THE HORSE SHOW CATALOG-The catalog is prepared as a result of entries made from a prize list which indicates the classes the show offers, with entry fees.

The catalog contains the order of events, the entries in each class, diagrams and descriptions of jumping courses, the basis on which each class will be judged, a list of exhibitors and entries (horses), the names of officers, committees and officials and other useful information. Descriptions of horses in the catalog include the horse's name, color, sex, height, age, registered number (if any) and owner.

IMPORTANT SHOWS:

East      — The National in New York
Middlewest      — The American Royal in Kansas City
Far West          — Los Angeles National Spring Show
South   — Kentucky State Fair in Louisville
Canada            — Royal Winter Fair in Toronto
England            — National Olympia in London
Ireland  — Royal Dublin Society Horse Show

OLYMPIC GAMES—In the Olympic Games, there are three equestrian events:

The Three-Day Event (all-around equestrian competition)— Teams of four and individual, consisting of three phases:

1. A test of training (dressage);

2. An endurance test—consisting of a road test, cross-country and steeplechase performance;

3. A stadium jumping test.

The Individual Dressage Competition-Individual, two per country.

The Prix des Nations (jumping competition)— Teams of three and individual.

Each event is open to three riders and three horses from each competing nation.

TYPES OF COMPETITION under F.E.I. Rules:

Normal jumping competition—Time is not a deciding factor except in case of equality of faults.

Puissance—A test of the horse's ability to jump large obstacles.

Hunting Competition—To show obedience and handiness of the horse. There is no fixed track to follow—riders are permitted to choose the way from one obstacle to another.
Fault and out—Judging is based either on negotiating a fixed number of obstacles in the least time, or the greatest number of obstacles in a fixed time.

The six bars—Six obstacles placed in a straight line with a distance of about 12 yards between each. The obstacles are identical and may be all of the same height or at progressively increasing heights.

A.H.S.A. MEDAL CLASSES—These are open to individual junior members of the A.H.S.A. in good standing who have not reached their eighteenth birthday. There must be at least five competitors. Contestants, who qualify for any final event in any year, are eliminated from future classes during that year except in the P.H.A. (Professional Horsemen's Association of America) dressage and U.S.E.T. (United States Equestrian Team) combined tests.

JUDGES1   SCORE   CARD

OWJ No. 3 7

CLASS No. J7 —OPEN JUMPERS. Performance 100«. doune A.
l>0,12), $13. 410, tnd foul ribbooi.       /

JUDGE'S SCORE CARD—OPEN JUMPERS
The circled numbers indicate the obstacles for which this judge is primarily responsible.

indicates that these two obstacles are a "combination." If a horse refuses the second element, it must then rejump both the first and second elements of the combination.
↓ indicates that the course is composed of 8 obstacles (jumps).

— indicates no faults at that obstacle ("clean").

3/-  indicates a refusal; the figure or mark beneath the slash indicates the scoring

when the same obstacle is jumped again after the refusal.

X indicates elimination.

Nos. 144 and 163 would attempt to break their tie by jumping again over the course, this time with the height and spread of the obstacles increased. This is known as a "jump off."

As a matter of interesting comparison, the scoring of the same performances under FEI rules is shown in the last column. The seven horses with clean performances (no faults) would jump again over the course with the height and spread of the obstacles increased. In the event of equality of faults on the second jump off, time would determine the winner.
 
In the various A.H.S.A. zones, the winning of a specified number of blue ribbons is required to qualify for the final ride-off at a specified show near the end of the season.

Prescribed tests and courses are provided for each of the five competitions: (a) Saddle horse seat, (b) Hunting seat, (c) Stock saddle seat, (d) P.H.A. dressage, (e) U.S.E.T. combined test.

THE MACLAY—This name is applied to the A.S.P.C.A. (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) horsemanship event. It is called the Maclay because the trophy was donated by the late Alfred B. Maclay. It is open to juniors who have not reached their eighteenth birthday. The competition is over eight jumps, not over three feet in height, and is judged on performance over the fences and on seat and hands. The winner of the final is not eligible for further participation.

HIGH SCORE AWARDS—To encourage participation at recognized shows, in nearly all divisions and in several sections, the A.H.S.A. offers some 23 high score awards. The award is given to the horse which scores the highest number of points in its classification at regular member shows from December 1 through November SO. Points range from 12 for a primary championship to 1 point for eighth place.

PROTESTS—Protests may be made by exhibitors concerning an alleged violation of a rule or condition of a class. The protest must be in writing, signed and addressed to the Secretary of the show, accompanied by a deposit of $25. The judges' decision is not protestable unless it is alleged to be in violation of the rules. Either party to a protest may appeal the decision of the Show Committee to the Enforcement Committee.

A GUIDE FOR HORSE SHOW MANAGERS, OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

WHAT IS EXPECTED by EXHIBITORS—

Classes that appeal. Competent and fair judges. Interesting, but not over-difficult courses. Sufficient prize money fairly distributed among first and other places. Adequate stabling. Comfort—Refreshment and toilet facilities. Facilities—Blacksmith, forage, bedding, tack supplies. Entertainment. Accurate time schedule and classes run on time. No conflicts in classes. Friendly attitude and feeling of welcome from officers and committee. Large course-diagrams posted at the In Gate and in the stable area. Doctor and ambulance on the grounds. Schooling area and schooling facilities. Van parking on, or near, the show grounds.

by SPECTATOKS—

Ample room to see all events. Boxes available—reserved and preserved for subscribers to them. Parking spaces available—reserved and preserved for those who purchase them. Programs readily available—(Places to obtain them announced). Adequate toilet facilities. Knowledge of what's going on—(Informative announcements). Refreshment available.

by OFFICIALS—(That they will:)

Be well-housed, entertained and looked after. Be made to feel welcome and important. Know what they have to do, and when. Have transportation (and suitable escort) always available. Receive remuneration for their travelling expenses and an appropriate fee or present. Chairs and refreshment in a committee stand. Have distinguishing badges.

by the COMMITTEE—(That each:)

Will be given specific, well defined and reasonable responsibilities. Will be permitted to carry out the assigned responsibilities—within the general framework and objectives—as each sees fit with a minimum of interference and direction. May expect full cooperation from other committee people and officers. Will have the "tools" and money needed available. Will have ready access to the President and other officers and may count on their assistance, advice and encouragement. Will report progress to the President at periodic intervals. Will have plans for follow-up.

In view of the foregoing expectations—the Show Management should plan and direct its activities to have and build a reputation for:

A smooth operation—on time, no conflicts, no confusion. Sound judging. Adequate facilities. Large entries (well filled classes). Good entertainment and fun. Friendly, relaxed happy atmosphere.

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