A Dad's Guide to Horse Showing
(Or an Equine Glossary of Terms equally applicable to
mothers)
A B C D
E F G H
I J K L
M N O P
Q R S T
U V W X
Y Z Numbers
Amateur Owner Hunter: a horse show division for adult riders (over the age of 18) who are riding horses owned by themselves. A rider is given amateur status when they take no compensation for riding, training or teaching activities. Professionals enter other hunter divisions.
Adult Amateur Hunter: horse show divisions for adult riders who take no compensation for horse activities as a professional. These amateurs need not own the horses they are showing. Adult amateurs are often divided by the age of the rider (18-35 years of age and 35 years of age and over).
Bascule: the lovely arch seen in a horse's back and neck as they reach up and over a jump. Not all horses show a great bascule.
BRHJA: the Blue Ridge Hunter Jumper Assocation: "The objective of this Association is to create, stimulate and maintain interest in regional horse shows; to promote cooperation between horse shows and exhibitors; to help improve the caliber of regional shows; to maintain proper records in connection with the sport for the use of its members; to arbitrate disputes between management, exhibitors and/or judges; and to assist in the settlement of conflicts of show dates.
Champion: the horse and/or rider who accumulate the largest number of points for a division at a show. The horse and/or rider with the second largest number of points in the division are awarded the reserve champion ribbon. Points are decided by the number of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. ribbons the horse and rider have won in each class of the division.
Coggins Test: an annual blood test used to detect Equine Infectious Anemia. Horses with a negative result are issued a sheet of paper, differing by the state of residence, proving negative coggins status. Horse owners and horse show exhibitors are required to show proof of negative Coggins for showing and hauling - really any activity that takes place beyond the horse's home. Anytime horses come into contact with other horses is it wise that all show proof of a negative Coggins test.
Combined Training: an english form of riding where riders show proficiency at dressage, stadium jumping and cross-country riding. Also called "eventing." See the United State Eventing Association for more information.
Dressage: an english riding discipline where riders perform tests on the flat that showcase the horse's skill and suppleness. The word is derived from the French word for "training." See the United States Dressage Federation for more information.
EPM (Equine Protozoal Myelitis): a neurological disorder in horses caused by a protozoal parasite found in common pest feces (raccoon, opossum, skunk, etc.). These pests infect the ground where the horse grazes. Many horses show positive signs of infection without exhibiting an outbreak of the disorder.
Equitation: classes where the rider's skill, rather than the horse, is being judged. Of course both horse and rider ideally come as a package. Equitation classes are usually divided into 12-14 and 15-17, signifying the age of the rider (not the horse).
Eventing: an english form of riding where riders show proficiency at dressage, stadium jumping and cross-country riding. Also called "combined training." See the United State Eventing Association for more information.
Exhibitor: the rider who is doing the showing at a horse show.
Flat Class: a show class where all riders in the division are judged at different gaits on the rail. No jumping. Also called, the "hack."
Gait: a horse's "gears" or walk, trot, canter and gallop.
Green: An inexperienced horse in its first or second year of showing over a set height of fences (shown as Green 1 or 2 on horse show applications). The term can also apply in general barn life to any horse or rider who is learning the ropes. See Pre-Green below.
Grounds Fee: A nominal fee paid to the show office when a rider ships into a show without reserving a stall, or for non-showing horses who are visiting the show grounds for experience.
Hack: taking a horse for a ride in the woods (a lofty name for a ride outside the ring), also used informally to describe the flat class portion in a hunter show division.
Hands: a unit of measurement used to gauge the height of horses and ponies. A hand equals 4 inches. The horse is measured from its wither bone to the bottom edge of its heel.
Hunters: Not to be confused with jumpers, though the two words are often used side by side, this style of riding dates back to the beautifully jumping, well mannered hunters of times past, though most of today's hunters have rarely seen the fox hunting field. Hunters are subjectively judged on style, manners, and way of going over natural colored obstacles that are made to resemble jumps the horses would have encountered in the field. A good hunter will be rhythmical, a scopey jumper, with a relaxed and flowing gait. See the USEF rule book for a complete breakdown of all the different divisions within hunters.
Jumpers: a showing discipline where the horses are judged on speed and accuracy. The fastest time with a clean round (no poles dropped) wins. Recently the USEF has adopted a system of levels to identify the fence heights used in jumper divisions. This system replaces the somewhat convoluted system used in the past and brings the US closer to the European system of measurement. The levels are as follows:
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Level 0: Fences 2'9" with spreads to 3'3" |
Jump Off: Riders who tie for first place in a show jumping class are brought back into the ring to compete over a shortened course. The rider with the fastest time and fewest penalties wins.
Junior: Rider under the age of 18.
Junior Hunters: show division for junior (under 18 years of age) riders who are riding horses rather than ponies. Junior Hunters can be divided between Small Juniors (mounted on horses 16 hands and smaller) and Large Junior (mounted on horses over 16 hands).
Knock-down: when a horse lowers the height of an obstacle, or jump, by dislodging one of the top elements. A horse can knock over a lower section of the jump and no faults are incurred if the height is left intact.
Long Stirrup: horse show division for riders 12 (sometimes 10) years of age and older in their first or second year of showing. Junior and amateur adult riders compete in the same classes.
Low Hunter: horse show divisions open to junior or amateur riders of any age on either horses or ponies.
Medals Classes: Go to www.bigeq.com for a comprehensive description of these classes, their history and their goals. Another word for Equitation classes, on both the local and national levels, these divisions are a way for young riders to work their way up the ranks, combining the best of hunters and jumpers. Many adult medals classes are now finding their way to shows across the country.
Modified Hunter: horse show divisions open to junior or adult amateur riders of any age riding either horses or ponies. At a single competition riders who show in this division are only able to cross enter into other divisions for beginner riders.
O/F: abbreviation for Over Fences. The horse and rider will be judged over jumps.
Oxer: a jump that has width as well as height. Often created by placing two sets of jump standards together.
Open Check: A signed check, given to the show office at the beginning of the show, with the denomination left blank. Your bill for the show will be tallied at the finale and the crucial lines of the check filled out only when the show is over. You may or may not like to know the total.
Pony Hunters:
show classes for junior riders on ponies (an equine under 14.2
hands). In the green divisions (classes for
ponies in their first years of showing) riders can be of any age under
18 years old. In the regular pony divisions the ages for riders is
as follows:
Small Pony Hunters: riders less than 12 years of
age on small ponies (12.2 hands and smaller)
Medium Pony Hunters: riders less than 14 years
of age on medium ponies (12.3 to 13.2 hands)
Large Pony Hunters: junior riders of any age on
large ponies (13.3 to 14.2 hands)
Pre-Green: An inexperienced horse in its first year of showing over 2'3" or 2'6" fences in local competition or under 3' for USEF sanctioned shows.
Prize List: a horse show schedule and application form that is bound in booklet or sheet form, or published online, and made available to potential exhibitors.
Refusal: a jumping fault that occurs when the horse refuses to go over the jump by either stopping before it or running off to the side. Horse and rider are penalized for refusals when they occur in a jumping class at a show. A number of refusals result in elimination from the class.
Reserve Champion: the horse and/or rider who accumulate the second largest number of points for a division at a show. The horse and/or rider with the largest number of points in the division are awarded the champion ribbon. Points are decided by the number of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. ribbons the horse and rider have won in each class of the division.
Reserve: a term often used to congratulate the 7th place rider in a class, though no ribbon or points are given. Not to be confused with "Reserve Champion."
SCHJA: the South Carolina Hunter Jumper Association. "The South Carolina Hunter and Jumper Association is a non-profit organization whose mission is to maintain accurate records for its membership, establish fair rules for horse shows, memberships, judges and stewards, and create a yearly calendar for horse shows."
Scopey: A horse that jumps with a rounded back, or bascule, with a lot of thrust and style. A scopey horse is usually quite careful over jumps, well clearing the top rail.
Short Stirrup: horse show division for riders under 12 (sometimes 10) years of age in their first or second year of showing. Older riders in their first year of showing will enter the Long Stirrup divisions.
Standards: we like to have many standards in riding, but this time we're describing the tall objects that hold the poles together on either side of a jump. Standards come in all shapes and sizes and are often made from wood or pvc.
U/S: abbreviation for Under Saddle. A flat class (see F) where the horse, rather than the rider, is being judged.
USDF: The United States Dressage Federation, or the national group that defines dressage riding and competition in the US.
USEA: The United State Eventing Association, or the national group that defines eventing (or combined training) riding and showing in the US.
USEF: The United States Equestrian Federation, the governing body for equestrian sports in the US. Their comprehensive (and massive) rule book can be found at www.usef.org.
USHJA: The United States Hunter Jumper Association, or the national group that defines hunter/jumper riding and showing in the US.
USPC: The United States Pony Club - one of the leading junior equestrian organizations in the world. Bramblewood Stables is proud to be one of the few USPC Riding Centers in the US.
2', 2'3", 2'6", 2'9", 3', etc. Exactly what they look like, these heights (three inch increments for hunters, jumpers are about to change to the universal metric system so our divisions will match Europe) stand for the heights of the jumps, or fences, the riders are showing over.