How We Judge

                                                                                                                                          Photo Credit: @kayla_watson.eq

How We Judge Hunters/Equitation

Your round is judged out of 100.

Your Outfit is judged out of 10 , You can look at dress code here on the website

Opening + Closing Circles are judged out of 3. You must show some walk. Half of the circle must be trot, and the other half must be at the extended canter. The transition should not show any canter, you should go straight up to the extended canter.

3 - Perfect shape and transitions

2 - Incorrect transition, Bad Shape

1 - No Opening/Closing circle when asked for one

Each jump is judged out of a 10 on how you approach it and how straight and centered you are.

10 - Perfect Approach

9 - Slightly off centered or not straight

8 - Slight horse head movement, good approach

7 - Noticeably off-centered or not straight, slight horse head movement

6 - Very Noticeable horse head movement, noticeably off-centered or not straight

5 - Extremely noticeable off-centered or not straight, noticeable horse head movement

4 - Awful approach (cut corner), very noticeable off-centered or not straight

3 - Completely off-centered or not straight, bad approach 

2 - Completely off-centered or not straight, bad approach, twisting horses head over jump

1 - Slicing or incorrect gait

Halting is judged out of a 5. You must show a trot, walk, and halt for 5 seconds. Your transition must not show a canter

Striding is scored out of a 3. Strides will start with 1 at 24’, 2 at 36’, and so on.

3 - Perfect Striding

2 - Half Stride Missing

1 - Incorrect Strides

Breed Suitability is out of a 10. You can check our breed suitability on our website.

How We Judge Show Jumping

Show jumping is based on your timing. You must complete your round within a time limit posted. Every second you miss the time, 1 fault will be added. Each fault adds 5 seconds. Each jump you miss with add 2 faults, and each jump you hit is 5 faults.  Jumper rounds must be completed at the extended canter, jump-off's can be ridden at a full gallop unless otherwise specified.

X TRICK NOT ALLOWED


How We Judge Cross Country

Fastest Time: Fastest Time XC is judged on speed. Every second after the listed time will be added 0.4 time faults,

every hit jump is 5 faults, and every missed jump is 5 faults. No shortcuts are allowed. 3-5 missed jumps will result in an elimination.

Optimum Time:  Every second over optimum time equals 0.4 time faults, every second below optimum time equals 0.4 time faults.


How We Judge Dressage

Dressage is judged on how you perform your test. You are judged on how accurate the commands are performed.

You will be judged out of 100. Each move is judged out of 10 or 5 depending on how complex the test is

If you pause in a dressage test or miss 3 commands, you will be disqualified. Working trot is done posting, whilst sitting trot is done sitting. A simple lead change is  performed by going  down to the trot from a canter for 3-4 strides , a flying lead change is going up to the extended canter from the canter for 4-5 strides.

How We Judge Eventing
Eventing scores are based on a penalty point system that combines scores from dressage, cross-country, and showjumping. 

The horse and rider with the lowest combined penalty points wins.

Dressage - The judge(s) score the dressage test, giving points based on required movements.  The average percentage for the competitor is calculated by adding together the percentage from each judge and dividing it by the number of judges. In order to convert the percentage into penalty points, this total must be subtracted from 100 and multiplied by 1.5. 

Cross Country - Riders are penalized 0.4 points per second they finish after the optimum time.

The jumping penalties for the cross-country event are as follows:

- 1st Refusal: 20 penalties

- 2nd Refusal (at same obstacle): 40 penalties

- 3rd disobedience on course: Elimination

Zero is the perfect score a rider can tally from the cross-country test.

Jumping - Competitors are penalized one penalty for each second (or partial second) they finish after the optimum time

Jumping through Standards: 4 penalties

1st Refusal: 4 penalties

2nd Refusal (at same obstacle): 8 Penalties

3rd Refusal: Elimination

How We Judge Flat/Western Pleasure, English Pleasure

You are judged on arena manners and equitation.

CLASS ERRORS

20 - Incorrect Gait/Breaking a gait

10 - Cutting Off a Rider

10 - Incorrect/Unrealistic Equine

10  - Clumping

5  - Too Close When Passing

5 - Small Circling/Curling

5 - Poor Transition

5 - Halting Randomly

3 - Incorrect Quarter Line

2 - Jerky Head Movements

1 - Poorly Ridden Corner

1 - Talking/Gesturing during class

1 - Too Close/Far from rail

1 - Riding Through plants/decor

LINEUP ERRORS

10 - Rearing/Getting off your horse in lineup

5 - Changing Directions into Lineup

5  - Too Close to Others

2 - Taking Too Long to Lineup

2 - Adjusting After Lining Up

1 - Talking/Gesturing

Riders may be asked to do different things such as halt, reverse

 turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches, or sit the trot. 

How We Judge Western Speed

This is based on speed. Fastest time wins.

Incorrect Pattern - 1 fault (5 seconds)
Running Through Obstacles - 5 seconds added to your time. 

How We judge Showmanship 

Showmanship is judged on horse appearance and how

 smoothly you guide your horse through a set pattern. 

It is scored out of a 100. Maneuver scores will range from +3 to -3

Scoring range: extremely poor -3, very poor -2, poor -1, average 0, good +1, very good +2, excellent +3

Penalty range: minor penalty -3, major penalty -5, severe penalty -10. 

Minor faults

Break of gait at walk or jog/trot up to two strides

Over and under turning up to 1/8 of a turn 

Major Faults (-5)

Not performing gait or not stopping within 10 feet of designated area 

Break of gait at walk or jog for more than two strides 

Over and under-turning 1/8 to 1/4

Severe faults (-10)

Exhibitor is not in the required position during inspection.

Exhibitor stands directly in front of the horse.

Disqualifications 

Knocking over cone or going off pattern.

Never performing a specific gait.

Over and under turning by more than 1/4 of a turn. 

0-20 Scoring method. 

10 points are added towards performance.

10 points are added towards the appearance of the horse and exhibitor. 

Resources: AQHA handbook 

https://youtu.be/MkHMmF2XfAo?si=DxPB1Aky7YY0aoai

How we judge model classes

Model is largely based on the horses breed and judges' personal preference. 

You will get a better score if you have on good quality horseshoes.

(the higher the numbers the better!)  Make sure to read our dress code 

page on model classes as that says what types of halters you can use! 

Deductions will be used for incorrect halters.

How We Judge Horsemanship

Horsemanship is judged on how well a rider demonstrates a written/drawn path.

Each maneuver is scored out of a 10. Dress code is also judged and incorrect dress code 

will result in deductions from the final score. 

How We Judge Reining

Reining is judged on how smoothly a rider executes a written/drawn pattern. 

Each maneuver (circle, slide stop, etc.) Is scored out of a 10. Dress code is also judged and incorrect dress code 

will result in deductions from the final score. 

How We Judge Trail

Trail is judged on how smoothly a rider maneuvers through a set obstacle course. Each obstacle is scored out of a 10. 

The final score is judged out of a 100. Incorrect Dress code will result in 

deductions from the final score. 

How We Judge Saddle Seat

Saddleseat Equitation is judged the same as flat class with the same penalties applying. 

Equitation patterns are judged on how smoothly and accurately the written and drawn patterns are ridden.

 (e.g. transitions, straightness, circles, etc.)