Below is detailed information about each class including details for setting, tack, attire, and any restrictions. Please read each description as some classes have different requirements.
In-Hand/Liberty Classes
Agility
Shedus must navigate an obstacle course with only commands and signals from their handler to guide them. The same as standard canine agility trials.
Handler: Not required
Shedu Tack: Collar or halter required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: Must depict at least one of the following:
Bar Jump
Tire Jump
Canvas Tunnel
Weave Poles
Seesaw
A-Frame Ramp
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Agility
Free Jumping
Shedus must jump a series of jumps in a straight line (without assistance from their handler) to show off their natural movement.
Handler: Not required
Shedu Tack: Collar or halter required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: Must depict at least one standard bar jump
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Agility
Show Jumping
Halter
Shedus are shown both standing in place to show off conformation as well as led at a trot to show off movement.
Handler: Not required
Shedu Tack: Collar or halter with a lead rope attached required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: None
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Any other discipline training
In-Hand Trail
Handlers lead their shedu through a course of obstacles to show their obedience and ground manners. This is the same as Western Trail, just done in-hand instead of ridden.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Collar or halter with a lead rope attached required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: At least one of the following must be depicted:
Ground Poles
Rope Gate
Wooden Bridge
Box Platform
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Any other discipline training
Liberty
Shedus show off their natural movement without being led by their handler.
Handler: Not required
Shedu Tack: None required, though halters/collars can still be worn
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: None
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Any other discipline training
English Classes
Classical Dressage
Shedus and their handlers/riders perform Haute Ecole maneuvers.
Handler: Required. Either in-hand or under saddle.
Shedu Tack: Either just a collar/ halter/harness if in-hand, or English/traditional tack if ridden
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: None
Movements: One of the following must be depicted:
Spanish walk
Levade
Courbette
Capriole
Croupade
Ballotad
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Classical Dressage
Competitive Dressage
Shedus and their riders perform competitive Dressage maneuvers under saddle.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Dressage Tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor). Optional: white dressage fence/markers
Obstacles: None
Movements: One of the following must be depicted:
Stop and Salute
Walk (Standard, Collected, or Loose)
Trot (Standard, Collected, or Loose)
Canter (Standard, Collected, or Loose)
Half-pass
Passage
Piaffe
Pirouette (Walk or Canter)
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Competitive Dressage
Cross Country
Shedus and their riders navigate an obstacle course of jumps across a large area.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: English / Cross Country tack required
Setting: Open field or other large, natural area with course marked with flags
Obstacles: At least one of the following must be depicted. The jumps can be decorated however you like:
Rolled Top
Tabletop
Keyhole
Wall
Coffin
Banks
Drop Fence
Sunken Road
Normandy Bank
Tiger Trap
Chevron
Corner
Trakehner
Brush
Ditch
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Cross Country
English Showmanship (Rail Class)
A Shedu and their rider show off their skills and collection by riding at different paces around an arena.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Standard English tack required. Side saddle also permitted.
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: None
Movements: One of the following must be depicted:
Walk
Trot
Canter
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Competitive Dressage
Classical Dressage
Hunt Seat
Shedus and their riders show their collection and refinement by navigating a course of low jumps.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: English / Cross Country tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: At least one of the following must be depicted. The jumps can be decorated however you like:
Standard bar jump (low height)
Standard wall jump (low height)
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Show Jumping
Show Jumping
Shedus and their rider navigate a course of jumps and aim for the quickest time.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: English Jumping Tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: At least one of the following jumps must be depicted. The jumps can be decorated however you like:
Vertical
Oxer
Triple Bar
Wall/Planks
Water Jump
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Show Jumping
Puissance
A Shedu and their rider must jump a tall, vertical wall. Each round the height of the wall is raised. Shedus that do not clear the jump or refuse are eliminated until only one shedu remains.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: English Jumping Tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: A large wall fence/jump must be depicted
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Show Jumping
Western Classes
Barrel Racing
A shedu and their rider navigate a clover leaf pattern of barrels and aim to complete the course in the fastest time
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Western/Barrel Racing Tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: At least one barrel must be depicted
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Working Trails
Cattle Cutting
A shedu and their rider must separate a cow from its herd and keep it from returning back to the herd.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Western Tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: None
Other: At least one cow must be shown
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Cattle Working
Cattle Roping
A shedu and their rider must chase down a steer, rope it with a lasso, then tie it down. Teams aim for the fastest time to tie down the steer.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Western/Roping Tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: None
Other: The cow being roped must be shown
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Cattle Working
Reining
A shedu and their rider must complete a ridden pattern to show of their collection, speed, and athleticism.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Western/Reining Tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Movements: At least one of the following must be depicted:
Walk (Loose or Collected)
Jog (Loose or Collected)
Lope
Spin
Sliding Stop
Roll Back
Back-up
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Western Dressage
Working Trails
Western Showmanship (Rail Class)
A Shedu and their rider show off their skills and collection by riding at different paces around an arena.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Western tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor).
Obstacles: None
Movements: One of the following must be depicted:
Walk
Jog
Lope
Back-up
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Western Dressage
Working Trails
Western Dressage
A Shedu and their riders perform Western Dressage maneuvers under saddle.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Western Tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor). Optional: white dressage fence/markers
Obstacles: None
Movements: One of the following must be depicted:
Stop and Salute
Walk (Standard, Collected, or Loose)
Trot (Standard, Collected, or Loose)
Canter (Standard, Collected, or Loose)
Half-pass
Spin
Sliding Stop
Roll Back
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Western Dressage
Working Equitation
A Shedu and their rider show off their skills of speed, agility, and teamwork by completing an obstacle course.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Western, General All-Purpose, or traditional tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor).
Obstacles: One of the obstacles must be depicted:
Ground poles
Barrels
Rope Gate
Bell
Bridge
Weave Poles
Wall Jump
Pole and Ring
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Working Trails
Western Trail
A Shedu and their rider navigate a course of obstacles to show their obedience and collection.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Western tack required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: At least one of the following must be depicted:
Ground Poles
Rope Gate
Wooden Bridge
Box Platform
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Working Trails
Other Classes
Driving Obstacle Course — Single Hitch
Hooked to a sport carriage, a driver guides their shedu through an obstacle course.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Sport carriage and carriage harness required
Setting: Closed-in arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: At least one of the following must be depicted:
Barrels
Cones
Flags
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Driving
Endurance Race — 50 Miles
A shedu and their rider traverse a natural landscape with the goal of finishing with the fastest time.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Endurance tack required
Setting: Open natural area of any kind
Obstacles: None
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Endurance
Polo
A shedu and their rider work together to hit a ball with a mallet between two goal posts.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: English polo tack required
Setting: Polo field (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: None
Objects: Rider must be holding a polo mallet
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Any other discipline training
Shedu Ball
A shedu and their rider work together to carry a ball across an arena and throw it into a hoop to score. (Identical to standard Horse Ball sport)
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: English tack required
Setting: Enclosed arena or polo field
Obstacles: None
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Any other discipline training
Show Driving — Single Hitch
Hooked to a standard carriage, a driver guides their shedu around an arena to show their natural movement while driving.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Standard/pleasure carriage and carriage harness required
Setting: Enclosed arena (indoor or outdoor)
Obstacles: None
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Driving
Survival Test
A shedu and their rider must traverse a harsh landscape over multiple days to exhibit their stamina, teamwork, and hardiness.
Handler: Required
Shedu Tack: Endurance or shedu survival tack
Setting: Natural, harsh landscape of any sort
Phases: One of the following activities/phases must be depicted:
Riding through difficult weather (rain, snow, etc.)
Riding over difficult terrain (steep hills, rough rocks, etc.)
Shooting marked targets with a rifle while mounted
Re-supplying by getting water from a natural source, hunting, etc.
Applicable SFT Bonuses:
Core
Survival Test