I just went to my first horse-show, ever!

[wanabe]

And I have a question. How much before the show do the riders learn what they're jumps are going to be? I saw more than one rider get disqualified for going off-course and I had some trouble remembering what jump was next (and I wasn't busy controlling a horse!).

[shirley]

Before any jumping class you would be allowed to walk the course. Each fence should be numbered as well. It is also a good idea not to try and draw an early round i.e. first or second, as this will give you chance to view others and see course jumped as well..

[CityGirl]

Usually the course isn't posted until right before the class. In hunters you don't often see riders go off course as it's usually very simple (outside, diaganol, outside, diaganol, etc). Jumpers... not so simple. It's pretty easy to go off course if you're not concentrating... (ask me how I know that :o )

[jUmPingIsLifE]

im horrible at remembering cources, i forget in my lessons! so at shows im always like ahhhhh.

usually they have it posted at the start of the show or before the class depending on the show. but the best way to learn is to go over it over and over again then to tell people what hte cource is. once your out there it tends to come easier then you might think after you have told someone else what the cource is repeadly!i allways worry about forgetting my cource but it hasn't happend yet a a how *knock on wood*

[wanabe]

Usually the course isn't posted until right before the class. In hunters you don't often see riders go off course as it's usually very simple (outside, diaganol, outside, diaganol, etc). Jumpers... not so simple. It's pretty easy to go off course if you're not concentrating... (ask me how I know that :o )

Yes, all the off-course riders were in the jumper events. I'm guessing (I really didn't see a program or anything so didn't know what I was looking at, always) that the slower, graceful taking of the jumps was the "hunter" event.

[CityGirl]

wanabe - that is the best description of a hunter class:) Jumpers feature much more challenging courses & it's all about speed & precision, not style. Did you get a chance to watch any eq classes? They're sort of a fun hybrid of both.

[wanabe]

Thanks for responding. :)

I think I was only watching 2 events. (It was hard for me to understand what was being said over the loudspeaker.)

Anyway, if Hurricane Rita doesn't interfere (and it probably will :( ), I'm going to another show this weekend and have been promised a program by one of the participants.

I'm still confused about all the disciplines and whether it is "disciplines" you see at the shows. I like *this* website's listing of disciplines because it seems that it *must* be complete because it has so many listings!

Equestrian Disciplines (http://www.horseforsale.ca/equineInfo.cfm)

Which of these would you say you see at a typical 2-day English Riding School Equestrian Show?

[CityGirl]

I *think* that is a Canadian website so the criteria is a bit different. It all depends what kind of show you're going to - not helpful I know :rolleyes: There are breed shows (Morgan, QH, etc which may have english classes). I don't really know anything about them so can't be all that helpful.

If you're talking a regular show, you will see a multitude of classes. The USEF has a list of all the divisions under it's wing here: http://www.usef.org/content/rules/ruleBook/2005/ To break it down in general terms - at a typical show you will see the following classes: hunter (judged on horse), equitation (judged on rider), jumpers (judged on clean round/time). These sections are then further broken down by by many factors.

Not to overwhelm you with useless info but if you have some time to kill;), here is a class listing from an A-rated show near me.... Briarwood (http://www.njhsa.org/schedules/BWF/BWF%20A%207-02.pdf#search='briarwood%20horse%20show')

[wanabe]

Thanks, that's quite a show they had at Briarwood -- amazing they could get it all in, in 4 days. :)

I think you mentioned before that "hunter" judged the horse and "hunt seat equitation" judged the rider. So, was there anyway I could tell, just by looking, whether I was watching a hunter competition or a hunt seat equitation competition?

Anyway, it looks like the show will have to be canceled due to Rita! :(

[CityGirl]

There is a couple ways to differentiate.

Courses:As I mentioned, hunter courses are usually very basic. They usually are in some combination of outside line, diaganol, outside, diaganol. You won't see any rollbacks, bending lines, etc. Eq classes will feature more challenging courses and the questions they ask will be diferent. You will see more "jumper" like courses. Fences in hunter classes tend to be conservative & striped poles, etc are prohibited. In eq, you can see squared oxers, etc.

Horses Jumping Style: You will also notice that ideally, hunters really "crack their back" over the jump. They will have a very rounded jump & you will very often see their riders perched;) Equitation horses on the other hand, tend to have a flatter style of jumping. They don't round up as much.

Tack: In hunters, any type of boot and/or bandages are prohibited. In Eq classes, you can use boots and/or conservative coloured bandages on the horse.

[dancing-horse]

u should get a paper for it. I thought I would have trouble remebering my first jumping course but when I got in there it all sort of came to me.

[wanabe]

There is a couple ways to differentiate.

Courses:As I mentioned, hunter courses are usually very basic. They usually are in some combination of outside line, diaganol, outside, diaganol. You won't see any rollbacks, bending lines, etc. Eq classes will feature more challenging courses and the questions they ask will be diferent. You will see more "jumper" like courses. Fences in hunter classes tend to be conservative & striped poles, etc are prohibited. In eq, you can see squared oxers, etc.

Horses Jumping Style: You will also notice that ideally, hunters really "crack their back" over the jump. They will have a very rounded jump & you will very often see their riders perched;) Equitation horses on the other hand, tend to have a flatter style of jumping. They don't round up as much.

Tack: In hunters, any type of boot and/or bandages are prohibited. In Eq classes, you can use boots and/or conservative coloured bandages on the horse.

Thanks! That's all good information although a bit hard for me to digest. I think, though, I must have been watching a hunt seat equitation competition. Anyway, I've got lots to look for, next time -- or I could just grab a program. ;)