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Points of Emphasis for the American Saddlebred, Hackney & Harness Pony, Roadster and Saddle Seat Equitation Divisions



This update, provided by the ASHBA Licensed Officials Committee, is designed to keep you “up to speed”  with the various disciplines, classes & trends in our industry. As always, we recommend that all exhibitors, trainers, Licensed Officials, and owners review the USEF Rulebook prior to participating in a horse show. 

If you are interested in learning more about the rules or becoming a Licensed Official please visit the US Equestrian website. If you have specific questions regarding the rules outlined below please contact USEF Customer Care at [email protected] or via phone at 859-258-2472. 

View the USEF Rulebook

General 

GR1032 Judges

1. Good judging depends upon a correct observance of the fine points and the selection of best horses for the purpose described by the conditions of the class. A judge serves three interests: his own conscience, exhibitors, and spectators. He should make it clear that the best horses win. 

3. Except in the discharge of their official duty, the use of cellular phones or other similar communication devices, including computers, by judges while in the ring (including center ring), judges’ box, judges’ stand, or on any part of a course during a competition is prohibited.  

4. A judge is obligated to adjudicate each division, section, and class in conformity with the rules and specifications of that division, section and class as they appear in the Federation Rulebook. He is expected to be proficient in his division and to possess a thorough knowledge of the rules of the Federation. 

11. A judge must order from the ring any unruly horse or one whose actions threaten to endanger the rider, driver, handler, other exhibitors, or their entries.  

12. A judge must order from the ring any rider, driver or handler who exhibits inappropriate or dangerous behavior or whose actions would in any way threaten the safety of any exhibitor, their entries, or the safety of class officials.

American Saddlebred

Know your class specifications.  It is different for each division and class! 
SB106 Judging Criteria for American Saddlebred Horses and for Half American Saddlebred Horses:
The specific type of class being judged determines the importance of each criterion in the final judging outcome. The order in which each is listed in the class specifications determines where the emphasis should be placed. For example: A horse placed first in a class judged on performance, presence, quality, manners and conformation could justifiably be unplaced against the same horses if the class were judged on manners, presence, quality, performance and conformation. The criteria considered are: performance, manners, presence, quality and conformation.

B108 Qualifying Classes and Specifications. (New Rules) 

YOUTH: The youth classes are to be judged in accordance with Amateur class specifications, open to exhibitors 16-21 years of age. Stallions are prohibited. If no youth championship is offered, horses shown by riders 17 and under will be qualified for the Junior Exhibitor Championship. Horses shown by riders 18 and over will be qualified for the Amateur Championship. At shows where the Junior Exhibitor and Amateur Championships are combined, and there is no Youth Championship, the youth will be included in the combined Championship. BOD 6/28/21 Effective 12/1/21 

Fine Harness
SB122 Line Up-
Entries are to stand quietly but shall not be required to back. They may be unchecked while lined up. An attendant may stand the entry on its feet but must remain at least two paces from the head when that entry is being judged. Only one standard riding crop is permissible for an attendant to carry. 

SUBCHAPTER SB-11 HUNTER COUNTRY PLEASURE 

3. Horses may show with a conservative braided mane and tail. Horses shall not be penalized for showing with a full, unbraided mane and tail.  

SB163 Appointments (see also SB104)
Entries shall be penalized for incomplete appointments, and may be disqualified. Hunter pleasure horses must be shown with traditional hunter-style equipment, including browband and cavesson of hunter type 

3.
Attire: Shall be traditional hunter-style jacket, breeches or hunter jodhpurs, dark hunting cap, derby or protective headgear and appropriate boots. Tall dress or tall field boots are preferred as traditional. Paddock or jodhpur boots with matching half chaps are permitted. A stock, choker or four in hand tie with any color shirt is correct. Shadbellies are prohibited. A coat of traditional color made of materials that are suitable for hunting is permitted. Discrete patterns are permitted. Brocades, raised patterns, glossy/metallic/shiny fabrics or materials are prohibited for hunting and shall be penalized. Ornamentations on any items of attire except a stock or lapel pin, tie clip or tack are prohibited and shall be penalized. Exception: a side saddle rider may wear a skirt, divided skirt, or apron. 

Roadster

RD102 Type and Conformation 1. The Roadster should be attractive in appearance, balanced in conformation, and must have manners which make a safe risk in the ring. 2. The roadster horse should have the look of a refined race horse. The roadster should have a refined head with a broad forehead, large nostrils and shallow mouth. He should have smart well placed ears and a fine throat latch. Neck is fine but muscular and show depth through the chest. The roadster should be a good full made horse with refined solid legs, powerful shoulder and hindquarters. The roadster should have a full mane and tail and may be of any color. Tail should be carried outright while performing. 3. There are three types of Roadsters for competition-those suitable for bike, under saddle, and road wagon. Occasionally there are horses or ponies that are suitable for all purposes. 

RD104 Gait Requirements 1. The principal gait assignment for Roadsters is the trot. They shall be asked to trot at three different speeds; the jog-trot, the Road Gait, and then at full speed. At all speeds they should work in form; that is their chins set and their legs working beneath them, going collectedly. At the trot a horse whose action features folding of the knees, flexing of hocks, with straight true action of front legs and with hocks carried close together and with motions coordinated, is executing a balanced trot. Long sprawling action in front, dragging or trailing hind legs and straddle gaited action behind makes a balanced trot impossible. 2. Animation, brilliance, and competition ring presence should characterize the Roadster in working at a jog-trot or Road Gait. 3. When asked to drive on, the horse must show speed and go in form. 4. Labored way of going, pacey gaited or mixey gaited horses that pace and rack the turns or break and run on the turns shall be penalized. 5. Judges must emphasize that Roadsters are to be shown at three distinct speeds.  Exhibitors executing gaits not called for must be penalized.  

CLASS PROCEDURE

RD105 General

1. Roadsters must enter the ring clockwise at a jog-trot then show at the Road Gait; turn counter clockwise at the jog-trot, show at the Road Gait and then trot at speed. Judges must emphasize that Roadsters are to be shown at three distinct speeds.  

3. It is very important to emphasize that Roadster horses must trot solidly down the straight away as well as around the turns. Horses must be shown on the rail at all times except when passing and should go to the far end of every corner without side reining; should be light mouthed, capable of being taken up at any time, and stand well when being judged in the center of the ring. Any horse not in compliance, that is determined by the judge (s) to be a safety risk must be excused. 

 4. Any driver, rider, horse or pony in the Roadster division exhibiting inappropriate or dangerous behavior or whose actions would in any way threaten the safety of any other exhibitor, their entries, or the safety of class officials will be ordered from the ring. (See GR1033.11 and .12)  

RD110 Roadster Horse to Bike 1. OPEN OR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. To be shown first at a jog-trot and road gait, then reversed and shown at a jog-trot, road gait, and then at speed. To be judged on performance, speed, quality, and manners. 

2. AMATEUR OR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP: To be shown first at a jog-trot and road gait, then reversed and shown at a jog-trot, road gait, and then at speed. To be judged on manners, performance, speed, and quality.  

3. AMATEUR/YOUTH NOVICE/LIMIT DRIVER: To be shown first at a jog-trot and road gait, then reversed and show at a jog-trot, road gait and then at speed. To be judged, on manner, performance, speed and quality.

4. LADIES OR LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP: To be shown first at a jog-trot and road gait, then reversed and shown at a jog-trot, road gait, and then at speed. To be judged on manners, performance, quality, and speed. Suitable for and driven by a Lady. 

 5. YOUTH AMATEUR. Manners for the horse will be emphasized as a major requirement to ensure safety. Judges must immediately excuse any horse that acts as if he may be more horse than the driver can handle. Protective headgear is required.  

HACKNEY

Pleasure ponies MUST flat walk! 

SUBCHAPTER HK-7 SHOW PLEASURE DRIVING HK125 General 

5. One attendant without whip is permitted to head each pony only during the lineup. The attendant may stand the entry on its feet and then must stand at least two paces back from the pony and is not allowed to touch the pony except for safety purposes. It is imperative that ponies stand quietly, back readily and return to the lineup. Ponies shall remain checked in the lineup and may not be adjusted, unless an additional workout is called,
at which time, ponies not in workout may be unchecked 

7. In all Show Pleasure driving classes the judge(s) must walk the line up. If a judging panel is being used to officiate these classes, all judges must comply with this rule. 

SUBCHAPTER HK-5 HARNESS PONIES HK119 General
1. Harness ponies are exhibited with a long mane and long tail.
2. Excessive speed is undesirable.
3. The Term “Drive on” is never to be used in regard to Harness Ponies. The gaits for the Harness Ponies shall be “Park Trot,” which is executed in a highly collected manner and “Show Your Pony,” which designates the speed which shows your pony to its best advantage. Excessive speed is undesirable and shall be penalized. Amateur, Ladies, and Junior Exhibitor Ponies are shown at the park trot only.
4. Ponies may be unchecked while lined up except in Ladies, Junior Exhibitor, and Amateur classes where ponies must remain checked, but checks may be adjusted. In Ladies, Junior Exhibitor, and Amateur classes, attendant may stand an entry on its feet and thereafter he shall remain at least two paces distant from the head.  


SUBCHAPTER HK-4 HACKNEY PONIES HK116 General 
1. Hackney ponies must appear to have a short tail and must appear to have a tightly braided mane. (Exceptions: National and Local In-Hand Futurities.)
2. Excessive speed is undesirable.
3. The Term “Drive on” is never to be used in regard to Hackney Ponies. The gaits for the Hackney Ponies shall be “Park Trot,” which is executed in a highly collected manner and “Show Your Pony,” which designates the speed which shows your pony to its best advantage. Excessive speed is undesirable and shall be penalized. Amateur, Ladies, and Junior Exhibitor Ponies are shown at the park trot only.
4. Ponies may be unchecked while lined up except in Ladies, Junior Exhibitor, and Amateur classes where ponies must remain checked, but checks may be adjusted. In Ladies, Junior Exhibitor, and Amateur classes, attendant may stand an entry on its feet and thereafter he shall remain at least two paces distant from the head.

Equitation

Know when to have a work out and what workout is need! 

EQ120 Tests Tests from which judges must choose. Tests may be performed either individually or collectively but no other tests may be used. Instructions must be publicly announced. All circles and turns must be performed on correct diagonals and leads. On left diagonal, rider should be out of saddle when horse’s left front leg is in the air; on right diagonal, rider should be out of saddle when horse’s right front leg is in the air. On left lead, horse’s left leg reaches further than the right; on the right lead, horse’s right leg reaches further than the left. All changes of lead must be a simple change whereby the horse is brought back into a halt or walk and restarted into the canter on the opposite lead. In Medal and Championship classes individual workout instructions must be written down by the judge and delivered to the announcer at the beginning of the class. Instructions can be posted at the judge’s discretion provided it is announced and posted at least one hour prior to the session in which the class is held. The work out pattern in all championship classes shall not be posted online or on social media prior to being posted in the horse show office. Competition management is encouraged to post the workout more than one hour prior to the session if possible. At all World and National Championships and Finals, competitors must be allowed ample access to the competition arena in order to walk on foot the posted workout. A minimum of ½ hour is recommended. In Championship classes and any class where a workout is required, judge(s) must work a minimum number of riders per number of ribbons awarded in the class. The judge(s) determine which riders will be required to perform additional testing. 

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