CENTRAL ALBERTA LIGHT HORSE ASSOCIATION

SHOW RULES

( 2010)

(Rules for all Central Alberta Light Horse Open Shows and Show of Champions. Recommended for club’s individual closed shows.)

SHOW OPERATION:

  1. When a class is held in which the performance of both horse and rider is considered, each rider and horse is considered a combination.
  2. The inhumane treatment of a horse by an exhibitor or other person shall not be tolerated. This includes whipping, soring, or rapping.
  3. Whips shall not be allowed in classes, exception: line classes, gymkhana events, harness classes, and hunter hack classes.
  4. No whip over 30 inches (including snapper) shall be allowed, except in harness classes.
  5. Trainers wishing to ride in classes must turn their numbers over. (trainer is

Anyone who receives compensation for the training of horse or rider)

6.PeeWees may ride with two hands. Closed reins allowed.

AGE GROUPS:

Pee Wee:Has not attained his/her 10th birthday as of January 1st of the current year.

Junior:Has not attained his/her 14th birthday as of January 1st of the current year.

Intermediate:Has not attained his/her 18th birthday as of January 1st of the current year.

Senior:Eighteen years and over.

Disqualified persons or person not in good standing are not eligible to participate in a CALHA sanctioned show.

Where there are insufficient entries, classes may be combined or cancelled at the discretion of the show committee. Where the numbers warrant, the show committee may hold preliminary eliminations, provided notice is given to all exhibitors well in advance (1 hour suggested).

A veterinarian may judge entries for soundness before entering the ring.

Protective boots and bell boots are allowed in reining classes and jumping classes.

Manageable stallions may be shown in any division but only by a senior exhibitor.

Spurs (and Romal in western classes) shall not be used ahead of the cinch.

Riders may be disqualified at the judge’s discretion.

A horse cannot be ridden by more than one rider (exception: leadline and walk/trot classes).

You may use one Western horse, one English horse, one Junior horse, one Harness horse and one Gymkhana horse. Points are tabulated on each horse/rider combination – not on total. For example: a horse/rider combination that competes both Western and English will have more points than a different rider that competes with one Western horse and one English horse.

In any performance class, the judge shall have he authority and privilege of requiring the removal of alteration of any piece of equipment or accouterments, which he/she believes to be inhumane or would tend to give the horse an unfair advantage.

The judge shall also have the authority and privilege to require horses which he/she deems unruly and consequently a potential safety hazard to other competitors in a class, to either stand quietly in the center of the arena until the class has finished, or be excused from the arena.

Should either the first or second place winner be disqualified, the winner of the next highest ribbon shall move up.

LINE CLASSES

Horses are to be judged 100% on conformation and way of going. Horses are to be shown in hand at a walk and trot. Horse must stand squarely on all four feet or other appropriate stance according to breed. Transmissible weaknesses and/or unsoundness are to be counted strongly against the horse. Blemishes such as scars, splints or spavins are to be marked down accordingly to their effects on the soundness of the animal. Manes and tails may be natural, trimmed, banded or roached. Entries may be shown in halter, halter bit or bridle, but must have a throat latch not matter what headstall is being used. Unruly or ill-mannered horses are to be excused from the ring.

Championship classes may be held. For Champion and Reserve, the first and second place winners in the line classes are eligible and no entry fee shall be charged. Should either the first or second place winner not compete or be disqualified, the winner of the next highest ribbon in the qualifying class shall be moved up for the Champion and Reserve. Where interest and entries permit a Champion Line horse award may be presented to the horse accumulating the most points in line classes.

SHOWMANSHIP

The showmanship class shall be judged strictly on the exhibitor’s ability to fit and show a horse at halter. The horse is merely a prop to demonstrate the ability and preparation of the exhibitor. The ideal showmanship performance consists of a poised, confident, neatly attired exhibitor leading a well-groomed and conditioned horse that quickly and efficiently performs the requested pattern with promptness, smoothness, and precision. The showmanship class is not another halter class and should not be judged as such. The “quarter method” should be used for posing.

PERFORMANCE CLASSES

General

Performance classes may be divided according to the following definitions where interest and entries warrant.

  1. Maiden: Open to horses which have not won a first place ribbon at any show in the particular class in which they are shown. A maiden entry is such from the date of closing of entries.
  2. Novice: Open to horses, which have not won three first place ribbons at any show in the particular class in which they are shown. A novice is such from the date of closing of entries.
  3. Open: Open classes are open to all age groups of riders and breeds of horses.
  4. Junior Horse:Open to all horses five years of age or under as of January 1st of the current year. There are no cross entries between the Junior Horse classes and the English or Western Pleasure classes.

WESTERN DIVISION

Western Performance

Junior Horse: Open to all horses five years of age and under as of January 1st of the current year. A Non-leverage (no shanks) snaffle bit or hackamore (bosal) with two hands must be used. Reins must be bridged. There are no cross entries between the Junior horse classes and the Western Pleasure classes.

If a Junior horse is ridden in a snaffle/hackamore/bosal, that horse must remain in a snaffle/hackamore/bosal for the remainder of the show.

  1. Gaits:

Walk:True and flat-footed.

Jog:Square, slow and easy.

Lope:Smooth, slow and easy, 3-beat gait, which is straight on both leads

Horses must perform on a reasonably loose rein without undue restraint and on the correct lead at all times. Extreme speed will be penalized. Horses must work both ways of the ring at all three gaits to demonstrate their ability with different leads. The judge must ask that the horses be reined back. The judge may have the right to ask for additional work from any horse. No more than 8 horses to hand gallop at one time. Horses are to be reversed to the inside of the ring (away from the rail) at either the walk or jog at the judge’s discretion.

Reins shall be held in one hand and cannot be changed during the performance. The free hand should not be used to support the rider by being placed on any part of the saddle except when it is necessary to use it momentarily to prevent a fall.

  1. Appointments:

a)Bridle: Any suitable humane western type bit or rawhide hackamore may be used. Absolutely no iron will be permitted under the jaw regardless of how padded or taped.No twisted, wire, or excessively harsh bits allowed. Mouthpieces may not have extensions or prongs, ports must be no higher than 3.5”, gag bits, donut or flat polo mouthpieces are not acceptable.

i)Flat leather curb strap is desirable in all performance classes, however curb chains are permissible but must be at least one-half inch in width and lay flat. No wire, chain or other metal or rawhide device may be used against the horse’s jaw in conjunction with or as part of leather chinstraps.

ii)Cavesson-type nosebands, running martingales, crossreins or tie-downs will not be permitted.

b)Reins: Split reins or closed reins with romal are equally acceptable. The hand must be around the reins; fingers between the reins are not permitted when using a romal. However, when using split reins, the use of one finger between the reins is permitted. The excess split reins (the Bite) is to be held on the same side as the rein hand. When a romal is used, the other hand must be at least sixteen inches from the rein hand. Only one hand may be used for reining and hands must not be changed.

c)Saddle: Any standard stock saddle without tapaderos may be sued. Silver equipment will not count over good working outfit. Tapaderos are only permissible in leadline, walk/trot, and Parade and Glamour classes.

d)Riders: Riders shall wear appropriate western wear. Hat and cowboy boots are mandatory. Chaps and spurs may be worn, but are not mandatory. Helmets are permissible.

Western Pleasure Horse: To be judged on performance 60%, conformation 30% and appointments 10%.

Championship Western Pleasure Horse Stake: To be eligible to compete, horses must have entered, show and judged in one other class in this section

Western Pleasure Pairs: Horses should be matched and emphasis should be on working together at all gaits. To be judged as a matched pair.

JUNIOR HORSE CLASSES

Junior horse classes are limited to those horses five years of age and under as of January 1st of the current year. Must be shown in a snaffle bit or hackamore/bosal (no shanks). Must use two hands. Reins must be bridged.

WESTERN RIDING SECTION

Western riding is neither a stunt nor a race, but it should be performed with reasonable speed. It is the performance of a sensible, well-mannered, free and easy moving horse. The horse will be judged on quality of gaits, change of leads, response to the rider, manners, disposition, and intelligence.

  1. Credit shall be given for and emphasis placed on smoothness, even cadence of gaits (ex. Starting and finishing pattern with the same cadence), and the horse’s ability to change leads precisely and easily rear and front at the center point between markers. The horse should have a relaxed head carriage showing response to the rider’s hands with a moderate flexing at the poll. The horse should cross the log both at the jog and the lope without breaking gait or radically changing stride.
  2. The judge will select one of the two patterns to be performed. The judge is responsible for the pattern being correctly set. On the pattern:

i)The eight small circles represent pylon markers, which are recommended. These should be separated by a uniform measured distance of not less than 30 feet nor more than 50 feet on the side with five markers. It is recommended that the markers be a minimum of 15 feet from the fence.

ii)The rectangle represents an obstacle (one small log recommended), minimum of eight feet in length.

iii)The long or serpentine line indicates the direction of travel and the gaits at which the horse is to move. The dotted line (...) indicates walk, the dash line

(----) jog, and the solid line (____) lope.

  1. Except for junior horses shown with a hackamore or snaffle bit, only one hand must be used and not be changed, except that it is permissible to change hands when opening gate if the gate is in such a position as to justify the change of hands on the reins. Horses six years of age or older must be shown in a bit.
  2. A horse going off pattern is eliminated. Off pattern is any of the following: Any incomplete pattern, incorrect order of maneuvers, knocking over markers, passing on wrong side of marker or missing the log.
  3. The following characteristics are considered as faults and should be judged accordingly:

a)Opening mouth excessively or raising head on maneuvers.

b)Anticipating signals or early lead changes.

c)Stumbling.

d)Losing stirrup or holding on.

  1. Any unnecessary aid given by the rider, such as: unnecessary talking, petting, spurring, quirting, or jerking of the reins.

REINING HORSE DIVISION

  1. The horses are to be shown with a stock saddle and any suitable western type curb bit, a grazing bit, half-breed bit or space bit may be used. Curb chains may be used but must be at least ½ inch wide and lay flat. No nosebands, running martingales or tie-downs may be used. Absolutely no iron or wire permitted under the jaw, regardless of how padded or taped. No whipping shall be permitted. Only one hand may be used on the reins and hands must not be changed.
  2. Junior Horse Reining is open to horses five years of age and under. A non-leverage (no shanks) snaffle bit or hackamore with two hands may be used.
  3. Faults against the horse:

a)Opening the mouth excessively.

b)Breaking gaits.

c)Refusing to change leads.

d)Anticipating the signals

e)Stumbling and falling.

f)Wringing the tail.

g)Bouncing or sideways stop.

h)Sideways backing.

  1. Faults against the rider:

a)Changing hands on the reins.

b)Holding on with free hand.

c)Losing stirrups.

d)Two hands on the rein at any time.

e)Any unnecessary talking, petting, spurring, quirting, jerking of reins, etc. to induce the horse to perform will be considered a fault and judged accordingly.

TRAIL HORSE DIVISION

  1. Horses must perform on a reasonably loose rein without undue restraints. The rider shall be allowed to change hands appropriately to negotiate an obstacle. In the case of a tie, the judge shall have the right to ask for additional work from any horse. The gait between obstacles shall be at the discretion of the show committee who will have the right to impose a time limit on each obstacle. A rider failing to follow the course will be eliminated.
  1. Three mandatory obstacles will be used: gate, bridge, and log maze. Other obstacles to be used will be at the discretion of the judge or show committee. The course pattern must be posted in a prominent position on the morning of the show (at least 1 hour prior to the commencement of the trail classes.)
  1. The use of obstacles which endanger horse and/or rider are prohibited.

ENGLISH DIVISION

ENGLISH PERFORMANCE

  1. Gaits:

Walk: True, flat-footed walk.

Trot: For working and extended trot, rider is to be posting.

For the collected trot, rider is to be sitting.

Canter: Collected Canter:Smooth and slow, straight on both leads, must be a three-beat gait.

Normal Canter:Smooth, easy, straight on both leads, must

Be a three-beat gait.

Extended Canter:Must exhibit an obvious lengthening of stride, straight on both leads, must be a three-beat gait.

Hand Gallop: To be a true hand gallop not merely an extended canter.

Extreme speed will be penalized.

Performance: Horses are to be shown at a walk, trot, extended trot, and canter; horses may be asked to hand gallop at the judge’s discretion. Not more than 8 horse to hand gallop at one time. Horses shall be worked both ways of the ring at all gaits to demonstrate their ability with different leads. At the judge’s discretion the horses shall change from any gait to a flat-footed walk. The horses may be asked to back individually. Horses are to be reversed to the inside (away from the rail). The judge has the right to ask for additional work from any horse.

  1. Appointments:

a)Bridle: The bridle shall be a light show type, either snaffle, pelham, kimberwicke, or double bridle. Twisted snaffles and wire bits are prohibited. Breast collars are optional. No dropped nosebands, running or standing martingales or draw reins will be allowed.

** Junior horses ridden in a snaffle must remain in a snaffle for the remainder of the show.

b)Saddle: The saddle shall be of the English-type, with either cotton web, leather or cotton string girth.

c)Riders: Informal dress is suggested for Pleasure and Hack classes. Conservative colours are preferred. Helmets and jackets must be worn; either jodhpurs or breeches and boots are permissible. Formal dress is suggested for Park classes. Hunt caps, conservative jackets, breeches and boots are suggested for Hunt classes. Approved helmets are mandatory for Hunter Hack and Jumping classes.

d)Miscellaneous: Spurs of the unrowelled type are optional.

English Pleasure Pairs:Horses should be matched and emphasis should be on working together at all gaits.

Hunter Hack:Open to any horses. Jumps not to exceed 2’6”. The horses may be asked to hand gallop, but never more than 8 at one time. Approved helmets with harness are mandatory for all exhibitors. If the harness comes undone, the rider must stop and re-fasten the harness before continuing, no matter where in the class it occurs. To be judged on performance, manners and way of going 60%; conformation, quality, substance and soundness 40%.

DRIVING DIVISION

  1. Calmness and obedience are of paramount importance. Manners are considered as important as conformation and way of going. A prime consideration is the suitability of the animal to the task at hand. Lame animals should be excused from the ring.
  2. The animal should be driven to a suitable vehicle, meaning the size, weight and type of vehicle to be appropriate to the animal. Show buggies (four-wheeled) and Viceroys are required for formal driving classes. Any suitable two or four-wheeled buggies may be used for informal classes.
  3. Harness must be suitable to the vehicle being used. Breast collars are most suitable for light animals driven to light vehicles, surrey, road carts, country carts, runabouts, etc. Breast collars or collars of English pattern should be used for pairs. Heavier animals put to breaks, dogcarts, gigs, drags and coaches should be driven in collars of the English pattern. The harness should be clean and supple, in good repair, secure and well fitted. All metal parts should be bright.
  4. A snaffle bit with an overcheck or a snaffle bit with a side check will be considered proper for pleasure driving. For formal classes, straight or jointed snaffle bits, Liverpool bits or Buxton bits are acceptable. The bridles must have blinkers – the round type for formal or pleasure classes and the square type for roadster classes, (but not mandatory). Check or bearing reins are optional but a horse without them should have a good natural head carriage. Breeches and/or thimbles are optional and should be used if the weight if the vehicle dictates. Nose bands and martingales are optional.
  5. Animals should be driven with light contact on the bit. There should be no pulling on the mouth. No reins should be left flapping. It is permissible to talk quietly to the animal. A whip should be carried at all times, in such a manner as to be available in an emergency. Reins are never used for a substitute for a whip. The length of a whip should be such that it is used on the animal’s shoulder. A whip must never interfere with the horse of another contestant either vocally or with the whip.

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