Ranch Conformation Mares/Geldings

Judged on the form to function of today's Ranch Horse in hand. Exhibitors will walk in to the arena, to the judge. The judge will step to the side, allowing the horse and handler to trot past, around a cone, and line up along the rail. When all horses are in the pen, the judge will inspect conformation of each individual horse. Horses must be outfitted in a halter, lead rope or shank. Handler must be in full-length pants, shirt, and appropriate riding footwear.

Ranch Riding

Ranch riding is a pattern class where each horse and rider team performs the pattern individually. There is no rail work. The purpose of the ranch riding class is to measure the ability of the horse to be a pleasure to ride while being used as a mean of conveyance from performing one task to another. The horse should reflect the versatility, attitude and movement of a working ranch horse riding outside the confines of an arena. The horse can be ridden with light contact or on a relatively loose rein without requiring undue restraining. The ideal ranch riding horse will have a natural head carriage at each gait. Patterns will be provided by show management prior to each show.

Ranch Reining

Each contestant will individually perform the required pattern. Each horse will be judged on the neatness, dispatch, ease, calmness, and speed with which it performs the pattern. Excessive jawing, open mouth, or head raising on stop; lack of smooth sliding stops on haunches; breaking gaits; refusing to change lead; anticipating signals; stumbling or falling; wringing tail; backing sideways; changing hands or reins; losing the stirrup; holding on to the saddle, two hands on reins; or any unnecessary aid (such as unnecessary talking, petting, spurring, quirting, jerking of reins, etc.) given by the rider to the horse to induce the horse to perform, will be considered a fault and scored accordingly. The horse should rein and handle easily, fluently, and effortlessly and with reasonable speed through the pattern. Any horse not following the pattern will be disqualified. Scoring will be on the basis of 0 to infinity, with 70 denoting an average performance. Judging begins when the horse enters the arena. Final placings are determined on cumulative score. Pattern will be provided by show management prior to each show.

Ranchmanship

This class recognizes the exhibitor’s ability to ride a horse functionally and correctly using various aids to cause the horse to perform required basic maneuvers. Up to discretion of the judge, this class will either be judged on the rail at a walk/jog/lope, or using a pattern to be provided by show management prior to each show.

Ranch Pleasure

This class serves to measure the ability of the horse to be functional and a pleasure to ride while being used as a means of conveyance from one task to another. This horse should be well-broke, relaxed, quiet, soft, and cadenced at all gaits. The horse should be ridden on a relatively loose rein with light contact and without requiring undue restraint. Excessively long, floppy reins will not be given extra credit. The horse should be responsive to the rider and make all required transitions smoothly, timely, and correctly. The horse should be soft in the bridle and yield to contact. Horses shall be shown individually at the walk, trot, and lope in both directions. 

Halter Mares/Geldings

Judged on the form to function of each individual horse in hand. Exhibitors will walk in to the arena, to the judge. The judge will step to the side, allowing the horse and handler to trot past, around a cone, and line up along the rail. When all horses are in the pen, the judge will inspect conformation of each individual horse. Horses must be outfitted in a halter, lead rope or shank. Handler must be in full-length pants, shirt, and appropriate riding footwear.

Grand/Reserve Halter

Top 2 horses from Halter Mares, Halter Geldings, and Gaited Halter will be called back in the arena. They will follow the same pattern in previous classes. Champion and Reserve Champion will be awarded.

Showmanship

The showmanship class is judged on an exhibitor’s ability to execute practical and basic halter class maneuvers from the ground. The class should always be judged with this in mind, giving credit to the exhibitor who can correctly perform each maneuver of the total pattern or run. Judges should refrain from conducting the class routine in any manner that attempts to trick, confuse, or mislead exhibitors. In showmanship at halter, conformation of the horse is not judged. Exhibitors should be neat, clean, and well-groomed. Clothing shall be as stated in the section on judged classes. Chaps and spurs are NOT permitted in showmanship. Equipment. Use a clean halter that is adjusted to fit the horse. The halter should fit well on the horse’s head, to maximize response to subtle halter cues. Silver halters shall not count over a nice, clean, well-fitted halter. Lead straps are often attached to a chain and snap. The lead strap may be snapped below the jaw in the center ring of the halter, or the chain can be run under the horse’s chin and snapped to the upper or lower halter ring on the right side of the horse’s head.

Leadline

Children under the age of 6 as of January 1 of the current year will show riding the horse as a handler, holding the halter and lead rope of said horse, walks in and performs requests of the judge. The judge may not call for any speed over a walk.

Walk/Walk Western Pleasure

A class for exhibitors who have "aged out" or lack the experience to show in classes with gaits over a walk. Exhibitor will ride their horse at a walk only, showing both directions, a line-up, and a reverse. Handler may accompany the horse and rider team, but may never touch the horse or tack.

Western Pleasure

The Western Pleasure horse is one who exhibits cadence and ease of riding in western attire. HCSC western pleasure classes call only for a walk and jog, reverse, line-up and back. 

Western Horsemanship

Western Horsemanship is judged on the horse and rider's ability to follow commands in an effortless fashion. The class may have a pattern, provided by show management, or may be judged on the rail at a walk/jog per the judge's decision. If judged on the rail, horse and rider team will be required to perform gaits each direction, stop, and back up. 

Gaited Country Pleasure

A Gaited Country Pleasure horse is one who looks like a pleasure to ride down the road. A country pleasure horse should have a gait that looks like it could travel all day over any terrain with a willing attitude. At HCSC shows, the announcer will call for a walk and "favorite gait" in both directions, as well as a line up. Judge may ask horses to back up. 

Gaited Pleasure

The Gaited Pleasure horse is one who shows more expression and animation as the gaited country pleasure horse. The classes will be called and judged the same.

Trail

Trail classes will only call for a walk and jog/trot. This class can be shown in any tack. Horse and rider teams will be asked to perform a pattern, posted prior to the show, that includes but is not limited to: opening gates, riding over and through logs, and backing through obstacles. This is not a timed event. 3 refusals will constitute a missed obstacle and will result in a penalty.

Hunter Over Fences/Equitation Over Fences

Hunter Over Fences is a class where horse and rider teams are judged on their cadence, manners, consistency and style. Where Hunter Over Fences is judged primarily on the horse, Equitation is judged on the rider's ability to navigate and jump a course. HCSC classes are 18" crossrails.

English Pleasure

English Pleasure is a class for any breed horse. HCSC English Pleasure is a walk/trot class. Horses are judged on their manners, responsiveness, and quality of movement at both gaits, in both direction. Horses will be asked to back up and reverse on the rail at a walk or trot.

English Equitation

English Equitation is a pattern class. HCSC English Equitation is judged at a walk and trot. Judges may ask the horse and rider teams to compete on the rail as well as in the pattern - one direction, or both. The horse and rider team will be judged on their ability to perform a pattern with proper equitation. 

Fun Class

Fun class examples at HCSC are egg and spoon, ride-a-buck, keyhole race, etc. This will be announced at each show.

Warmup Classes

Warmup classes are provided for poles and barrels. HCSC has a time limit of 60 seconds for each warmup. Riders may enter as many horses in this class as possible. Times will not be given. 

Poles

Six poles set in a straight line, each spaced 21' apart with the start-finish line 21' in front of the first pole. The rider crosses the start line, travels to pole number 6, bends back through the poles, turns, bends through the poles to number 6, turns, and travels across the finish line. There is a 5-second penalty for knocking over each pole. Poles will not be set up during the run. Riders must remain in their designated lanes. 

Stake Race

The start and finish line is 20 feet wide
and marked by two upright markers 10 feet on each side of the center line and short enough so as
to not interfere with the timer. Short pylons or cones are recommended. The first and second
poles marking the center line are each 40 feet from the start and finish line, marking them a total
of 80 feet apart. The contestant is allowed a running start and may begin his run from either the
left or right side of the first pole. Start by crossing the center line between the upright markers,
turn around the second pole, cross over the center line again between the markers, then around
the first pole and run back across the finish line. Failure of a contestant to cross the start and
finish line between the markers shall result in no time. Failure of contestant to cross over the
center line between the markers before turning the second pole and cross back over the center
line after turning the second pole shall result in no time. If an upright marker or pole is knocked
down, it shall result in a no time. All horses must start from the same end of the arena.

Pee-Wee Barrels

For competitors who have not yet turned 10 years of age in the current calendar year. The barrel race pattern will consist of three (3) barrels arranged in a triangle. The left and right barrel will be spaced thirty (30) yards apart and twenty (20) yards from the start/finish line. The third barrel will be spaced thirty-five (35) yards from both the left and right barrels. All three (3) barrels will be placed a safe distance from the arena fence. If the pattern is too large for a given arena, then it will be reduced five (5) yards at a time until the pattern fits the arena. Contestants may initially ride to the left (FIGURE 1) or right (FIGURE 2) barrel and then ride the remainder of the pattern accordingly. Riders may touch the barrels. However, riders knocking over a barrel shall carry a five (5) second penalty per barrel. Failure to follow the course shall cause disqualification.

Barrels

For all competitors who have not competed in Pee-Wee Barrels. The barrel race pattern will consist of three (3) barrels arranged in a triangle. The left and right barrel will be spaced thirty (30) yards apart and twenty (20) yards from the start/finish line. The third barrel will be spaced thirty-five (35) yards from both the left and right barrels. All three (3) barrels will be placed a safe distance from the arena fence. If the pattern is too large for a given arena, then it will be reduced five (5) yards at a time until the pattern fits the arena. Contestants may initially ride to the left (FIGURE 1) or right (FIGURE 2) barrel and then ride the remainder of the pattern accordingly. Riders may touch the barrels. However, riders knocking over a barrel shall carry a five (5) second penalty per barrel. Failure to follow the course shall cause disqualification.

Jackpot Classes

All Jackpot Classes will be held in accordance to class regulations per this page. Cost per class is $10, with payback for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. 1st place will receive 50% of the total class funds, 2nd place 30%, and 3rd place 20%. 

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