WHAT IS A QUARTER HORSE SHOW?

A QUARTER HORSE SHOW IS LIMITED TO HORSES REGISTERED WITH THE AQHA (AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION).  THE HORSE/RIDERS COMPETE IN MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF DISCIPLINES: ENGLISH PLEASURE, WESTERN PLEASURE, HALTER, JUMPING AND DRIVING. 

 

WHAT IS AN USHJA OUTREACH OPEN SHOW?

AN OPEN SHOW IS A HUNTER/JUMPER SHOW WHICH ANYONE CAN ENTER.  NO NATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE REQUIRED.  THE HORSE/RIDERS COMPETE BOTH OVER JUMPS AND ON THE FLAT (BEING JUDGED ON THE FLAT IS HOW WELL THEY MOVE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT JUMPING).  OPEN SHOWS ARE A FAVORITE OF OUR EXHIBITORS DUE TO THE RELAXED ATMOSPHERE AND FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES INCORPORATED INTO THE SHOWS. 

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WHAT IS A HUNTER/JUMPER SHOW?

AT “RATED” HUNTER/JUMPER SHOWS THE HORSE/RIDERS COMPETE BOTH JUMPING AND ON THE FLAT.  MANY OF THE JUMPING CLASSES ARE AT A HIGH CALIBER WITH BOTH PROS AND AMATEURS ALIKE VYING FOR LARGE MONEY PRIZES IN THESE TIMED EVENTS.   GRAND PRIXS ARE THE SHOWCASED EVENT OF THE SHOW WITH FENCES NEARING 5 FEET TALL AND 6 FEET WIDE.  ALSO, NATIONALLY RANKED HUNTER CLASSES ARE HELD WHERE THE HORSE/RIDER ARE JUDGED ON THEIR STYLE AND GRACE JUMPING OVER THE FENCES.   HORSE AND RIDER MUST BE MEMBERS OF BOTH USEF (UNITED STATES EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION) AND USHJA (UNITED STATES HUNTER JUMPER ASSOCIATION).  BOTH ORGANIZATIONS OPERATE UNDER THE WORLD OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION UMBRELLA. 

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WHAT IS A DRESSAGE SHOW?

AT A DRESSAGE SHOW THE HORSE/RIDERS ARE JUDGED ON HOW WELL THEY EXECUTE A PATTERN OF MANEUVERS ON THE FLAT (NO JUMPING).  IN THE HIGHER THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION, THE MANEUVERS BECOME MUCH MORE COMPLEX AND NUMEROUS.  HORSE AND RIDER MUST BE MEMBERS OF BOTH USEF (UNITED STATES EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION) AND USDF (UNITED STATES DRESSAGE FEDERATION).   BOTH ORGANIZATIONS OPERATE UNDER THE WORLD OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION UMBRELLA.