CLASSES 

Though many of the classes or areas are not listed in our Rulebook, we do encourage participation in these areas if this is where your talented Friend, your Arabian and you are inclined. We do encourage your reports of your activities and placings in these areas, such as cutting, barrel racing, team penning, and the others listed. Though many of the classes or areas are not listed in our Rulebook, we do encourage participation in these areas if this is where your talented Friend, your Arabian and you are inclined. We do encourage your reports of your activities and placings in these areas, such as cutting, barrel racing, team penning, and the others listed.

Those who love the Arabian Horse know that “Friends For Life” is not some empty phrase – it’s a fact. Perhaps nowhere else is the breed’s endurance, history and in-your-pocket disposition coupled with a work ethic more apparent than in the show/performance arena. Nor is it more apparent why Arabians are favored worldwide. AHFA-approved shows offer something for everyone.

Western = Trail, Reining, including snaffle bit and hackamore, Roping, including heading, heeling, calf, breakaway, Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Cutting, Team Penning, Western Ranch Riding.

Other = Native Costume, Driving, Discipline On/Off the Rail.

Using = Endurance, Judged Trail Riding, Polo, Western Polo, Flat Racing , Combined Training

• National Cutting Horse Association, National Reined Horse Association
• National Reined Cow Horse Association, National Snaffle Bit Association
• National Barrel Racing Association, Professional Cowboys Association
• American Endurance Ride Conference
• All Accredited Race Tracks
• US Eventing Association
• F.E.I., US Dressage Federation
• Any legally recognized polo organization.

Show events or classes are divided into four basic categories: Western, English, Dressage and Halter. Western and English classes feature performance competition: a wide variety of contests ranging from jumping to western pleasure and obstacle driving to team roping. Halter classes provide competition for horses based on conformation which reward excellence in balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characteristics.

WESTERN

Courtesy of Lori Woodruff

Western Riding Judges the abilities of the Arabian Horse to change leads precisely, easily and simultaneously, using both hind and front legs. Following one of two patterns consisting of a log and a series of pylons, the horse and rider must change gaits – from a walk to a jog or a lope – throughout the course. Reward is given to the horse that changes fluidly and precisely between the middle of the pylons within the pattern.

Western Horsemanship Designed to test the horsemanship abilities of youth and amateur riders using western tack. Divided into two sections, riders first follow a prescribed pattern of maneuvers at a walk, trot or lope. Finalists ride as a group around the perimeter of the arena. Judging focuses on the rider’s body position, seat in the saddle and ability to control the horse.

Courtesy of Imperial Egyptian Stud

Trail
The trail class tests the maneuverability of an Arabian Horse through an obstacle course. Mandatory obstacles include one in which the rider will open, pass through and close a gate. Scoring is based on the horse’s willingness, ease and grace in negotiating the course.

Reining
Judges the horse on movements, mastery of a prescribed maneuver and attitude as he is guided through one of 2 AHFA patterns. The horse is required to perform a number of stops, spins, rollbacks, lead changes and circles at a lope. The horse should be willing to be guided with little or no resistance.

Courtesy of Melanie Kay Johnson Payback Ranch Arabians

Puts an Arabian Horse against a cow in a battle of wills. Horse and rider must move quietly into a herd of cattle, cut one cow from the herd, drive it to the center of the arena and “hold” it away from the herd. The horse is scored on its ability to keep the cow from returning to the herd, cow sense, attentiveness and courage. There is a 2-1/2 minute time limit.

Working Cow Horse
This event tests the Arabian Horse’s skills that are applicable to ranch work in the prescribed dry work portion. No actual cow work is included here. Judging is based on good manners, smoothness, and ease of reining.

Calf Roping
Tests a horse’s ability to follow a calf at great speed, giving the rider the best opportunity to catch the calf. The horse is judged on how quietly he waits for the calf to be released; how well he runs to the calf; how he rates his speed and position so that the rider can rope the calf; and how well the horse stops and works the end of the rope, keeping the slack out but not dragging the calf. There is a one minute time limit for all roping events.

Breakaway Roping
A timed competition, rather than a scored event, for amateur and youth contestants. In breakaway roping, the rope is attached to the saddle horn with a heavy string allowing it to break when a legal catch is made. All other calf roping rules apply.

Dally Team Roping
A judged (instead of a timed) competition where the heading and heeling horses are entered and judged individually. There is a one minute time limit with each roper being allowed two loops from one rope.

Dally Team Roping – Heading
The heading horse is judged on the rate of speed to the steer, ability to match the steer’s speed and favorably position the roper to catch. The horse also is judged on his ability to check, turn and set the steer in position for the heeler.

Dally Team Roping – Heeling
The heeling horse is judged on the ease with which he turns, rates to the steer, and positions the heeler to catch one or both heels. A run is complete when the heeler has dallied and the header and heeler have faced with the steer between the two.

Team Penning
A timed event in which a team of three riders must sort three specifically numbered head of cattle from a herd and pen them at the other end of the arena within 90 seconds. All cattle, except the ones being penned must be kept on one side of the starting line (often called the “cattle side”) until time is called.

Barrel Racing
An exciting race against the clock in which exhibitors follow a course consisting of three barrels in a triangular “cloverleaf” pattern. Riders choose to circle either the right or left barrel first, race to the opposite barrel and complete the course after circling the third barrel and racing down the center of the three barrels to stop the timer. Knocking over a barrel carries a five second penalty.

Pole Bending
A timed event in which the speed and agility of the horse are tested as horse and rider twice weave through a course of six poles spaced 21 feet apart, twice circling end poles before turning and racing to the finish line. The pattern must be followed exactly. A five-second penalty is added for each pole knocked down.

ENGLISH

Courtesy of Lori Woodruff

Hunter Hack A transitional English class between hunter under saddle and working hunter. Horses are required to jump two fences then put on the rail to walk, trot and canter both directions in the ring. Emphasis is on manner and way of going on the flat and style over fences.

Obstacle Driving Tests the horse’s ability to pull a two-wheeled cart and driver through a series of obstacles. The horse is judged on straight and free movement, manners, and a bright expression while staying under the driver’s control at all times.

Courtesy of Paul Fantasia

Working Hunter
An event which demonstrates the gracefulness of the Arabian Horse as it maneuvers a course consisting of at least four different types of obstacles. Manners, style of jumping, flow of strides, balance and keeping an even hunter pace are factors in the judges’ scoring.

Courtesy of Sharon Jackson

Jumping Jumping is a true test of a horse’s athletic ability to perform over fences. Jumping consists of at least eight obstacles and a maximum of 12 jumping obstacles and 15 jumping efforts. Scores are based on time and penalty faults. Faults are assessed when a horse refuses to jump, knocks down an obstacle, or causes an obstacle to be knocked down. Horses completing the course without faults return to compete in a timed “jump-off” to determine final placings.

NATIVE COSTUME Canter, hand gallop and walk will be called for with extreme or reckless speed to be penalized. A brisk, animated walk with no prancing, and a canter that is up-on-the bit in appearance yet is fully under control. The hand gallop should move out smoothly and immediately into a distinct gallop with more drive and collection than a pleasure class. Steadiness is a prime factor in evaluation of all gaits. The overall picture should be one of gay enthusiasm for horse and rider and with perfect obedience by the horse to the rider.

Contributed by Frank Galovic

Courtesy of Liz Salmon

DRESSAGE Combined Test includes the same horse/rider combination in dressage and show jumping elements of Eventing. Part of the fun of a Combined Test is that jumping-fit horses must perform their Eventing dressage test shortly before they jump, and next jump a regular Event show jump course. There is no jump off, just a maximum time. A disobedience (refusal, run out, etc.) costs MORE points than a rail down. Scoring is based on the number of faults in both the dressage phase and the jump phase with the low score winning. Follows the U. S. Eventing Association rules.

COMBINED TEST Combined Test includes the same horse/rider combination in dressage and show jumping elements of Eventing. Part of the fun of a Combined Test is that jumping-fit horses must perform their Eventing dressage test shortly before they jump, and next jump a regular Event show jump course. There is no jump off, just a maximum time. A disobedience (refusal, run out, etc.) costs MORE points than a rail down. Scoring is based on the number of faults in both the dressage phase and the jump phase with the low score  Follows the U. S. Eventing Association rules.

Courtesy of Stella Conklin

HALTER

Halter
Evaluates conformation of the Arabian Horse as a breed. Halter classes may be divided by age and/or sex. Horses are traveled before judges so that lameness and quality of movement can be evaluated. Horses are judged on balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characteristics.

Showmanship at Halter
A class for youth and amateur exhibitors only, it is designed to judge the showmanship skills of the exhibitors. Judges evaluate the grooming and fitting of the horse, and expertise of the exhibitor in presenting the horse. Each exhibitor is required to perform a pattern designed by the Judge with emphasis on preciseness of pattern and degree of confidence exhibited by the showman.

Year-End Awards
Year-end Awards are given in each class. Awards are determined by points accumulated at year’s end. Awards are also under consideration for all the above mentioned classes that are not covered in our Rulebook. For more specific requirements see the AHFA Rulebook and the Show and Events Section.