General Horse Show Terms

• Arena/Show Ring: The enclosed area where competitions take place, often either indoor or outdoor.
• Class: A specific competition within a horse show, categorized by skill level, age, breed, or type of event.
• Entry: The horse and rider or driver team registered to compete in a class.
• Exhibitor: The person showing the horse in the ring, either a rider, driver, or handler.
• Judge: The official responsible for scoring performances based on a set standard or set of rules.
• Prize List: A booklet or document listing all classes, prizes, and rules for a show.
• Ring Steward: A person assisting the judge, helping to maintain order in the ring and enforce rules.
• Schooling: Practice or warm-up before a class, often held in a separate area.
• Show Bill: A program listing classes, riders, and sometimes schedules.
• Tack: Equipment used for riding or handling horses, such as saddles and bridles.

Riding Disciplines & Classes

• Dressage: A discipline focusing on precision, rhythm, and smooth transitions, often referred to as "horse ballet."
• Equitation: A class judging the rider’s form, position, and control over the horse.
• Hunter: A class where horses are judged on form, movement, and style over fences that mimic natural obstacles.
• Jumper: A class focused on clearing obstacles in the fastest time, with penalties for knocking down fences or refusals.
• Western Pleasure: A class judging the horse's responsiveness, style, and manners at a slow pace, often in Western tack.
• Trail: A class testing a horse's ability to navigate obstacles such as gates, bridges, and poles.
• Halter: A class judging horses based on conformation and physical quality while being led on the ground.
• Eventing: A three-phase discipline combining dressage, cross-country, and stadium jumping.

Jumping and Obstacles

• Combination: A series of two or three jumps placed close together that require accurate strides.
• Course: The set path that horses and riders follow in classes involving jumps, like hunters and jumpers.
• Fence: The obstacles that horses jump, which can vary in height, width, and type.
• Refusal: When a horse stops or avoids a jump, leading to a penalty.
• Stride: The distance covered in one step by a horse, important in measuring distances between jumps.
• Vertical: A jump with poles or rails set vertically without any width.

Judging and Scoring

• Clear Round: A perfect jumping round with no faults or penalties.
• Faults: Penalties given for mistakes such as knocking down a rail, refusals, or going off course.
• On the Rail: Riding around the perimeter of the arena, often done for judges to observe movement.
• Ribbons: Awards given for placing in a class, typically in various colors to represent placements.
• Score: The points or marks awarded by a judge based on the performance.
• Test: A specific pattern or routine riders may be required to complete in equitation or dressage classes.

Horse Movement and Behavior

• Canter: A three-beat gait faster than a trot and slower than a gallop.
• Collected: When a horse’s gait is shortened and controlled for a more balanced and elevated appearance.
• Extension: Lengthening the horse's stride while maintaining balance and rhythm.
• Flying Lead Change: A change of lead (directional leg) at the canter without breaking gait.
• Gait: The specific movement or pace of a horse, such as walk, trot, canter, or gallop.
• Halt: A complete stop, often used as a test of obedience and balance.

Rider Apparel and Tack

• Breeches: Fitted pants worn by riders, usually for English riding disciplines.
• Martingale: A strap used to control a horse’s head carriage, keeping it from raising too high.
• Reins: Straps attached to the bridle used by the rider to steer and control the horse.
• Saddle Pad: Padding placed under the saddle to provide comfort and prevent chafing.
• Spurs: Small metal tools attached to the heels of riding boots to aid in controlling the horse’s movement.
• Show Coat: A formal jacket worn by riders in many English riding classes.
• Exhibitor Number: Numbers worn my riders so they can be scored accurately by the Judge

Show Management & Roles

• Announcer: The person who makes announcements, calls for entries, and provides updates on scores.
• Back Gate Person: A person or group responsible for managing entries at the gate to ensure classes start and end efficiently.
• Back Gate(or In-gate): The area where horses wait before entering the ring, usually where last-minute preparations occur.