AHSSA
Disciplines
Breeding / In-Hand
Arabian Halter horses are shown at halter in a light headstall or halter with throatlatch. The handler is allowed to carry a whip or crop, but it is not mandatory. The horses are presented to the judges in hand at a walk and trot.
In colt-stallion and filly-mare classes, the horses are judged on the following:
Type | Quality, Balance, Substance at the Walk | Legs & Feet | Head | Neck & Shoulder | Back, Loin & Hip | Movement
Showing Different Riding Classes
FGSF
English Pleasure
Western Pleasure
Hunter Hack
English Show Hack
Hunter Pleasure
Country English Pleasure
Mounted Native Costume
Endurance
Long-distance competition against the clock, testing the speed and endurance of a horse and challenging the rider over their effective use of pace, thorough knowledge of their horse’s capabilities and ability to cross all kinds of terrain. Although the rides are timed, the emphasis is on finishing in good condition rather than coming in first.
Dressage
Symphony of beauty and harmony between horse and rider. Dressage riders compete in a arena, performing a pattern of required movements at specific letter points set along the rail. Different levels of increasing difficulty require a higher degree of physical and mental development with tests at each level.
Jumping
Competitive event in which horse and rider are required to jump, usually within a time limit, a series of obstacles that have been designed for a particular show.
Eventing
Eventing, sometimes referred to as ‘horse trials’, is a unique combination of three phases – dressage, cross-country over fixed fences and show-jumping.
Carriage Drive
The combination of the horse(s), vehicle and driver. The rules encourage drivers to strive “to present an appropriate turnout, factoring in compatible size, type and weight of horse and vehicle.”
