NEW TO EQUESTRIAN SPORT? THE SPECTATOR’S GUIDE

Hunters

It’s all about the horse! Hunter rounds are entirely judged on how the horse moves, jumps, and carries itself on course. Even their attitude in the ring ca n influence their score. It’s the rider’s job to ensure the horse looks and performs as picture-perfect as possible within the hunter divisions. While there is no cut-and-clear method of scoring like dressage, it can still be broken down into categories. A score in the 90’s is an impressive round. These scores are great, meaning the horse put in an above-average round. A score in the 80’s is an average, solid round. However, a score in the 70’s is typically considered mediocre, and usually is due to a fault somewhere in the course.

For hunters, a fault can be as major as a fence refusal, or as minor as a lazy lead change. Not all horses are judged equally. One horse’s best round of its career could score worse than an average round of another horse.

Equitation

In equitation, scoring is all about the rider. Riders must demonstrate effective and thoughtful riding in these divisions. Top placings are awarded to the rounds that seem the most effortless and smooth. Judges watch the rider’s position, decision making, quietness, and their individual style of riding. While focus is on the rider themselves, the rider’s horse can influence their score. Similar to hunters, there is no standardized method of scoring.

Jumpers

Show jumping is much simpler than hunters and equitation. With no subjective scoring, show jumping is a race against the clock with the goal of having a clear round, which means the rider has no faults or penalties. Faults can include fallen rails, refusals or going over the time allowed.

Show Jumping 101

While Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation are all featured at Traverse City Horse Shows, the highest level of equestrian sport featured is Grand Prix Show Jumping.

Grand Prix Show Jumping

Show jumping is one of three Olympic Equestrian sports, and is the only Olympic sport where men and women compete on equal ground. Grand Prix Show jumping is the highest level of show jumping competition, and also the most challenging. Grand Prix’s consist of two rounds. During the first, all competitors work to jump the entire course of obstacles that could reach up to 1.60m (or 5.25 feet), while keeping all the rails up and completing the course within the time allowed. Should this be accomplished, riders will move onto the second round, called the “jump off.” The fastest horseand-rider duo to complete the jump-off with the least amount of faults wins!

Show Jumping Faults & Penalties

Penalties, or “faults” in show jumping can consist of knocking down a rail, stepping a foot in a water jump, or a first refusal.

• Knocking a rail: 4 faults

• Foot in water: 4 faults

• Refusing a jump: 4 faults

• Second refusal: elimination

• Riders falls off: elimination

• Exceeds Time Allowed (TA): faults per every second over