Jumpers are judged solely on their ability to jump obstacles. They need not be of any special breed or size, nor do they need to be beautiful, well mannered or stylish. Rather, horses should be quick, agile, powerful and precise. They are required to complete a course of approximately 12 to 16 obstacles ranging in height from around 3’ for those just beginning to over 5’ for the veteran jumpers, with spreads of up to 6’.

Scoring Jumper Competitions:

Faults and Types of Classes

A fault is a penalty assessed in jumper classes for mistakes such as knocking a rail down, refusals or stopping at a jump and for exceeding the time allowed to complete the course.

Scoring Tables

There are numerous scoring tables. Some, where touches by the horse count, others where only knockdowns and refusals count. Some classes have a time allowed computed for the first round, but in some classes such as power and speed, time is not taken or applied in every class in the first phase or the power phase. In those power and speed classes if the horse is clean over the power phase, he continues directly into the speed phase where time is taken and will break ties between horses with equal jumping faults. Another common scoring table is what is known as “stay in the ring”. If the horse is clean in the first round and didn’t exceed the time allowed, upon an audible signal will proceed to the jump-off without leaving the ring. The horse with the least number of faults and in the fastest time will be the class winner. Another variation of the jump off and that which is used in grand prix’s is the horse is clean in the first round, he will exit the ring and return at the end of the first round with all other horses that are tied for first place and they will jump-off over a shortened course in which time will decided if there are ties with equal number of jumping faults. Penalties that will constitute elimination in the round are fall of horse or rider, two refusals or stops during the round, and going off course.

Numerical faults are scored as follows:

Knockdown of jump or rail…………………………………………………………………. 4 faults

1st Refusal…………………………………………………………………….……………………4 faults

2nd Refusal……………………………………………………………….………………………..Elimination

Fall of horse or rider.………………………………………………………………….…......Elimination

Failure to cross the starting line within 45 seconds ……Clock Starts Running*

Exceeding time allowed ……………………………1 fault for each second or fraction of a second over the time allowed.

*There are circumstances where this could be elimination such as in Power and Speed.

Hunters are judged and scored on their ability to negotiate obstacles, but their style of jumping, manners, even pace and quality count. In conformation classes, horses are also judged on how well they are put together (physical attributes and beauty). They are generally thoroughbreds and should be representative of their respective breed.

Green hunters are horses that are in their first or second year of showing at recognized shows.

Pony hunters are 14.2 hands and under and are divided into three groups by size. Small ponies are up to 12.2 hands, medium ponies are over 12.2 and up to 13.2 hands, and large ponies are over 13.2 and up to 14.2 hands. A pony’s size classification determines the height of the fences that they will jump in competition. One hand is equal to four inches, and height is measured at the withers (base of the neck).

Junior Exhibitors are those that have not reached their 18th birthday prior to December 1 of the current show year.

Small Junior Hunter Horse is a horse that competes in junior hunter classes and does not exceed 16 hands in height.

Large Junior Hunter Horse is a horse that competes in junior hunter classes and exceeds 16 hands in height.

Adult Exhibitors are those riders over 18 years of age and are no longer eligible to compete in Junior Hunter.

Amateur Owner Exhibitors are those adult riders who own their horse or it is owned by someone in their immediate family. Exhibitors must also be classified as amateur and not professional, meaning that they do not ride, teach or train horses for money.

Maiden Rider is a rider that has not won a blue ribbon at a recognized show.

Novice Rider is a rider that has not won three blue ribbons at a recognized show.

Limit Rider is a rider that has not won six blue ribbons at a recognized show. Classes are divided into over fence classes where the horse has to jump over a course and under saddle classes where the horse is judged at the walk, trot, canter and possibly hand gallop.

Equitation Classes are judged on the rider’s abilities and not the horse. In equitation classes, riders are judged on seat (posture on the horse), hands, guidance of the horse, and overall riding skills displayed. Equitation classes can be over fences and/or on the flat. Classes are divided by age of rider, fence height and previous wins.

The word dressage sounds like massage and comes from the French word dresser – “to train.” Dressage is an Olympic equestrian sport, yet it is also a basic training discipline for any horse. Dressage principles are a logical, step-by-step progression from simple to increasingly complex movements. More and more is asked of the horse as it becomes mentally and physically ready to respond to these demands.

What is Dressage?

The word dressage sounds like massage and comes from the French word dresser – “to train.” Dressage is an Olympic equestrian sport, yet it is also a basic training discipline for any horse. Dressage principles are a logical, step-by-step progression from simple to increasingly complex movements. More and more is asked of the horse as it becomes mentally and physically ready to respond to these demands.

The graceful movements performed in competition may look effortless but are the result of years of training. The rider’s aids (weight, leg, and hand cues) should be imperceptible. A squeeze of the calf, a closing of the fingers, and a shifting of the rider’s weight in the saddle should be all that is necessary to tell the horse what to do.

Dressage requires the horse and rider to combine the strength and agility of gymnastics with the elegance and beauty of ballet. The result is truly the best blend of sport and art. Like any sport, watching dressage is more interesting the more you know about it.

Dressage Tests used at shows are divided into graduated levels for horse and rider, from the most basic walk/trot to the Grand Prix test, which is the same test used in the Olympics. The test levels are Introductory, Training, First Level through Fourth Level, Prix St Georges, Intermediate I and II, and Grand Prix. Each test is divided into separate movements. The riders guide their horses through a series of movements at the walk, trot and canter.

Horses and riders are judged on how well they perform certain movements that match each horse’s level of training. The judge gives a score for each movement on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the highest. The scores are added together and then divided by the total number of possible points to get the percentage score for the ride.

Dressage Movements

Some of the movements in dressage are:

Extensions – the horse will lengthen its stride.

Half Pass – the horse moves forward and sideways in the trot or canter, bending his body toward the direction of the travel.

Leg-Yield – the horse moves forward and sideways in the trot, bending his body slightly away from the direction of travel.

Passage – a trot that looks like each step is held for a second in the air.

Piaffe – trotting is place. The horse steps from one diagonal pair of legs to the other with an even rhythm.

Piroutte – a 180-or 360 degree turn in place at the walk or canter.

Shoulder In – a slated sideways movement with the shoulder leading.

Tempi Change – flying changes at the canter performed every one, two, three or four strides. The horse will appear to skip across the arena at a canter.