Photo: Courtesy of Karalinga
Western riding this class judges the abilities of a Quarter Horse to change leads precisely, easily and simultaneously, using both hind and front legs. Contestants enter the arena and follow one of two patterns consisting of a log and a series of pylons. The horse and rider must also change gaits - from a walk to a jog to a lope - throughout the course. Judges look for a horse that responds promptly to the rider’s commands, is well-mannered and has grace and a good disposition.

Western horsemanship is designed to test the horsemanship abilities of a rider using western tack. Designed for youth and amateur competitions, the class is divided into two sections. Riders must first follow a prescribed pattern of manoeuvres that test their horsemanship skills. Riders will be asked to walk, trot or lope their horses in a straight line, curve, circle or any combination, such as figure 8. Contestants may be asked to ride without stirrups. Finalists from the first portion of the class are then asked back into the arena as a group to show their horses at a walk, jog and lope around the perimeter of the arena or “on the rail”. Judges pay close attention to the rider’s body position, how he/she sit in a saddle and his/her ability to control the horse.

Halter competition is used as a measure of judging the conformation of the Quarter Horse as a breed. Halter classes are divided by age and sex. Horses are evaluated for structural correctness, balance, degree or muscling, and breed and sex characteristics. Emphasis is placed on the most desirable characteristics that enhance the horse’s ability to perform. Horses are shown with a leather halter and are travelled before the judge so soundness can be evaluated. Showmanship at halter, a class for Youth and Amateur exhibitors only, is designed to judge the showmanship skills of the exhibitor. Exhibitors perform a similar routine as if they were showing in a halter class. However, instead of the horse being judged, the exhibitor is evaluated for his/her showmanship skills. Judges evaluate the grooming and fitting of the horse and the expertise of the exhibitor in presenting the horse to the best of his/her ability. Photo: Courtesy of Margaret Quinlivan Trail Class. The manoeuvrability of a Quarter Horse through an obstacle course is judged in trail competition. The course is designed with numerous obstacles, testing the skill of the horse to handle certain situations that might occur on an outdoor trail ride. One of the mandatory obstacles is for the rider to open, pass through, and close a gate. Other mandatory obstacles include walking, jogging, loping over a series of logs and backing through logs placed in an L, U or V shaped configuration. Other obstacles may include crossing a wooden bridge and putting on a rain coat. Scoring is based on the horse’s willingness, ease and grace in negotiating the course. Reining to rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. In reining, a rider is required to negotiate one of a set number of patterns which include prescribed manoeuvres of stops, spins, rollbacks, lead changes and circles at a lope. The horse should be wilfully guided with little or no resistance. The horse is judged on movements, mastery of pattern and attitude and is scored 0-100 with 70 denoting average. Photo: Courtesy of Expressions Photography Hunter Hack is the transitional English class between Hunter Under saddle and Working hunter, and requires a Quarter Horse to move freely and easily while jumping small fences. Horses are required to jump 2 fences, ranging in height from 2’ to 2.9’. After completing the jumps the horses are then shown at a walk, trot and canter along the rail in both directions. Horses are judged on manners and way of going, both on the flat and over fences. Hunter under Saddle is the preliminary class for English riding disciplines and judges evaluate   the way of going of a hunter type horse on the flat, at a walk, trot and canter. Exhibitors in this event must wear traditional English attire consisting of a hunt coat, breeches, high English boots and hunting cap. Horses circle the perimeter of an arena, performing each gait called, at the judges discretion. Particular emphasis is paid to the smoothness of gait, free flowing stride and a willingness to perform. Hunt Seat Equitation is an English class designed to test the equitation of amateur and youth contestants and not the performance of the horse. As in western horsemanship, contestants must individually work a predetermined pattern consisting of manoeuvres such as changing gaits (walk, trot, canter); travel in a figure-8 pattern and back up. Top riders return to the arena as a group and are judged on the rail, performing gait changes at the judge’s discretion. Emphasis is placed on the rider’s ability to sit in the saddle correctly, hold the correct riding posture and control the horse. Photo: Courtesy of Francene Neuendorf   Dressage the most traditional of all styles of English riding. Dressage competition is divided into graded rests and contested in an arena measuring 60 x 20 metres. The test is made up of a combination of gaits and transitions which are sectioned into movements guided by alphabetical letters placed strategically around the arena. These movements are judged and scored individually then added to scores reflecting presentation and ability of the rider for a total overall score. The aim is to have the horse appear to do all the movements smoothly, correctly and with no obvious assistance from the rider. Barrel Racing is one of the most exciting speed events of all with exhibitors racing against the clock, following a course consisting of three barrels in a triangular “clover leaf” pattern. Time starts when the horse’s nose crosses the starting line. Contestants must choose either the right or left barrel, circle it, and go on to the next barrel, completing the course after turning the third barrel. Barrels are permitted to be touched, but if one or more is knocked down during the course of the run, a five-second penalty per barrel is added. Contestants are also penalised five seconds if their hat blows off their head during their run.   Cutting pits a horse against a cow in a battle of wills. Cutting horses must possess cow sense – the ability to out-think and outmanoeuvre a cow. Horse and Rider must move quietly into a herd of cattle, cut one animal from the herd, drive it into the centre of the arena and hold it away from the herd. The rider must keep that one cow from returning to the rest of the herd. The cutting horse must match moves with the cow, anticipating it’s every manoeuvre. Judges score the horse on its ability to keep the cow from returning to the herd, cow sense, attentiveness and courage. Photo: Courtesy of Dave Christensen Campdrafting has the prestigious title of being considered Australia’s own horse sport. This event originated from the day to day workings of an Australian Cattle property and has been adapted for arena competition. Horse and rider work as one to select a beast from a herd held in the “camp” and hold it at the gate preventing it from returning to the herd. The gate is then called for and horse and rider proceed to manoeuvre the beast outside around two pegs and through a gate within a 50 second time limit - the course is set in a clover leaf pattern. The maximum possible score is 100 which is divided between “horse work” (outside) 70 points, “cut out” (camp work) 26 points and “course” (2 peg & gate) 4 points. Horses are judged on their ability to cut out and hold the beast in the camp while outside the horse must make the beast negotiate the course smoothly and quietly with a minimum of direction from the rider. Indoor Campdrafting is based on the traditional form of campdrafting but has been adapted to suit smaller arenas. The course is set down the length of the arena with the gate in on corner incorporating the arena fence. The time limit for indoor campdrafting is 40 seconds with  competitors scored out of 100 - “Horsework” 50 points, “Cut out” 26 points and “course” 24 points;  10 points for the first peg, eight points for the second peg and six points for the gate. Credit is given to the horse and rider who demonstrate a physical approach to directing a difficult beast through the course and maintain a tight, fast course. Photo: Courtesy of Sue Jones Team Roping – Heading Working together as a team, cowboys on the range often paired up to catch cattle that were too big to handle with one rope. Team roping is an event where two cowboys and their horses are judged on the horse’s ability to position their riders to catch a steer. One rider must catch the horns of the steer (heading) and the other rider must catch the hind legs (heeling). Only one horse is judged in a class. Riders and horses are situated on both sides of the chute that releases the steer. The header must catch the steer either by the horns, a half-head, or around the neck and then dally (wrap the rope around the saddle horn). Once the steer is caught, the heading horse must set and turn the steer at a 90 degree angle and pull the steer across the pen, allowing the heeler to catch the hind legs. Once the heeler catches, the heading horse must turn and face the steer, keeping the rope taut. The horse is judged on his ability to stand calmly in the box; break quickly and run of the steer; rate in speed and position the header for a good throw at catching the horns; continue to rate the speed of the steer; and put the steer in a good position for the heeler to catch. Team roping - heeling In the heeling portion of team roping, the heeler must catch either both hind legs or one hind leg and dally. Again, the horse is judged on his calmness in the box; how quickly he breaks from the box and runs to the steer; his ability to rate the speed of the steer and position the heeler; and his ability to stop deep and squarely, tightening the rope after the heeler catches. Both the header and heeler are permitted to throw two loops within a two-minute time limit after the steer is released.