ACADEMY RULES
Attire
of the rider: Jodhpurs, vests, tie and long sleeved shirt, with riding
boots and gloves. Hair should be neatly
held back so that the back number is visible.
Riding suits and hats are prohibited.
Protective headgear is strongly encouraged.
Equipment
for the horse: School bridles, double or full bridles with running
martingales and German martingales are all permissible along with appropriate
saddle for the division being judged.
Any protective equipment (shin boots, knee boots, rundowns, saddle pads,
etc) will be permitted. Blunt spurs are
optional at the discretion of the instructor.
No braiding of the horse; hoof blacking is optional. Training devices such as chains, stretchers,
and blinkers are NOT allowed in the warm up ring or the show ring.
Class
Divisions and Judging Criteria: There should be two main divisions –
Equitation which is to be judged on basic seat, hands and form, along with
effective control of the horse. Pleasure
classes to be judged on showmanship, ring generalship and presentation of the
horse to its best ability. Correct
diagonals are not to be judged in the pleasure classes. Classes should be further divided into
walk/trot and age divisions.
Rider
Eligibility: A rider is no
longer eligible for the academy division if he/she has shown, dressed in a
riding suit in a regular horse show class; with the exception of competing in a
4-H Horse Show. This applies to riders
that compete in a suit in the walk/trot division – they cannot then compete in
the walk/trot/canter academy division.
Horse
Eligibility: A horse that is used
in an academy competition can be farm or privately owned and must earn its
living in a lesson program. It cannot be
maintained in training within the current show season.
Cross
Entering: Academy horses (with different riders) are permitted to
cross enter in regular classes of a show as long as they meet the academy
criteria. If an academy rider competes
in a regular class at a show he/she is ineligible for further competition in
the academy division.
