at a glance ...
2025 NATIONAL CLASS DESCRIPTIONS Judge specifications for each class are listed in order of importance. For complete USEF Specifications, see the current online version of the USEF Rule Book Scan QR code for percentages assigned in each category
Scan QR code for score sheets
Ar abian Horse Times | 300 | Volume 55, No. 4
BREEDING/IN-HAND & 3-YEAR-OLD FUTURITY CLASSES:
Emphasis shall be placed upon type, conformation, suitability as a breeding animal, quality, movement, substance, manners and presence. Geldings shall be judged on conformation, type, quality, movement, substance, manners and presence. Horses must be serviceably sound, i.e. horse must not show evidence of lameness, broken wind or complete loss of sight in either eye. Transmissible weaknesses shall be considered a serious fault in breeding stock. Colts and stallions 2-years-old and over must have both testicles descended. A wry tail or one carried in an unnatural fashion is a breeding fault, and judges must consider it as a fault. Judges must excuse from the ring any horse shown at halter that possesses a whip mark (welt) on any portion of the horse.
HALF-ARABIAN/ANGLO-ARABIAN BREEDING/IN-HAND CLASSES:
Judged on conformation, quality, substance and Arabian type, in that order. The Half-Arabian or Anglo-Arabian may show characteristics of any other breed. The foregoing first named three qualities shall take precedence in adjudication of halter classes over breed type.
PERFORMANCE HALTER: Class is scored.
Purebred Arabians: athletic structure; breed type; quality, balance and substance; neck and shoulder; back, loin and hip; legs and feet; movement. Half-Arabians: athletic structure; quality, balance and substance; neck and shoulder; back, loin and hip; legs and feet; movement. Scan QR codes for scorecard and addtl. specs.
Purebred Performance Halter
Half-Arabian Performance Halter
Ar abian Horse Times | 301 | Volume 55, No. 4
COUNTRY ENGLISH PLEASURE:
ENGLISH PLEASURE:
PARK HORSE:
It is imperative that the horse give the distinct appearance of being a pleasure to ride. A quiet, responsive mouth is paramount. Mandatory … that horses be asked to halt on the rail, stand quietly, back readily and walk off on a loose rein at least one direction of the ring. Balance and cadence are also essential.
Demonstrate snappy, animated movement at the walk, normal trot and canter, and in saddle seat tack and attire. Horses should perform with a balanced, fluid motion that appears to be pleasant for the rider. Horses that excel in this class demonstrate the desire to go forward with impulsion from the rear.
OPEN Shown at a walk, normal trot, strong trot, canter and hand gallop. Judged on attitude, manners, performance, quality and conformation, in that order.
OPEN Shown at a walk, normal trot, strong trot, canter and hand gallop. Judged on manners, performance, attitude, quality, conformation and presence.
AAOTR/SELECT AATR/AAOTR MATURITY Shown at a walk, normal trot and canter. Judged on attitude, manners, performance, quality, conformation and suitability of horse to rider, in that order.
AAOTR/SELECT AATR/AAOTR MATURITY Shown at a walk, normal trot and canter. Judged on manners, performance, attitude, quality, suitability of horse to rider, conformation and presence.
JUNIOR HORSE (horses five years old and under) Shown at a walk, normal trot and canter. Judged on attitude, manners, quality and performance, in that order.
JUNIOR HORSE (horses 5-years-old & under)/FUTURITY (3-year-olds) Shown at a walk, normal trot and canter. Judged on quality, performance, attitude and manners. Chart of Suggested Percentages
Shown at a walk, trot and canter. OPEN Judged on brilliant performance, presence, quality, conformation and manners. AAOTR Judged on brilliant performance, manners, quality and suitability of horse to rider.
Priority shown by ribbon colors (blue, red, yellow, white, pink, green, purple)
The Education and Evaluation Commission, with input from fellow judges, has developed this suggested percentage breakdown of class specifications for a number of 'rail' classes. Our goal is to evaluate entries in comparative classes in a more methodical, of Suggested Percentages objective manner. We ask that you give time and attention to howChart you evaluate the horses in each of these classes before you judge shown by ribbon colors (blue, red, yellow, white, pink, green, purple) soPriority that a more consistant evaluation can occur.
AR146 Hunter Pleasure AR133 Park Horse 1 HP - Open 2 HP - Amateur 3 HP - Ladies/Gentlemen 1 PH - Open 4 HP - Junior Horse 2 PH - Amateur 3 PH - Ladies/Gentlemen 4 PH - Junior Horse
Brilliant Manners Performance with40% Proper Cadence 40% & Balance 40% 40% 10% 50% 50% 30%
Presence 25% 25% 25% 20% 25%
Suitability as a Hunter Quality 20% 20% 20% 15% 20% 15% 15% 50%
Manners 10% 10% 10% 15% 40% 20% 20% 20%
Performance
Quality
Conformation Suitability of Conformation 5% Horse to Rider 5% 5% 10% 5% 15% 15%
AR150 Western Pleasure
Manners
Performance
Substance
Quality
Conformation
1 WP - Open AR137 English Pleasure 2 WP - Amateur 31 WP Ladies/Gentlemen EP --Open
35% Manners 30% 30% 40%
30% Performance 25% 25% 30%
15% Attitude 10% 10% 15%
10% Quality 10% 10%
Suitatibility of 5% 5% Conformation Horse to Rider 5% 5% 5% 5%
2 EP - Amateur 4 WP - Junior Horse 3 EP - Ladies/Gentlemen 4 EP - Junior Horse AR201 Pleasure Driving 1 PD - Open 2 PD - Junior HorsePleasure AR142 Country English 3 PD - Ladies/Gentlemen
40% 15% 40% 10% Manners 50% 30% Attitude 50%
25% 20% 25% 30% Performance 30% 20% Manners 30%
15% 30% 15% 10% Quality 20% 50% Performance 20%
10% 25% 10% 50%
5% 5%
5% 10% 5%
Quality
Conformation
Suitatibility of Horse to Rider
1 2 AR205 3 4 1
40% 40% Attitude 40% 50% 40%
30% 25% Manners 25% 20% 25%
15% 15% Performance 15% 15% 15%
10% 10% Quality 10% 15% 10%
5% Suitability 5% 5% of Conformation Horse 5% 5% to Driver 10%
40%
20%
15%
10%
2 3
CEP - Open CEP - Amateur Country Pleasure Driving CEP - Ladies/Gentlemen CEP - Junior Horse CPD - Open CPD - Amateur, Ladies/ Gentlemen CPD - Junior Horse
updated 4-24-2025
10%
Attitude
Suitability of Horse to Rider 15% 15%
5%
No. 4 40% Ar abian Horse 25% Times | 302 15%| Volume 55, 20% 1
HUNTER PLEASURE:
A pleasure class for the horse that can cover the ground easily and with a long, low, efficient stride, while wearing hunter-style tack. Horses in this class carry their heads lower and perform gaits in a longer, lower frame than the English pleasure style horse. Gaits are performed with the purpose of getting across the ground with an efficiency and ease that easily accommodates an all-day ride outdoors. Balance and cadence are essential. This style of riding is very secure and comfortable and is the preferred style for many people learning to ride. OPEN/AAOTR/ SELECT AATR/AAOTR MATURITY Shown at a walk, trot, canter and hand gallop both directions of the ring; stand quietly and back readily. Judged on manners, performance, suitability as a Hunter, quality and conformation. JUNIOR HORSE (horses 5-years-old & under)/FUTURITY (3-year-olds) Shown at a walk, trot, canter and hand gallop both directions of the ring; stand quietly and back readily. Judged on quality, performance, suitability as a Hunter, manners and conformation.
ENGLISH SHOW HACK:
OPEN/AAOTR Shown at a walk, trot, canter and hand gallop; collected, extended and normal gaits to be called for; stand quietly and back Chart Suggested readily. Light contact must be maintained with all reins atofall gaits. Percentages Judges are required to consider the performance at each Priority shown by ribbon colors (blue, red, yellow, white, pink, green, purple) gait equally in adjudicating this class. Horses on the rail may be asked to halt and rein back. Judged on manners, performance, Appropriate quality and conformation. AR154 Ladies Side Saddle Manners Performance Suitability Quality Conformation Side Saddle Attire 1
LSS - Open, Amateur
AR146 Hunter Pleasure AR158 1 2 3 1 4
Mounted HP - OpenNative Costume HP - Amateur MNC - Open, Amateur, HP - Ladies/Gentlemen Ladies/ Gentlemen HP - Junior Horse
AR162 AR150 1 1 2 3
English Show Hack Western Pleasure ESH - Open, Amateur, Ladies/Gentlemen WP - Open WP - Amateur WP - Ladies/Gentlemen
4 AR201 1 2 3
WP - Junior Horse Pleasure Driving PD - Open PD - Junior Horse PD - Ladies/Gentlemen
30% 15% of Suggested 25% 5% Chart Percentages 10% Priority shown by ribbon colors (blue, red, yellow, white, pink, green, purple) Manners Performance 40% and Manners 40% 40% 75%
Suitability as a Hunter Appointments 25% 20% 25% 20% 25% 20% 25% Performance
Quality
Conformation
10% 10% 10%
5% 5% 5% 5%
10%
25%
20%
40%
Manners Manners 40% 35% 30% 30%
Performance Performance 30% 30% 25% 25%
Quality Substance 20% 15% 10% 10%
Conformation Quality 10% 10% 10% 10%
15%
20%
30%
25%
Manners Performance Quality 50% 30% 20% 30% Ar abian Horse 20% Times | 303 50% | Volume 55, No. 4 50% 30% 20%
15%
Conformation
Attitude
5% 5% 5%
5% 5% 5% 10%
Suitability of Horse to Rider 15% 15%
PLEASURE DRIVING:
LADIES SIDE SADDLE:
OPEN/AAOTD Shown at a walk, normal trot and strong trot (extreme speed to be penalized); stand quietly and back readily. Judged on manners, quality and performance.
For both English and Western, manners and suitability of purpose is emphasized (suitability referring to the horse being good as a side saddle mount). Judged 85% on the above, as well as performance, quality and conformation, and 15% on appropriate side saddle attire, horses are shown both directions of the ring, desiring a good ground-covering walk, a comfortable trot or jog and easy-flowing canter/lope. Transitions from one gait to another should be smooth and effortless. English riders may sit or post to the trot. Horses should back readily if requested by the judge and stand quietly.
COUNTRY PLEASURE DRIVING:
OPEN Shown at a walk, normal trot and strong trot; stand quietly and Chart of Suggested Percentages back readily. Judged on attitude, manners, Priority performance, shown by ribbon colors (blue, red, yellow, white, pink, green, purple) Suitability as a quality and conformation. AR146 Hunter Pleasure Manners Performance Quality Conformation 40% 25% 1 HP - Open AAOTD 40% 25% 2 HP - Amateur 40% 25% and 3 HP Ladies/Gentlemen Shown at a walk, normal trot and strong trot; stand quietly 4 HP - attitude, Junior Horse manners, performance, 10% 25% back readily. Judged on quality, conformation and suitability of horse to driver. AR150 Western Pleasure
Manners
Performance 30% 25% 25%
1 2 3
WP - Open WP - Amateur WP - Ladies/Gentlemen
35% 30% 30%
4
WP - Junior Horse
15%
Hunter 20% 10% 20% 10% 20% 10% OPEN/AAOTR
speed to be penalized. Horses shall stand quietly and back readily. Judged 75% on performance and manners, Suitability of Substance Quality Conformation Attitude Horse to Rider and 25% on appointments. 15% 10% 10%
Performance Performance 30% 25% 20% 25% 30% 25%
Qualityas a Suitability 20% Hunter 20% 50% 20% 20%
4 HP - Junior Horse AR205 Country Pleasure Driving
10% Attitude
25% Manners
1 CPD - Open - Amateur, Ladies/ AR150 CPD Western Pleasure 2 Gentlemen 31 CPD Junior Horse WP - -Open 2 WP - Amateur 3 WP - Ladies/Gentlemen AR154 Ladies Side Saddle 4 WP - Junior Horse
40% Manners 40%
25% Performance 20%
LSS - Open, Amateur PD - Open PD - Junior Horse PD - Ladies/Gentlemen
AR158 Mounted Native Costume AR205 Country Pleasure Driving MNC - Open, Amateur, 1 Ladies/ Gentlemen 1 CPD - Open CPD - Amateur, Ladies/ 2 Gentlemen 3 CPD - Junior AR162 English ShowHorse Hack 1
ESH - Open, Amateur, Ladies/Gentlemen
updated 4-24-2025
10% 10% 10%
5% 5% 5%
20% 30% 25% Chart of Suggested Percentages Priority shown by ribbon colors (blue, red, yellow, white, pink, green, purple) Manners Manners 50% 40% 30% 40% 50% 40%
1 1 2 3
5%
20% 5% and hand gallop; extreme or reckless Shown at a40% walk, canter
AR201 Pleasure Driving AR146 Hunter Pleasure 1 PD - Open 21 PD HP -- Junior Open Horse 32 PD HP -- Ladies/Gentlemen Amateur 3 HP - Ladies/Gentlemen
updatedAR201 4-24-2025Pleasure Driving
5%
MOUNTED NATIVE COSTUME: 5%
Performance 15% 30% 20% 30%
Quality
Conformation
10% 10% 10%
5% 5% 5%
20% Performance
40% Quality
5% Conformation
15% Substance 15%
10% Quality 10%
10% Conformation 10%
Quality 25% 20% 50% 20%
Suitability of Horse to Driver Attitude 5% 5% 5% 5% Appropriate Side Saddle 10% Attire
10%
5%
15%
Suitability of Horse to Driver
Appointments
Attitude 75% 40%
Manners 25% 25%
Performance
Quality
Conformation
15%
10%
10%
40%
20%
15%
10%
10%
40% Manners
25% Performance
15% Quality
20% Conformation
40%
30%
20%
10%
Ar abian Horse Times | 304 | Volume 55, No. 4
15% 15%
10%
Chart Percentages 20% 35% 30% of Suggested 15% 10% 5% 40% 25% Priority 30% shown by ribbon 25% colors (blue, red, 10%yellow, white, pink, 10% green, purple) 5% 30% 25% 10% 10% 5% Manners Performance Suitability Quality Conformation 15% 20% 30% 25% Manners 30% 50% 30% 50% Performance and Manners
5% 5% 5%
Suitability of Horse to Rider 15% 15%
2
5%
2
WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP:
Judged 50% on the horse’s performance and 50% on the rider. Emphasis placed on the horse and rider working together in both rail and pattern work. Execution and correct form of both horse and rider while maintaining a pleasurable ride are the main criteria.
WESTERN PLEASURE:
Horse’s excelling in this class demonstrate calm, willing, obedient attitudes and have smooth, soft gaits the rider can sit all day. Shown at the walk, jog and lope and judged on substance, quality, performance and manners. Judges are looking for pleasant moving horses that can cover ground efficiently, softly and obediently, while looking happy, content and willing to do the job at hand. Balance and cadence are essential. Riders should have light contact on the reins and give seemingly invisible cues. OPEN Shown at a walk, jog/trot, lope and hand gallop; extreme speed to be penalized. Judged on manners, performance, substance, quality, conformation and attitude. AAOTR/ SELECT AATR/AAOTR MATURITY Shown at a walk, jog/trot and lope. Judged on manners, performance, suitability of horse to rider, substance, quality, conformation and attitude. Chart of Suggested Percentages Priority shown by ribbon colors (blue, red, yellow, white, pink, green, purple)
JUNIOR HORSE (horses 5-years-old & under)/FUTURITY (3-year-olds) Suitability as a AR146 Hunter Pleasure Manners Performance Quality Conformation Hunter Shown at a walk, jog/trot and lope. Judged on substance, quality, performance, manners 40% 25% 20% 10% 5% HP - Open and12 attitude. 40% 25% 20% 10% 5% HP - Amateur 3
HP - Ladies/Gentlemen
40%
4
HP - Junior Horse
10%
25%
20%
10%
5%
25% of Suggested 20% 5% Chart Percentages 40% Priority shown by ribbon colors (blue, red, yellow, white, pink, green, purple)
AR146 Hunter Pleasure AR150 Western Pleasure 1 HP - Open 21 HP WP- -Amateur Open 32 HP WP- -Ladies/Gentlemen Amateur 3 WP - Ladies/Gentlemen 4 HP - Junior Horse 4 WP - Junior Horse
Manners Manners 40% 40% 35% 40% 30% 30% 10% 15%
Performance Performance 25% 25% 30% 25% 25% 25% 25% 20%
Suitability as a Hunter Substance 20% 20% 15% 20% 10% 10% 20% 30%
AR150 AR201 Western PleasurePleasure Driving 1 PD - Open 12 WP PD - Open Junior Horse 23 WP PD - Amateur Ladies/Gentlemen 3 WP - Ladies/Gentlemen
Manners Manners 50% 35% 30% 30% 50% 30%
Performance Performance 30% 30% 20% 25% 30% 25%
Attitude
Quality Quality 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 40% 25%
Conformation Conformation 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5%
Quality
Conformation
Attitude
WESTERN TRAIL HORSE:
Substance Quality 20% 15% 50% 10% 20% 10%
10% 10% 10%
5% 5% 5%
5% 5% 5%
AR205 Country Pleasure Driving
Manners
Performance
Quality
Conformation
Suitability of Horse to Driver
40%
25%
15%
10%
10%
40%
20%
40%
25%
Attitude 5% 5% 5%
Suitability of Horse to Rider 15% 15%
10% Suitability of Horse to Rider 15% 15%
Suitability of OPEN/AAOTR 4 WP - Junior Horse 15% 20% 30% 25% 10% to AR205 Country Pleasure Driving Attitude Manners Performance Quality Conformation Horse Shown over and through obstacles at a walk, jog/trot and lope on a Driver reasonably loose rein without undue restraint. Maximum credit10% should be given to the Trail horse that negotiates its way through Manners Performance Quality AR201 Pleasure Driving 1 CPD - Open 40% 25% 15% 10% 1 PD Open 50% 30% 20% CPD Amateur, Ladies/ the2entire course efficiently, in40% a timely manner, without expression smooth-ness and style. 20% 15% excessive 10% hesitation, 10%with curiosity, 5% 2 PD - Junior Horse 30% 20% 50% Gentlemen Should show inHorse a manner that50% raises the 30% degree of difficulty without sacrificing and leaves one with the impression 33 PD - Ladies/Gentlemen 20% CPD - Junior 40% 25% 15% 20% of being sure, safe and a pleasurable ride over a course of obstacles.
1
CPD - Open
updated 4-24-2025 CPD - Amateur, Ladies/
2
3
Gentlemen CPD - Junior Horse
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15%
20%
5%
2
REINING HORSE:
To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely. Any movement on his own must be considered a lack of control. All deviations from the exact written pattern must be considered a lack of/or temporary loss of control and therefore a fault that must be marked down according to severity of deviation. After deducting all faults, set here within, against execution of the pattern and the horse’s overall performance, credit should be given for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness and authority of performing various maneuvers, while using controlled speed which raises the difficulty level and makes him more exciting and pleasing to watch to an audience. The official guideline for the application for the rules for judging shall be as specified in the NRHA Judges Guide. OPEN/AAOTR/FUTURITY (5 & under) Shown in a snaffle bit or hackamore. All entries compete in one go only.
REINED COW HORSE:
Horses are asked to work a single live cow in an arena, performing certain maneuvers that include circling the cow and turning it in a specified manner, as well as performing a reining pattern. The reined cow horse class consists of two mandatory phases, the reined work and the cow work. Each phase will have equal bearing and the final placings will be determined by the total of both scores. All reined cow horses are to lope a figure eight; run at speed; stop and turn easily. Scored class.
WORKING COW HORSE:
At the start of the cow work, each contestant, upon receiving a cow in the arena, shall hold that cow on the prescribed end of the arena for a sufficient time to demonstrate the ability of the horse to contain the cow on the end. After a reasonable amount of time, the contestant shall take the cow down the arena wall at least once in each direction. The contestant will then take the cow to an open part of the arena and circle the cow at least once each direction. The contestant shall show the horse to the best of his/her ability upon the judges’ instruction, or at his/her own discretion. At the close of the gate, the contestant will have 20 seconds to signal for a new cow or shall work his/her assigned cow.
HERD WORK:
Similar to regular Cutting but allows more direction from the rider. Approach the herd without hesitation or reluctance on the part of the horse. Enter the herd deep enough to show the ability to make a cut and work the cow quietly and alertly causing little disturbance to the herd or the animal brought out. Credit given for driving cattle, clearing the herd by a sufficient distance and setting up a cow while holding it in a working position near the center of the arena.
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RANCH RIDING:
The purpose of the Ranch Riding classes is to measure the ability of the horse to be a pleasure to ride while being used as a means of conveyance from performing one ranch task to another. The horse should reflect the versatility, attitude and movement of a working ranch horse being ridden outside the confines of an arena. Transitions should be performed where designated, with smoothness and responsiveness. The overall cadence and performance of the gaits should be freeflowing and ground covering for all gaits, with the emphasis on forward movement. The horse can be ridden with light contact or on a relatively loose rein without requiring undue restraint, but not shown on a full drape of reins. The overall manners and responsiveness of the ranch horse to make timely transitions in a smooth and correct manner, as well as the quality of the movement are of primary considerations. The ideal ranch horse should have a natural head carriage at each gait. Shown at a walk, trot and lope. Judged on correctness, quality, and degree of difficulty. Each horse/exhibitor team is scored between 0-100 points and automatically begins the run with a score of 70 points. Scored on the quality of each maneuver (e.g. -1 1/2 extremely poor, -1 very poor, -1/2 poor, 0 correct, + 1/2 good, +1 very good and +1 1/2 excellent).