Class List

*Classes may be added or deleted based on demand.

* Registration deadline is midnight on November 13th. Any classes added after that will be $25 each.

Each Class will have a Novice division and an Open division. Those who have never won more than three blue ribbons at a horse show may show in the Novice division for that class. Riders may be considered Novice in some classes and Open in others. Please use your best judgement.

• Walk / Trot Equitation (cannot show in W/T/L on the same horse if you enter this class)

• Walk / Trot / Lope Equitation (cannot show in W/T on the same horse if you enter this class)

• Ranch Riding

• Trail Course

• Dummy Roping

• Barrel Racing

• Pole Bending

• In-hand

• Hunter Hack

• Cross Rail Hunters

• Dressage Intro C

• Freestyle

ONLINE ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED

All riders must read and comply with the Mustang Showcase Rules and Regulations (click here for PDF printout):

 Mustang Showcase

SCHOOLING SHOW RULES & REGULATIONS

 Not adhering to the Regulations and Competition Rules listed in this document may result in disqualification from current and/or future Mustang Showcase (MS) competitions and programs. REGULATIONS: Mustang Showcase Management has the unqualified right to determine eligibility and can, at any time, remove an applicant or contestant from an MS program and/or competition for any reason or for no reason.

 1.      Riders must be 9 years or older and may show in any classes.

2.      No refunds will be issued for any reason, however, you can change horses if needed.

3.      Training/schooling must be humane and compassionate. “Least resistance” techniques are encouraged. At all times, the humane care and best interest of the horse are paramount.

4.      Participants are required to submit a signed release with their entry so that all photos and filming may be used to promote the event and will be the property of the Mustang Showcase.

5.      The purpose of this event is to showcase the talent and trainability of Mustangs and to provide an opportunity for trainers and horses to engage in safe competition. Therefore, all horses entered into the competition should be gentle and safe to maneuver through the show grounds. Upon entry onto the show grounds, should a horse be deemed unsafe by MS Management, that horse may be excused or uninvited to participate in the competition.

6.      Upon entry onto the show grounds, all out of state trainers must provide a current Health Certificate/ Coggins paperwork for their animals.

7.      Upon entry onto the show grounds, horses may be examined by a veterinarian or knowledgeable individual to determine the health and condition of the horse. Should a horse be deemed in poor condition by a veterinarian OR by a knowledgeable individual that horse may be excused or uninvited to participate in the competition.

8.      Exhibitors are responsible for bringing all tack, feed, water buckets and supplies needed during the competition. Shavings will be provided for those renting a stall.

9.      Class Winners will be announced immediately following the conclusion of each class. At-will class winners will be announced as soon as all riders have completed the class.

10.  Conduct shall be orderly, responsible, sportsmanlike and humane in the treatment of horses, such as to promote the implementation of the event and fair competition. This includes, but is not limited to: conduct while trainers have horses in their possession; conduct on the show grounds; and includes the conduct of individuals traveling with trainers, spectators or event managers and all other persons being present on show grounds. Any alleged unsportsmanlike or irresponsible conduct or any form of misconduct, such as illegal, indecent or profane, and inhumane treatment of horses are prohibited and shall be grounds for the disciplinary action against offending individuals.

11.  Further, event management may immediately expel offenders from the competition or show grounds in order to preserve the decorum of the show.

12.  Humane Treatment Policy: Every horse shall, at all times, be treated humanely and with dignity, respect and compassion. Any participant using abusive or excessive training techniques or being inhumane to a horse in his/her care (determined excessive or abusive by Mustang Showcase Management) may be removed from the contest and/or all future contests and training programs. The following list, while in no way exhaustive, includes examples of unacceptable behavior and training techniques: • No horse that appears to be emaciated, drawn or injured may be exhibited. • Use of inhumane training techniques or methods such as striking horse with objects, excessive spurring and/or excessive jerking of reins. • Any inhumane treatment that results in wounds.

13.  No Smoking

14.  No Dogs allowed on premises, not even in a vehicle or trailer, no exceptions. We love dogs too, but please plan accordingly and leave your dogs at home. Thank you!

COMPETITION RULES

 1.      STEWARDS: Mustang Showcase Management may (at any event) designate one or more individuals as a Steward to support the efforts of show officials. The Steward’s responsibilities may include but are not limited to: 1) Monitor show grounds for any inhumane treatment of horses and unsportsmanlike conduct; 2) Investigate complaints and issue warnings; and 3) Assist show officials and trustees in any capacity.

2.      Horses may be exhibited in English, Western or other appropriate equine styles and equipment. Exhibitors must wear long pants and close-toed shoes. Exhibitor apparel will not affect show placement.

3.      The judge or steward may prohibit or mark down points for the use of any bit or equipment they consider inhumane or would tend to give a horse/rider an unfair advantage. Bitless bridles are allowed.

4.      Excessive spurring or jerking on the reins or lead line during the competition may result in disqualification.  

5.      No person shall alter, change or attempt to hide the natural marking and/or rubbed or raw skin of a horse by surgery, dye, powder or in any other manner. Participants may clip/trim horses, or leave mane, tail, ears, muzzle and fetlocks natural. Costume-related tail/mane decorations will be allowed during the freestyle performances.

6.      Drugs: No person shall administer drugs internally or externally to a horse, either before or during the Mustang Showcase. Any medication, drug, mechanical device or artificial appliance, which is of such character as, could affect or enhance the horse’s performance or appearance at the event is prohibited. This does not include herbal/natural supplements. If a horse is receiving medication for therapeutic purposes, the owner must submit a letter from their veterinarian to the event manager as to the reason for the medication and the prescribed amount. The management reserves the right to drug test any horse in the competition. Positive tests will result in removal from the event without reimbursement.

7.      Participants will be given specific competition patterns at the event. Riders will have an opportunity to “walk through” the patterns prior to the class.

8.      Class awards will be presented at the conclusion of the show. Any class ties will be broken at the discretion of the judges.  

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS AND JUDGING

 Walk/Trot Equitation (English/Western)- This is a rail class and all horses will enter together and stay on the rail. They will follow the announcer’s instructions and be asked to walk and trot in both directions as well as reverse, stop, and back. The terms “Jog” and “Trot” may be used interchangeably in the descriptions below. When riding Western, horses are expected to Jog: meaning a slower, more collected and cadenced 2 beat gait. When riding English, horses are expected to trot: meaning a brisker, more extended and cadenced 2 beat gait. In the case of a tie, the judge may ask participants to extend or collect the trot. Judged on the overall picture of horse and rider, the horse should be on the bit, moving freely forward and listening.

 Walk/Trot/Lope Equitation (English/Western)- This is a rail class and all horses will enter together and stay on the rail. They will follow the announcer’s instructions and be asked to walk, trot and canter or lope in both directions as well as reverse, stop, and back. The terms “Jog” and “Trot” may be used interchangeably in the descriptions below. When riding

Western, horses are expected to Jog: meaning a slower, more collected and cadenced 2 beat gait. When riding English, horses are expected to trot: meaning a brisker, more extended and cadenced 2 beat gait. The terms “lope” and “canter” may be used interchangeably in the descriptions below. When riding Western, horses are expected to lope: meaning a slower, more collected and cadenced 3 beat gait. When riding English, horses are expected to canter: meaning a brisker, more extended and cadenced 3 beat gait.  In the case of a tie, the judge may ask participants to extend or collect the trot or canter. Judged on the overall picture of horse and rider, the horse should be on the bit, moving freely forward and listening.

 Ranch Riding- Participants will be asked to complete a number of tasks that would typically be needed to complete chores on a ranch. The pattern may call for a walk, jog/trot, lope/canter, reverse, back, rollbacks, pivots, jog over poles, drag an object, open and close gates, mount and dismount, bridle and unbridle. Judged on the overall calmness, movement and responsiveness of the horse as well as the rider’s equitation and ability to guide the horse through the class.  

 Trail Course- A set pattern will be given on an outdoor set of obstacles that may include: walking, trotting, a bridge, trot poles, backing, side passing, pivots and other obstacles. Judged on the confidence and poise of the rider as well as the precision and completion of maneuvers in a timely manner. Points may be docked if riders spend too long on any one element or obstacle. Can be shown Western or English tack.

 Dummy Roping- Riders will be judged on technique and execution of roping a dummy (which may be stationary or dragged behind an ATV).

 Barrel Racing - This is a timed event in which three barrels are set up in a cloverleaf pattern in the arena, and the rider must cleanly negotiate the pattern.

 Pole Bending- This is a timed event in which riders must weave 6 poles in a typical pole bending pattern.  

 In-Hand Horsemanship- In Hand Horsemanship shows the judge your horse handling skills and safety. Handlers may be asked to perform some of the following skills with their horse: lunging, leading, catching, picking up feet, disengagement of hips and shoulders, backing horse, and loading in a trailer, etc. Judged on the ability to assess the horse and work through skills on the fly. A pattern with 3-8 elements will be provided before the event. Points may be docked if handlers spend too long on any one element or obstacle. Competitors will enter one at a time and complete the pattern.

 Hunter Hack – Hunter hack is a type of English pleasure class where exhibitors perform on the flat at a walk, trot, canter, and then jump two low fences (not to exceed 2’ tall).

 Cross Rail Hunters – 7 to 8 cross rail jumps in a hunter style course consisting of a single fence on the quarter line, diagonal line with related distance, outside line with related distance and/or single on the diagonal. Trotting not penalized. Can trot or canter the course or some combination. Extreme speed penalized. Judged on style, soundness and partnership. Course to be posted at the back gate. 

 Dressage Intro C – USDF Intro Test C. Readers allowed and encouraged (someone to call out the course to you during your test). No railing. Letters only.

 Freestyle- Anything goes! Judged on creativity and overall difficulty. Participants and do anything they want. See freestyle rules below for more details.

 FREESTYLE RULES

For the freestyle performance, participants will have 3 minutes to stage or set the arena. Participants must provide their own props and assistance for arena set up and tear down. It is the participant’s responsibility to make sure all props are cleared from the arena immediately following the conclusion of the freestyle performance.

1.       All props must be freestanding. Nothing may be driven into the ground (i.e. rebar, stakes, etc.), and doing so will result in disqualification.

2.       Participants may promote personal businesses/sponsors on props used during the freestyle performance.

3.       Props of pyrotechnic nature including fireworks, flares, firecrackers, rings of fire, etc. are not allowed and will result in disqualification.

4.       Shooting will not be allowed.

5.       Trainers will have 4 minutes to complete their freestyle performance – music and time will start simultaneously when the trainer and/or horse enters the arena. Live "voice-overs" and/or commentary from the trainer and/or trainer representative are not allowed during the performance and will result in disqualification.

6.       Music is a required component of the freestyle performance – if the trainer does not turn in music at the event, management may select music for him/her. Music must be submitted as one single track either on a CD or as an mp3 file or on Spotify.

7.       Cattle will not be provided or allowed during the freestyle performance.

8.       Other animals (dogs, additional horses, etc.) will NOT be allowed in the arena during the performance for any reason and will result in disqualification. Other people (including children) will NOT be allowed in the arena during the performance for any reason other than to drive a vehicle to be used during the performance. If someone other than the participant is driving a vehicle in the performance none of the occupants of the vehicle will be allowed to exit the vehicle while in the arena and the windows must be rolled up at all times (the vehicle, if driven by someone other than the trainer, must be closed-cab; gators, golf carts, ATV’s, etc. will not be allowed and will result in disqualification). Other people are NOT allowed to act as props, ride or come in contact with the horse at any point during the performance and will result in disqualification. Other people may hand props to the participant from outside the arena. Mustangs are not allowed to trot or lope onto or into any moving or covered vehicles/trailers/props of any kind and will result in disqualification.

9.       Horses are not allowed to trot or lope through any moving vehicles/trailers/props of any kind and will result in disqualification.

10.   The participant is NOT allowed to stand, kneel, etc. on top of a horse that does not have all four feet on the ground and doing so will result in disqualification. OR cannot stand on or ride any animals less than 3 years old.

11.   Participant must wear appropriate footwear during the freestyle performance – bare feet are not allowed and will result in disqualification.

12.   Judges and/or MS Management may stop any performance deemed unsafe, dangerous or otherwise inappropriate.

13.   Ties will be broken by the WOW factor score. In case of further ties, a tiebreaker judge may be used. Management reserves the right to use a “ride off” as a tie breaker for first place.

14.   All items/props are subject to final review and approval by event manager.

15.   Freestyle will be scored on the following: Overall horsemanship/handling; communication/partnership between horse and rider and the horse’s overall willingness to perform and execute maneuvers correctly in a controlled, relaxed and confident manner. Incorporation of maneuvers and their degree of difficulty, which may include sidepass, pulling or dragging, jumping, serpentines, rollbacks, roping, lead changes, circles with variance in size and speed, stops, etc. components of choreography; the composition and arrangement of the ride in relation to the music and its rhythm, as well as the use of maneuvers, costumes, and/or props to enhance the performance, The “WOW” Factor – level of originality and the overall entertainment value.