Saddle Seat Equitation

(Rider is being judged.)

Tack and Attire

1. See Saddle Seat tack and attire requirements on pages 17-26.
2. Exhibitors and judges should bear in mind that at all times entries are being judged on ability.
3. The 4-H armband is required.

Optional: Coats may be optional on hot days. Spurs of the unrowelled type, whips or crops.

Prohibited: Dropped nosebands, martingales or similar tie downs. Forward seat or Western saddles.

Seat and Hands

General.Judges should note that the required equitation seat should in no way be exaggerated but be thoroughly efficient and most comfortable for riding the type of horse called for at any gait for any length of time.

Control. In Saddle Seat Equitation classes, riders should convey the impression of effective and easy control. To show a horse well, the rider should show themself to the best advantage. A complete picture of the whole is of major importance.

Mounting and Dismounting. To mount, take up reins in left hand and place hand on withers. Grasp stirrup leather with right hand and insert left foot in stirrup and mount. To dismount, rider may either step down or slide down.

Hands. Hands should be held in an easy position, either perpendicular or horizontal to the saddle, and should show sympathy, adaptability and control. The height the hands are held above the horse's withers is a matter of how and where the horse carries its head. The method of holding the reins is optional, except that both hands shall be used and all reins must be picked up at one time. Bight of rein should be on the off side.

Basic Position. To obtain proper position, the rider should place themself comfortably in the saddle and find their center of gravity by sitting with a slight bend at the knees, but without use of irons. While in this position, adjust leathers to fit. Irons should be placed under ball of foot (neither toe nor "home"), with even pressure on entire width of sole and center of the iron. Foot position should be natural (neither extremely in nor out).

Position in Motion.

• Walk: slight motion in saddle
• Trot: slight elevation in saddle posting; hips under body, not mechanical up-and-down, nor swinging forward and backward
• Canter: close seat, going with horse

Possible Class Routines

A. Group Routine

1. Pattern Work. The judge may ask each horse to work a pattern individually at the start of the class. These individual works shall be any of the maneuvers normally required in a saddle seat class, such as figure eights and square stops as listed below. Horses shall be required to back in a straight line in this class. It must be remembered that, above all, a saddle seat horse is one that responds instantly and smoothly to all aids. Riders 14 years old and older may be asked to dismount and mount. Riders who have not reached their 14th birthday should not be required to dismount and mount. If a pattern is used, it should be posted one hour prior to the beginning of the class. The pattern should be one that can be completed within about 30 seconds.
2. Rail Work. Class to enter ring turning to right and proceeding to counterclockwise direction. Class will be judged at a walk, trot, and canter, both ways of the ring, and shall always be on the correct lead. The order to reverse may be executed by turning either toward or away from the rail. Entries shall line up on command, and any or all riders may be required to execute any appropriate tests included in class requirements. In large classes, only selected riders (determined from pattern work) may be asked to work on the rail.

Tests from Which Judges Must Choose

Tests may be performed either collectively or individually, but no other tests may be used. Instruction must be publicly announced (Tests 1 through 9 on page 46). Test 13 is NOT to be used here.

Additional tests:

1. Pick up reins.
2. Back.
3. Figure eight at trot, demonstrating change of diagonals. At left diagonal, rider should be sitting the saddle when left front leg is on the ground; at right diagonal, rider should be sitting the saddle when right front leg is on the ground. When circling clockwise, rider should be on left diagonal; when circling counterclockwise, rider should be on right diagonal.

Scoring Procedure:

Exhibitors are to be scored from 0 to infinity, with 70 denoting an average performance. Patterns will be divided into 6 to 10 maneuvers, as specified by the judge, and each maneuver will be scored from +3 to -3 with ½ point increments acceptable that will be added or subtracted from 70. Maneuver scores should be determined independent of penalties, and should reflect equal consideration of both performance of the exhibitor's pattern and the equitation form and effectiveness of the exhibitor to result in the following scores: +3 Excellent, +2 Very Good, +1 Good, 0 Average or Correct, -1 Poor, -2 Very Poor, -3 Extremely Poor. Exhibitors overall equitation form and effectiveness should also be scored from 0 to 5 with 0 to 2 Average, 3 Good, 4 Very Good, 5 Excellent. Exhibitors should also be judged on the rail, and their pattern score and/or ranking may be adjusted as appropriate.

Penalties: Maneuver evaluations and penalty applications are determined independently. The follow penalties will be applied for each occurrence and will be deducted from the final score:

Three (3) Points

• Break of gait at the walk or jog up to 2 strides
• Over or under turn from 1/8 to ¼ turn
• Tick or hit of cone
• Obviously looking down to check leads or diagonals

Five (5) Points

• Not performing the specific gait or not stopping within 10 feet (3 meters) of designated location
• Missing a diagonal up to 2 strides in the pattern or on the rail
• Incorrect lead or break of gait at the canter (except when correcting an incorrect lead)
• Break of gait at a walk or trot for more than 2 strides
• Complete loss of contact between rider's hand and the horse's mouth
• Loss of iron
• Head carried too low and/or clearly behind the vertical while the horse is in motion, showing the appearance of intimidation

Ten (10) Points

• Loss of rein
• Use of either hand to instill fear or praise while on pattern or during rail work
• Hold saddle with either hand
• Spurring or use of the crop in front of girth
• Blatant disobedience including kicking, pawing, bucking, and rearing

Disqualifications (should receive the lowest ribbon placing — generally white)

• Failure to display correct number in a visible manner
• Willful abuse of horse or schooling
• Fall by horse or exhibitor
• Illegal use of hands on reins
• Use of prohibited equipment
• Off pattern, including: knocking over or on wrong side of cone, never performing specified gait, lead or diagonal; overturning more than ¼ turn, shall not be disqualified, but must always place below exhibitors not incurring a disqualifying fault.