11 - Preliminary Pleasure

11.1 Horses any age ridden two-handed in a snaffle bit or hackamore or one handed in a curb bit. This class is now open to any horse or rider irrespective of the points they have accrued. N.B. No points are awarded in this class. Each contestant will perform the required pattern individually and separately. All horses will be judged immediately upon commencing the pattern and judging will cease after the last manoeuvre. Any fault incurred prior to the commencement of a pattern will be scored accordingly. Equipment all as described for Pleasure.

Pattern

1. Be ready at A.
2. Walk to B.
3. At B jog to D.
4. At D lope on a left lead to G.
5. At G Walk and reverse.
6. At G jog to D with a leg yield out to pass the two cones and leg yield to return to the track.
7. At D lope on a right lead.
8. At B stop and back up.
9. Hesitate to show completion of pattern.
10. Leave the arena.

11.2 The class is to be run individually on the rail to simulate a Pleasure class including an assessment of all paces together with a simulated overtaking manoeuvre. The overtaking manoeuvre is to be simulated by the provision of two cones set two (2) metres apart sited centrally on the long side two (2) metres from the rail. Scoring will be on a basis of 0 to 100 with 70 denoting an average performance.

11.3 Scoring guidelines to be considered: Points will be added or subtracted from the manoeuvres on the following basis, ranging from plus 1½ to minus 1½: +1½ excellent; +1 very good; +½ good; 0 average; -½ poor; -1 very poor; -1½ extremely poor. Manoeuvre scores are to be determined independently of penalty points.

A. To be scored according to severity.

• Excessive speed (any gait).
• Excessive slowness in any gait, losing forward flow in his motion.
• Head occasionally carried too high.
• Head occasionally carried too low.
• Occasional over flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical.
• Excessive nosing out.
• Opening mouth excessively.
• Use of spurs or romal forward of the cinch.
• If horse appears sullen, dull, lethargic, emaciated, drawn, or overly tired.
• Quick, choppy or pony-strided.
• If reins are draped to the point that light contact is not maintained.

B. To be cause for disqualification.

• Changing hands on reins or two hands on reins (except when showing with a hackamore or snaffle bit).
• More than one finger between reins.
• Head consistently carried too high.
• Over flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is consistently carried behind the vertical.
• Fall to the ground by horse or rider.
• Head consistently carried too low (tip of ear below the withers).
• Over-flexing or straining neck so the nose is carried behind the vertical consistently.
• Failure to complete pattern as written.

C. Five points.

• Blatant disobedience including kicking out, biting, bucking, and rearing.
• Holding saddle or touching horse with either hand.

D. Three points.

• Not performing the specific gait (walk, jog or lope) or stopping when called for in the pattern, within 10 feet (3m) of the designated area.
• Break of gait at walk or jog for two or more strides.
• Break of gait at the lope.

E. One Point.

• Break of gait at the walk or jog up to two strides.