9.1 Requirements for Freestyle Horsemanship are to follow the rules as described for the Horsemanship class as detailed in Section 8. Freestyle Horsemanship provides an opportunity to use horsemanship skills creatively and to expand them to music by means of choreography. Riders are encouraged to use musical scores which permit them to show the athletic ability of the horse in a crowd appealing way.
9.2 Required Manoeuvres will be defined as follows:
- Each gait - walk, jog and lope - will be shown in both directions.
- Stop and back up.
- Side pass in both directions.
- Turn on haunches of 180 in either direction.
- A minimum of 1 lead change in lope from left to right.
- A minimum of 1 lead change in lope from right to left.
9.3 Exhibitors will only be judged astride.
9.4 Exhibitors are allowed to use two hands (as well as one or no hands) and any bit approved by the WES rulebook, including snaffle bits and bosals.
9.5 Failure to perform all the required manoeuvres or failure to complete the performance within the time limit will result in a score of 0.
9.6 Additional manoeuvres such as half pass are appropriate in Freestyle and shall be given appropriate credit. Additional repetitions of required manoeuvres are appropriate but will only add or subtract from the existing scores already given for the required manoeuvres, not as additional scores.
9.7 Equipment used in Freestyle must adhere to the following standards:
- (a) All equipment must be non-abusive and humane based on WES Rules and Regulations.
- (b) Any equipment not specifically covered by or in conflict with standard equipment guidelines must be non-abusive to the horse.
9.8 Time Limit: A maximum of 3 minutes including any introductions. The time limit will be from the beginning of the music or from the beginning of the introduction (whichever is first) and will end with the music.
- Costumes. Permitted but not required. Emphasis is placed on performing the manoeuvres to music.
- Props. Permitted but at no time may hinder the judges' view of the horse or rider. The use of props will not add to the score.