6. Performance Classes

6.1  All Western Equestrian Society approved shows, clinics or demonstrations run under the auspices of the Society insurance (i.e. Approved Event) must have the approval of the Society (the application form is available on the WES website) at least 21 days before the event. Each approved event must have a representative on the management team who is listed on the current list of Society Approved Event Managers.

6.2  For all affiliated shows, classes offered under the name of the Western Equestrian Society shall conform to this rule book.

6.3  Except for Showmanship classes, competitors must display two numbers, situated each side of the saddle blanket. These must always be clearly visible to the judge. Failure to comply could result in disqualification. For affiliated shows it is a requirement for affiliation that two numbers be provided to competitors.

For Showmanship classes, one number must be clearly displayed, either attached to the back of the competitor's attire or to the top of a trouser leg near the waistband.

6.4  Categories:

• a.  Little Britches – Aged 9 years and under years old. May use English or Western tack. Ridden horses must be 4 years or older. No points. Any competitor entering a Little Britches class may not enter a class of the same discipline (Pleasure, Trail or Horsemanship) which includes a requirement to lope.
• b.  Youth 13 & under – Western tack but may use Engish Saddle (i.e. Western Bridle and English saddle). Horses 4 years and older to be ridden two handed in a snaffle bit or hackamore or one handed in a curb bit. Points awarded.
• c.  Youth 14-18 – Western tack only. Horses 4 years and older to be ridden two handed in a snaffle bit or hackamore or one handed in a curb bit. Points awarded.
• d.  Youth All Ages – Western tack only. Horses 4 years and older to be ridden two handed in a snaffle bit or hackamore or one handed in a curb bit. Points awarded in corresponding to aged categories.
• e.  Novice Rider – A member who has not gained 48 novice rider points or more on January 1st of the current year. Must hold a valid WES amateur card. Horses 4 years and older to be ridden two handed in a snaffle bit or hackamore or one handed in a curb bit.
• f.  Amateur – All Competitors must hold a valid WES amateur card. Horses 4 years and older to be ridden one handed in a curb bit, except that horses under 6 years of age may be ridden two handed in a snaffle bit or hackamore.
• g.  Open – All competitors. Horses 4 years and older to be ridden one handed in a curb bit. Horses under 6 years of age may be ridden two handed in a snaffle bit or hackamore.
• h.  Novice Horse – A horse that has not gained 48 novice horse points or more on the 1st January of the current year. Horses 4 years and older can be ridden two handed in a snaffle bit or hackamore or one handed in a curb bit.
• i.  Intermediate Horse – A horse that has not gained 48 intermediate horse points or more on the 1st January of the current year. Horses 4 years and older can be ridden two handed in a snaffle bit or hackamore or one handed in a curb bit.
• j.  Walk/Jog – Open to Novice (horse or rider) and all youth categories. Horses 4 years and over to be ridden two handed in a snaffle or hackamore or one handed in a curb bit. No points awarded.

6.5  In all point earning classes, points will be awarded as follows:

Competitors are advised to refer to the Points Allocation Map for an explanation of how points earned in competition are applied in WES.

6.6  Points gained while competing in a higher level will be added to those already awarded at a lower level. E.g. points gained in Open Pleasure will be added to Intermediate Horse, Novice Horse and Novice Rider points.

Points awarded to youth riders in categories other than youth will be awarded as above.

6.7  Competitors entering a class "Hors Concours" (for example for a practice run) must inform the judge and remove or hide any entry number they have been given (only allowed in rail classes if for safety reasons numbers allow).

6.8  Championship Qualifiers. Entry into Championship classes at The WES National Show will be limited to competitors from the following categories (refer to paragraph 6.4):

• Youth 13 and Under
• Youth 14-18
• Intermediate Horse
• Amateur Rider
• Open

These will be known as the designated categories.

Competitors placing in Novice Rider, Novice Horse, Little Britches and any Walk/Jog classes are excluded from entry into Championship classes, in respect of their placings in those classes. If the same competitor also enters one of the designated categories and is placed as required, they will be eligible to enter the Championship class based on the placings only.

Entry into the Championship classes can be earned three routes.

• Champion horse and rider combination from the previous year's National Show as published in the official results, on the Society's website.
• First and second competitors in that discipline, in the designated categories at the current National Show. Note: For first and second placed to qualify the class must have at least 3 competitors. If there are only 2 competitors in the class only the first will qualify.
• First and second placed competitors in that discipline, in the designated categories at WES approved shows either Area or Regional show. Specific WES classes offered at an Outside body event (appendix shows) which are judged by an approved judge (a regional show is an approved show being organised by a combination of two or more areas). Note: For first and second placed to qualify the class must have at least 3 competitors. If there are only 2 competitors in the class only the first will qualify.

The qualifying disciplines are:

• Showmanship
• Horsemanship
• Western Pleasure
• Trail (excluding In Hand Trail)
• Western Riding
• Reining
• Ranch Riding
• Ranch Trail
• Working Ranch Rail

From time to time the disciplines may be amended subject to agreement of Council.

There will be no additional fee for entry into Championship classes. All qualifying competitors will be invited to come forward for entry into the class. However, competitors must be able to perform at the required level for the Championship class e.g. undertake flying changes if required by the pattern.

A competitor cannot normally have more than one "run" in any Championship class e.g. if a competitor has qualified for Trail in both Amateur and Open categories, they can only perform one attempt in the Trail Championship class. The exception to this would be if a competitor qualified on two different horses in different categories but for the same discipline. However, if said qualification was for a "rail" class e.g. Western Pleasure, then the competitor can only compete on one horse in the Championship class. In this event, the competitor must inform the Show Secretary which horse they will be competing on in the Championship class.

General Show Conduct

6.9  Competitors may direct questions to a judge ONLY via the ring steward.

6.10  In all classes where backing is required, the judge may, at his/her discretion, require backing of only the top ten.

6.11  A Judge must place a maximum of ten places. No class is complete until all ties through point earning places are broken. A judge may ask for a run-off if there is a tie for first place.

6.12  Re-runs will not be allowed in instances of equipment failure.

6.13  Any horse leaving the arena while being judged, without the consent of the judge, will be disqualified from that class.

6.14  Horses which in the opinion of the Judge are out of control, behaving in an unacceptable or unsafe manner or rider illtreating horses will be disqualified and asked to leave the arena. In the case of the latter, disciplinary proceedings may follow.

6.15  Any horse or rider that threatens (such as, but not limited to, kicking, barging, deliberately cutting up) another competitor or acting in a dangerous manner, will be disqualified from the class and asked to leave the arena. In the case of kicking at another horse or exhibitor in a rail class the horse will be excluded from any other rail class at that show and entry fees will be forfeited.

6.16  Stallions must not be handled or ridden by any person under the age of 19.

6.17  A horse or rider falling to the ground is cause for disqualification. A horse is deemed to have fallen when its shoulder and/or hip and/or underline touches the ground. A rider is considered to have fallen, when he or she is not astride.

6.18  Lameness. The judge shall examine and check for fitness and lameness of all horses brought into any class. The judge has the authority and duty to excuse and disqualify any horse from the class due to fitness or lameness at any time while being judged. Only with veterinary clearance at the show will the horse be allowed into other classes. This clearance shall not affect the result of any previous class.

Obvious Lameness is:

• Consistently observable at the trot under all circumstances.
• Marked nodding, hitching or shortening of stride.
• Minimal weight bearing in motion and/or at rest and inability to move.

6.19  The following terminology shall apply in all western classes whenever a specific gait is called for:

• The walk is a natural, flat-footed, four-beat gait. The horse must move straight and true at the walk. The walk must be alert with a stride of reasonable length in keeping with the size of the horse. Loss of forward rhythmic movement shall be penalised.
• The jog is a smooth, ground-covering, two-beat diagonal gait. The horse works from one pair of diagonals to the other pair. The jog should be square, balanced and with a straight, forward movement of the feet. Horses walking with their back feet and trotting on the front are not considered performing the required gait. When asked to extend the jog, he moves out with the same smooth way of going.
• The lope is an easy, rhythmical three-beat gait. Horses moving to the left should lope on the left lead. Horses moving to the right should lope on the right lead. Horses travelling at a four-beat gait are not considered to be performing at a proper lope. The horse should lope with a natural stride and appear relaxed and smooth. He should be ridden at a speed that is a natural way of going. The head should be carried at an angle that is natural and suitable to the horses' conformation at all gaits.
• A simple change of lead is performed by breaking to a walk or jog for one to three strides. More than three strides will be treated as a break of gait.

6.20  An exhibitor may enter more than one horse per event, but a horse may not be entered for more than one rider in the same class.

6.21  In all pattern classes it is mandatory that the Show Management post the pattern to be worked at least one hour prior to the commencement of the class.

6.22  The following performance events have been approved by the Society.