Hunter Hack is the transitional English class between Hunter Under saddle and Working hunter, and requires a Quarter Horse to move freely and easily while jumping small fences. Horses are required to jump 2 fences, ranging in height from 2’ to 2.9’. After completing the jumps the horses are then shown at a walk, trot and canter along the rail in both directions. Horses are judged on manners and way of going, both on the flat and over fences.

Cutting pits a horse against a cow in a battle of wills. Cutting horses must possess cow sense – the ability to out-think and outmanoeuvre a cow. Horse and Rider must move quietly into a herd of cattle, cut one animal from the herd, drive it into the centre of the arena and hold it away from the herd. The rider must keep that one cow from returning to the rest of the herd. The cutting horse must match moves with the cow, anticipating it’s every manoeuvre. Judges score the horse on its ability to keep the cow from returning to the herd, cow sense, attentiveness and courage.

Dressage the most traditional of all styles of English riding. Dressage competition is divided into graded rests and contested in an arena measuring 60 x 20 metres. The test is made up of a combination of gaits and transitions which are sectioned into movements guided by alphabetical letters placed strategically around the arena. These movements are judged and scored individually then added to scores reflecting presentation and ability of the rider for a total overall score. The aim is to have the horse appear to do all the movements smoothly, correctly and with no obvious assistance from the rider.

AQHA Photo

Barrel Racing is one of the most exciting speed events of all with exhibitors racing against the clock, following a course consisting of three barrels in a triangular “clover leaf” pattern. Time starts when the horse’s nose crosses the starting line. Contestants must choose either the right or left barrel, circle it, and go on to the next barrel, completing the course after turning the third barrel. Barrels are permitted to be touched, but if one or more is knocked down during the course of the run, a five-second penalty per barrel is added. Contestants are also penalised five seconds if their hat blows off their head during their run.

Sue Jones Photo

Campdrafting has the prestigious title of being considered Australia’s own horse sport. This event originated from the day to day workings of an Australian Cattle property and has been adapted for arena competition. Horse and rider work as one to select a beast from a herd held in the “camp” and hold it at the gate preventing it from returning to the herd. The gate is then called for and horse and rider proceed to manoeuvre the beast outside around two pegs and through a gate within a 50 second time limit - the course is set in a clover leaf pattern. The maximum possible score is 100 which is divided between “horse work” (outside) 70 points, “cut out” (camp work) 26 points and “course” (2 peg & gate) 4 points. Horses are judged on their ability to cut out and hold the beast in the camp while outside the horse must make the beast negotiate the course smoothly and quietly with a minimum of direction from the rider.

Hacking stems deep from the English tradition and sees the horse in a more collected frame than that seen in the Hunter classes. Common practice would see Hacking judged outdoors and this event is the basis of all horse ring activities seen at Agricultural Shows across the country. Classes are divided either by height or performance-grading, with horses being judged on their ability to perform their paces; walk trot and canter, on the circle. Finalists are then chosen to complete an individual workout as set by the judge.