Western Horse Show – Infield Arena
- Showmanship (18 and under)
- Showmanship (19 and older)
- Halter Gelding
- Halter Mare
- Ranch Halter Confirmation
- Open Walk/Trot (all ages)
- Lead line (10 years and under)
- Jr. Horse Western Pleasure (horse 5 and under)
- Sr. Horse Western Pleasure (horse 6 and over)
- Western Pleasure (11-18)
- Western Pleasure (19 and older)
- Open Ranch Rail
- Open Ranch Riding
- Horsemanship (youth)
- Horsemanship (adult)
- Circle Medal Horsemanship
- Open Ranch Stakes
- Open Pleasure Stakes
** All-round Champion: Awarded neck ribbon **
** Reserve All-round Champion: Awarded neck ribbon **
A Horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and ponies. Most shows consist of a series of different performances, called classes, wherein a group of horses with similar training or characteristics compete against one another for prize money and awards.
Pleasure horses are shown at the walk, jog, and lope, on the rail, and in both directions. Reverses (a turn in the other direction, performed in a teardrop fashion) are always executed away from the rail, and only at the walk and jog, because at the lope it would involve a lead change. The announcer gives the riders the appropriate commands, like Walk your horses, Jog your horses, Lope your horses, or Reverse, at a signal from the judge. At the discretion of the judge, he can ask for an extended jog (trot) to determine his placings in a western pleasure competition.
Halter is a type of horse show class where horses are shown “in hand,” meaning that they are led, not ridden, and are judged on their conformation and suitability as breeding stock. Showmanship at Halter” or “Halter Showmanship” It involves a person on the ground leading a horse, wearing a halter or bridle, through a series of maneuvers called a pattern. The horse itself is not judged on its conformation. Rather, the exhibitor is judged on how well he or she exhibits the animal to its best advantage, with additional scoring for the grooming and presentation of both horse and handler. In Western Horsemanship the skill of the rider is tested as well as the degree of training of his or her horse. Basically, what counts is how well the two work together, how harmonious their concerted performance is.