Hunter & Equitation Division & Class Descriptions 

  

Open Hunter: Open to all horses and riders. Adults may ride ponies, but please note suitability will be considered.  Judged on performance, manners, soundness, and way of going. The second over fences class will be a Handy Hunter course. In the Handy class, emphasis will be placed on turns, promptness, and brilliance. Fences will be 2'6" or 3’ rider’s choice.   Riders will receive a numerical score in the first over fences round. 

1. Open Hunter over fences - 3’, 2’6" 

2. Open Handy Hunter – 3’, 2’6"

3. Open Handy Hunter under saddle 

Adult Amateur Hunter: Open to riders eligible to compete as adults who are eligible to ride as an amateur as per USEF rules. Adults may ride ponies, but please note suitability will be considered.  Judged on performance, manners, soundness, and way of going. The second over fences class will be a Handy Hunter course. In the Handy class, emphasis will be placed on turns, promptness, and brilliance. Fences will be 2’ or 2’6”, rider’s choice.  Riders will receive a numerical score in the first over fences round. 

4. Adult Amateur Hunter over fences - 2’ then 2’6” 

5. Adult Amateur Handy Hunter - 2’ then 2’6” 

6. Adult Amateur Hunter under saddle 

Children’s Hunter: Open to riders eligible to compete as a junior.  Judged on performance, manners, soundness, and way of going. The second over fences class will be a Handy Hunter course. In the Handy class, emphasis will be placed on turns, promptness, and brilliance. Fences will be 2’ or 2’6”, rider’s choice.  Riders will receive a numerical score in the first over fences round. 

7. Children's Hunter over fences - 2’6” then 2’ 

8. Children's Handy Hunter - 2’6” then 2’ 

9. Children's Hunter under saddle 

Open Equitation: Open to all riders. Judged on hands, seat, and control of mount. Adults may ride ponies, but please note suitability will be considered. In the combined class, riders will show on the flat and be tested at the judge's discretion. 

Possible Tests include:

• Ride without stirrups. (Riders have option to cross stirrups).
• Figure eight at a trot demonstrating changing diagonals
• Figure eight at canter on correct lead demonstrating changing of lead
• Jump 2 or 3 obstacles at trot or canter. (fences no higher than 2') 
• Question(s) regarding basic horsemanship, conformation, and tack and equipment.
• Turn on forehand done through walk and or halt
• Serpentine at trot or canter.  At canter must demonstrate changes of lead.
• Demonstrate changes of lead on a straight line.
• Demonstrate counter canter
• Turn on haunches from a walk

 Fences for class 12 will be 2’ or 2’6”, rider’s choice. 

10. Open Equitation w/t/c 

11. Open Equitation combined (see possible tests in division description) 

12. Open Equitation over fences - 2’ then 2’6” 

Pleasure: Open to any age rider on horses or ponies. Adults may ride ponies, but please note suitability will be considered.  Judged on performance, manners, soundness, with an emphasis on suitability. Riders may be asked to do an extended trot in the under saddle class.  Fences will be 2’. 

13. Pleasure walk/trot 

14. Pleasure w/t/c 

15. Pleasure over fences - 2’ 

Baby Green Hunter: Please note: Eligibility for Baby Green Hunter is determined by the horse, not the rider. Open to green horses and ponies in their first or second year of showing over fences higher than 18” with any rider. Adults may ride ponies. Simple changes of lead will not be penalized. Judged on performance, manners, soundness, and way of going. Fences will be 2’.  Riders will receive a numerical score in the first over fences round. 

16. Baby Green Hunter over fences - 2’

17. Baby Green Hunter over fences - 2’

18. Baby Green Hunter under saddle 

Blue & Gray Hunter Classic: Open to all horses and ponies. Adults may ride ponies, but please note suitability will be considered.   The Classic is a 2 round competition open to all riders in the Baby Green, Children's, Adult Amateur, and Open Hunter divisions.  Riders must be entered in one of these division to be eligible for the Classic. 

     Round 1: The first round that counts toward the Classic is the first over fences round in the above divisions.  Riders should specify which round counts towards the Classic if they are competing in more than one of these divisions.  All riders will receive a numerical score for the round.  Riders will be pinned for this class as a part of their respective division. 

     Classic Round (Round 2): All classic entries will complete a second round over fences.  This round must be jumped at the same height as the division was jumped.  The Classic Round will be run as an open card to be completed at the end of the entered division.  The course will be a handy type course which MAY include fence options and/or fences outside the ring, trot fences, etc.  The second round will be judged on performance, hunter pace, jumping style, quality and substance, movement, handiness, and brilliance.  All riders in this round will receive a numerical score combined with their first round score.  

Hunter Classic Placings: Scores for rounds one and two will be combined for an overall total.  Ribbons from 1st-8th will be awarded at each show, with an extra prize for the winner.  The Classic will also accumulate points for a year-end award. 

19. Blue & Gray Hunter Classic (shown AM open card at same height as entered division) 

Modified Hunter: Open to any age rider on horses or ponies. Adults may ride ponies, but please note suitability will be considered. Judged on performance, manners, soundness, and suitability.  Fences may be rails, boxes, gates, etc. not to exceed 18”. Simple changes will not be penalized. Any horse/rider combination entered in Modified Hunter may not cross enter into any divisions jumping higher than 18”. 

20. Modified Hunter over fences - 18” 

21. Modified Hunter over fences – 18” 

22. Modified Hunter under saddle                                                                                       

Special Class – If offered, the special class is determined by each show.  

23. Special Class

Lead Line: Open to children ages 8 & under. Judged 50% on child’s hands & seat and 50% on the quietness & suitability of mount. In the second class riders will be asked to demonstrate a trot on lead.   In the third class, riders will show off the lead at a walk (with a side walker). Riders may be asked to drop and pick up reins/stirrups or asked simple questions.  Lead line riders may ONLY cross enter into the Blue & Gray Stirrup division. 

24. Lead line walk 

25. Lead line walk/trot 

26. Advanced Lead line (off lead) 

Blue & Gray Stirrup: Open to beginner riders of any age who have never shown over fences.  Adults may ride ponies. Judged 50% on hands, seat, and control of mount AND 50% on suitability and manners of horse/pony.   Riders may only cross enter into Lead Line and/or Walk Trot Hunter Divisions. 

27. Blue & Gray Stirrup walk 

28. Blue & Gray Stirrup Eq walk/trot 

29. Blue & Gray Stirrup Hunter walk/trot 

Short Stirrup: Open to riders 14 and under as of December 1 who have never shown in Equitation classes with fences higher than 18".   Judged on hands, seat, and control of mount.   Riders may only cross enter into Open Walk Trot, Crossrail, or Modified Hunter. 

30.  Short Stirrup walk/trot 

31. Short Stirrup walk/trot/canter 

32. Short Stirrup o/f - crossrails 

Long Stirrup: Open to riders 15 and over as of December 1 who have never shown in Equitation classes with fences higher than 18".  Adults may ride ponies, but please note suitability will be considered.  Judged on hands, seat, and control of mount.   Riders may only cross enter into Open Walk Trot, Crossrail, or Modified Hunter. 

33. Long Stirrup walk/trot 

34. Long Stirrup walk/trot/canter 

35. Long Stirrup o/f - crossrails 

Open Walk Trot: Open to horses and ponies.  Adults may ride ponies, but please note suitability will be considered. Judged on performance, manners, soundness, and suitability. The second flat class will be judged as a pleasure class. Fences will be four cross rails no higher than 18” to be jumped at the trot. Excessive cantering will be penalized. Any horse/rider combination entered in Walk Trot Hunter may not cross enter into any divisions jumping higher than 18”. 

36. Walk/Trot Hunter 

37. Walk/Trot Pleasure 

38. Walk/Trot - 4 cross rails 

Crossrail Hunter: Open to any age rider on horses or ponies. Adults may ride ponies, but please note suitability will be considered. Judged on performance, manners, soundness, and suitability.  Fences will be crossrails. Simple changes will not be penalized. Any horse/rider combination entered in Crossrail Hunter may not cross enter into any divisions jumping higher than 18”. 

39. Crossrail Hunter over 4 fences 

40. Crossrail Hunter over 8 fences 

41. Crossrail Hunter under saddle 

Blue/Red Warmup – Open to any rider as a warm-up round.  The course for all Blue/Red trips will be designated.  Rider must enter the Blue/Red class on the entry form (can enter multiple times) and specify that it is a Blue/Red round when entering the ring. Blue/Red classes can be jumped at whatever the current height is in the ring. Horse and rider can do as many as Blue/Red rounds as they would like. At management’s discretion blue/red classes may be closed due to a lack of time. Also, they will be closed during the classics.  No ribbons will be awarded in these rounds. 

42. Blue/Red Round 

 

**THOROUGHBRED DIVISION & CLASSIC** 

** T.I.P.. Awards** 

In 2026 we are proud to once again partner with the Thoroughbred Incentive Program for our year-end Thoroughbred awards!  Riders must fill out a separate application to nominate their thoroughbreds for these awards.  Horses must have a Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) card to be eligible.  These cards are available free of charge at www.tjctip.com.  You will need to create a login and submit your horse’s information (tattoo number or registered name; they have a link to help search for this information if needed)   All Thoroughbreds nominated with the Blue & Gray are eligible to compete in the 2026 TIP Championship show. 

For 2026 we are planning on offering the following special T.I.P. awards: 

At all Hunter Shows  

High Point Pleasure TB  

High Point TB Hunter - AM 

High Point TB Hunter - PM 

Jumper Show

TB Jumper division, 6 ribbons in each class plus Champion and Reserve 

Double Point 

 Nominated thoroughbreds will be invited to participate in one of the special Thoroughbred Hunter Classics, held at the final show, with its own prizes.     

Invitational TB Hunter Derby 2’, 2’6”, or 3’ 

Invitational TB Hunter Derby Crossrail or 18" 

Year End Awards 

Thoroughbred Division - Points will be accumulated by nominated TB horses in one of the following divisions: Children's, Adult Amateur, Hopeful Hunter, Open Hunter, the Hunter Classic, Crossrail Hunter, and Modified Hunter.  This division is pinned with both T.I.P. awards and circuit ribbons. 

T.I.P. High Point Champion & Reserve TB for the Hunter Classic 

Awarded to the top placing thoroughbred finishers in the hunter classic at the end of the year.   

T.I.P. High Point TB in any Division 

T.I.P. High Point Pleasure Champion and Reserve 

 

43. High Point Pleasure TB  (Awarded from Pleasure results)

44. High Point TB Hunter - AM (High scoring TB in Open, Adult Amateur, Children's, or Hopeful Hunter)

45. High Point TB Hunter - PM (High scoring TB from Modified, Open Walk Trot, or Crossrail Hunter)