At a Glance - Changes for 2024:

The AHS Sportsmanship Program is staying for 2024! Each AHS show will award one sportsmanship award to an AHS member in attendance, with the season's winners eligible for the Grand Sportsmanship Award at the Year-End Awards Banquet.

Introducing Modified Equitation! Specs to read: Open to all Junior and Adult amateur riders on horses and ponies. Rider may not have shown higher than 2'3" in any show. May only cross enter into Pleasure at same show. Simple changes NOT to be penalized. Fences not to exceed 2'. Rider may not ride in division for more than two (2) years.

Equitation divisions (Modified, Novice, and Open) will run four (4) classes, 3 over fences and 1 flat, for 2024.

AHS Classics will be put on hold for the 2024 season.

And a reminder from 2019: Show managers are now required to submit prize lists for review to the Board 3 (three) weeks prior to their show date.

AHS Point Classes & Divisions

Equitation Divisions

Leadline: Open to children six (6) years of age or under. To be judged on manners and suitability of mount to rider. Two classes will be offered. One must be walk/trot. The other class is left to show managers discretion such as walk, command, off-lead, or pleasure. Not eligible for any other non-leadline classes.

Mini Stirrup: Open to juniors eight (8) years and younger. Riders may not cross enter into any jumping classes at the same horse show. Riders are eligible for any appropriate flat class. One class of four (4) cross rails or poles may be offered in this division. Poles or cross rails must be specified in prize list.

Short Stirrup Equitation: Open to children twelve(12) years of age and under on horses and ponies who have not competed in any show over fences exceeding 2'. Judged on hands, seat, general appearance, and control of mount. Recommended classes; 1. walk/trot; 2. walk/trot/canter; and 3. A simple course of 4-8 cross rails at 18".

Beginner Equitation: Open to all juniors who have not shown in more than eight (8) horse shows in any one year. The division will include a walk/trot; walk/trot/canter and a choice of one (1) or two (2) jumping classes of 4-8 fences at x-rails. Riders cannot jump more than 2' in any horse show and may only cross enter into Modified Hunter. It is hoped that people will use discretion when entering and be mindful of the spirit of this division. If entries do not warrant division to run, it may be combined with Long Stirrup Equitation.

Lesson Mount: Open to all riders on horses or ponies used solely in lesson programs. Judged on hands, seat, general appearance, and control of mount. Rider may not have shown higher than x-rails at any show. Recommended classes: 1. walk/trot equitation; 2. walk/trot pleasure; 3. walk/trot/canter; 4. a simple course of four (4) poles or x-rails (must be specified in prize list). May use any tack used in a schooling program.

Walk/Trot: Open to beginner riders (junior or adult amateur) on horses or ponies. Riders may not cross enter into any cantering or jumping classes. To consist of one walk Eq. class, one walk, trot Eq. class, and one walk, trot pleasure class.

Long Stirrup: Open to adult amateur riders on horses or ponies. Adults may not have jumped higher than 2'6" at any horse show. Riders are not eligible for any jumping classes other than Adult Modified Hunter or Pleasure. Recommended classes: equitation walk/trot; equitation walk/trot/canter; and equitation over four (4) poles or cross rails at rider's discretion. If entries do not warrant division to run, it may be combined with Beginner Equitation.

Modified Equitation:Open to all Junior and Adult amateur riders on horses and ponies. Rider may not have shown higher than 2'3" in any show. May only cross enter into Pleasure at same show. Simple changes NOT to be penalized. Fences not to exceed 2'. Rider may not ride in division for more than two (2) years.

Novice Equitation: Open to junior and adult amateur riders on horses or ponies. Riders may not have competed higher than 2'3". To be judged on hands, seat, and control of mount. Division will consist of two (2) over fence classes and one (1) flat class. Fences to be set at 2' or 2'3" at riders' discretion. A division with two (2) entries may run for lesser points or be combined with Open Equitation. Decision to be made before division begins.

Open Equitation: Open to junior and adult amateur riders on horses or ponies. To be judged on hands seat, and control of mount. Division will consist of two (2) over fences classes and one (1) flat class. Fences to be set at 2'6" or 2'9" at riders' discretion. A division with two (2) entries may run for lesser points or be combined with Novice Equitation.



Hunter & Jumper Divisions

Pleasure: Open to any type of pony or horse suitable for use as a pleasure mount. To be ridden by a junior or adult. Judged on performance, manners, and suitability of mount to rider. Division to have three (3) classes; 1) Walk/Trot, 2) Walk/Trot/Canter, 3) A simple course of four (4) poles or x-rails (must be specified on prize list).

Short Stirrup Hunter: Open to riders twelve (12) years of age and under. Riders to jump a simple course of eight (8) fences at 18". Horse/pony/rider combo may only cross enter into Short Stirrup Equitation and Junior Pleasure at the same show.

Modified Hunter: Open to all Junior and Adult amateur riders on horses and ponies. Rider may not have shown higher than 2'3" in any show. May only cross enter into Pleasure at same show. Simple changes NOT to be penalized. Fences not to exceed 2'. Horse and rider combination may not ride in division for more than two (2) years.

Baby Green Hunter: Open to horses or ponies who are in their 1st or 2nd year of showing over fences. Ponies to jump 2'. Horses to jump 2'3". Trotting corners will not be penalized.

Developing Hunter: Open to all horses and ponies in their first or second year of showing. Division to have walk/trot, walk/trot/canter, and two simple crossrails over fences classes. Simple changes and trotting corners not penalized. May cross enter into Baby Green.

Low Schooling Hunter: Open to all riders on horses or ponies. Judged on performance, way of going, manners and soundness. Fences at 2' or 2'3 at rider's discretion, to be designated on entry form. A division with two (2) entries may run for lesser points or be combined with High Schooling Hunter. Decision to be made before division begins.

High Schooling Hunter: Open to all riders on horses or ponies. Judged on performance, way of going, manners and soundness. Fences at 2'6 or 3' at rider's discretion, to be designated on entry form. A division with two (2) entries may run for lesser points or be combined with Low Schooling Hunter. Decision to be made before division begins.

Thoroughbred Hunter: Open to all full Thoroughbred horses/ponies. Judged on performance, way of going, and soundness. Fences to be at 2'3" or 2'9" at riders' discretion. Not to be combined with any other division. This will run as a trial for the 2017 show season.

Pre-Children's/Adult Hunter Horse: Open to Jr. Riders still eligible for Nov. Eq. over fences at any USEF rated show (have not won 3 blue ribbons in eq) on horses and Adult Amateur riders. May not cross enter into any Children/Adult Hunter classes on the same mount. Fences 2’6”.

Pre-Children's Hunter Pony: Open to Jr. Riders still eligible for Nov. Eq. over fences at any USEF rated show (have not won 3 blue ribbons in eq) May not cross enter into any Children’s Hunter classes on the same mount. Fences 2’.

Child/Adult Hunter: Open to horses and ponies ridden by juniors and adult amateurs. Judged on manners, performance, way of going, and suitability of mount to rider. Adults to jump 3'; Juniors on Small/medium ponies to jump 2', Large ponies 2'6", Horses 3'. May not cross enter into any Pre-Children's or Pre-Adult Hunter class or division on same mount. A division with two (2) entries may run for lesser point. NOTE: HORSE SHOW MANAGERS: At rated shows, USEF rules will prevail.

Pre-Adult Hunter: Open to adult amateur riders on either ponies or horses. Fence heights to be at 2'6". Riders may not cross enter into Modified Hunter or Long Stirrup Division at the same show. If entries do not warrant division to run, it may be combined with Pre-Children's Hunter.

Low Schooling Jumpers: Open to all riders on horses and ponies. Tables to be chosen by show manager. Jumps to be at 2' or 2'3" at riders' discretion. Time allowed will be generous (350m/min). (See USEF Rulebook for Table descriptions).

High Schooling Jumpers: Open to all riders on horses and ponies. Tables to be chosen by show manager. Jumps to be at 2'6" or 3' at riders' discretion. Time allowed will be generous (350m/min). (See USEF Rulebook for Table descriptions).