Saddleseat
Is an English style of riding developed for very up-headed, high trotting, excitingly forward moving horses. Specifically, the American Saddlebred, Morgan, Arabian, and National Show Horse.

Natural Saddleseat
Natural Mane/Tail; Horses With Machine Shoe Or Barefoot; Natural Action Squarness, Uuiforced Frame (Lightness In Bridle), Manners.

Country Pleasure
The horse is judged on its elegant, foward movement at walk, trot, canter, stand and back.

English Pleasure
The horse is judged on its brilliant, high stepping movement at walk, trot, canter.

Park
The horse is judged on its extreme high level of action at walk, trot, canter.

Showmanship
The handler is judged on their ground skills and appearance.

Equitation
The handler is judged on their riding skills and appearance.

Country Combination
Is a class where exhibitors will drive their horses in Country Pleasure Driving half the class and then mount and ride in English Country Pleasure.

The first half of the class, the horses will enter the ring hitched to a two-wheel buggy and perform a slow, steady trot, a flat-foot walk, an extended trot, and a square, dead halt. They do this both ways of the ring. Country Pleasure Driving horses have long, flowing manes and tails and padded shoes are prohibited.

When the driving section is over, grooms, trainers, instructors, owners, and the like are asked to enter the ring. They quickky unharness the horse, wipe it down quickly, saddle and bridle it, and the exhibitor will mount up. When all "helpers" are out of the ring, the class resumes under saddle. The horses show a walk, trot, canter, and halt both ways of the ring and the class is finally over.

Country Combination is a class demanding staina and excellence in the horses as well as the riders. The horses have to be very well-rounded.

Road Pony Under Saddle
This is one of the less common but most fun classes to be in! Road ponies show at the jog, road gait, and the trot at speed. The rider just sits on top and tries to hold on to the little devils! When Roadsters are ridden under saddle, much enthusiasm is expressed by the crowd! It is a great class to watch!

Costume
In costume, you dress up your horse in whatever you want and just show at the showiest trot you can find in him and then you show him off in the center in the "line up." Costume is truly a fun class to watch and to show in!

Your horse can have a roached mane and tail or a long, full mane and tail, whatever you preferr! He can be padded or flat-shod, it is all good in Costume! This is a test on just how creative you can be!

Show Pleasure
Horses have long, flowing manes and tails and have a nice, ground-covering action that can be as high as they will lift! Show Pleasure horses are supposed to give off the impression that they are fun and easy to ride. They should show a true flat-walk, a airy, flowing trot and a smooth, slow canter- the slower the better! Show Pleasure horses can wear pads and are prohibited to wear any type of tail set or switch.

Three-Gaited
Open to American Saddlebreds, shown at the walk, trot, and canter

Five-Gaited
Open to American Saddlebreds, shown at the walk, trot, canter, rack (a fast, showy gait), and slow-gait (four-beat gait with great suspension).

Plantation Walker
Open to Tennessee Walking horses, shown at a Walk, Running Walk, and Canter.

Park
A class designation used in both Arabian and Morgan competition, where horses are shown at a walk, trot, and canter, judged on their brilliant, high action.

Pleasure
A class designation used in almost every breed, designated classes where good manners and smooth performance are more important than brilliant action. Most pleasure classes require horses to show at a walk, trot and canter, often calling for extended gaits.