Barrel Racing
An exciting race against the clock in which exhibitors follow a course consisting of three barrels in a triangular "cloverleaf" pattern. Riders choose to circle either the right or left barrel first, race to the opposite barrel and complete the course after circling the third barrel and racing down the center of the three barrels to stop the timer. Knocking over a barrel carries a five second penalty.

Cutting
Puts the Quarter Horse against a cow in a battle of wills. Horse and rider must move quietly into a herd of cattle, cut one cow from the herd, drive it to the center of the arena and "hold" it away from the herd. The horse is scored on its ability to keep the cow from returning to the herd, cow sense, attentiveness and courage. There is a 2-1/2 minute time limit.

Futurity Class
is a class for horses age 4 and under. These horses MAY NOT enter any other mounted classes in the show. ONLY futurity classes. They may show halter classes and that's IT. This rule was broken the most last season so please pay attention to it.

Gymkhana

Halter
Evaluates conformation of the Quarter Horse as a breed. Halter classes are divided by age and sex. Horses are shown with a leather halter and are traveled before judges so that lameness and quality of movement can be evaluated. Horses are judged on balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characteristics and degree of muscling. Of these, balance is the most important.

Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced Classes
Use your discretion as to what level your horse is at. Please be fair in your assessment. This is on the honors system. If problems arise the HWA reserves the right to define specific guidelines.

Pole Bending
A timed event in which the speed and agility of the horse are tested as horse and rider twice weave through a course of six poles spaced 21 feet apart, twice circling end poles before turning and racing to the finish line. The pattern must be followed exactly. A five-second penalty is added for each pole knocked down.

Reining
Judges the horse on movements, mastery of a prescribed maneuver and attitude as he is guided through one of 11 patterns. The horse is required to perform a number of stops, spins, rollbacks, lead changes and circles at a lope. The horse should be willing to be guided with little or no resistance.

Showmanship At Halter
A class for youth and amateur exhibitors only, it is designed to judge the showmanship skills of the exhibitors. Judges evaluate the grooming and fitting of the horse, and expertise of the exhibitor in presenting the horse. Each exhibitor is required to perform a pattern designed by the Judge with emphasis on preciseness of pattern and degree of confidence exhibited by the showman.

Suitability Class
consists of a halter and lunge line class. It is only open to horses age 2 and under. Horses showing in these class may ONLY enter lunge line and halter classes in the rest of the show. NO mounted classes.

Team Penning

Team Roping

Trail
The trail class tests the maneuverability of the Quarter Horse through an obstacle course. Mandatory obstacles include one in which the rider will open, pass through and close a gate. Scoring is based on the horse’s willingness, ease and grace in negotiating the course. The other two mandatory obstacles are riding over at least four logs or poles and one backing obstacle.

Versatility Ranch Horse
The Versatility Ranch Horse competition is the newest approved class. The competition demonstrates the versatility of the working ranch horse in five categories - ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch cutting, working ranch horse and ranch conformation. To be eligible for points in the Versatility Ranch competition one rider/one horse must enter all five classes. Credits will be applied per class according to the placing received based on the number of horses competing in that particular class. There is an open division for horses shown by the recorded owner or by immediate family members or shown by a full-time employee (six months or more). A Youth division also is offered to exhibitors 18 years of age or younger (age as of January 1) as long as they are the recorded owner or exhibit a horse owned by his or her immediate family members. Youth exhibitors may show horses owned by a ranch where the exhibitor's family is a full time employee (for six months or more). The Versatility Ranch Horse competition promotes the athletic ability and versatility of the horse.

Walk And Jog Trail Horse
This class will be judged on the performance of the horse and rider while maneuvering five obstacles. Riders are to work individually. There will be no rail work. Judges will assign a point value to each obstacle and points will be added to or subtracted from this score, based on the horse and rider's performance over that obstacle. An obstacle missed, refused, or taken out of order will result in a score of zero for that obstacle but will not disqualify entry.

Walk And Jog Western Horsemanship
All exhibitors will compete on the rail at a walk and jog both ways of the ring, line up and complete an individual workout. Riders will remain in the ring throughout the individual workouts. Horses will be shown at two gaits - walk and jog. Exhibitors will be asked to walk from place in line around first marker to second marker, then take up a jog and continue around third marker back to second marker. Finally, riders will be asked to stop and back four steps, then walk back and line up. Judges are not permitted to alter the mandatory workout in any manner.

Western Horsemanship
Designed to test the horsemanship abilities of youth and amateur riders using western tack. Divided into two sections, riders first follow a prescribed pattern of maneuvers at a walk, trot or lope. Finalists ride as a group around the perimeter of the arena. Judging focuses on the rider’s body position, seat in the saddle and ability to control the horse.

Western Pleasure
Contestants compete simultaneously, traveling the perimeter of the arena, and at the discretion of the judge, are asked to walk, jog, lope and reverse the direction of the horse. Horses are evaluated on quality of movement while staying quiet and calm, traveling on a loose rein.

Western Riding
Judges the abilities of the Quarter Horse to change leads precisely, easily and simultaneously, using both hind and front legs. Following one of three patterns consisting of a log and a series of pylons, the horse and rider must change gaits – from a walk to a jog or a lope throughout the course. Reward is given to the horse that changes fluidly and precisely between the middle of the pylons within the pattern.

Working Cow Horse
Combines reining ability and cow sense. This event tests the Quarter Horse’s skills that are applicable to ranch work. The competition consists of two parts: prescribed reined work and actual cow work. Judging is based on good manners, smoothness, cow sense and ease of reining. During the cow working part, one cow is turned into the arena. The horse is required to hold the cow on the end of the arena, make at least one turn each direction along the fence, and circle the cow both directions.

Working Hunter
An event which demonstrates the gracefulness of the Quarter Horse as it maneuvers a course consisting of at least four obstacles but must jump a minimum of eight fences. Manners, style of jumping, flow of strides, balance and keeping an even hunter pace are factors in the judges’ scoring.

Youth Class
A class for exhibitors under the age of 18.

Adult Class
A class for exhibitors ages 18 and over.

Open Class
A class that anyone may enter, EXCEPT those horses entering suitability, futurity, or lunge line classes.