COLOR COUNTRY EQUESTRIAN CLUB

Updated March 2018

GENERAL RULES

COLOR COUNTRY EQUESTRIAN CLUB is open to all riders and all equine (horse, pony, mule, burro, etc.) of any age or breed. Exhibitors are eligible to enter classes based on current division status and age as of January 1st of the show year.  All equitation classes will be judged on the rider’s seat, hands, body position, and the ability to control and show their equine at all three (3) gaits (walk, trot/jog, lope/canter) in both directions of the show ring. 
 
ABUSIVE LANGUAGE OR BEHAVIOR TOWARDS AN ANIMAL OR PERSON WILL NOT BE TOLERATED WHATSOEVER AND MAY RESULT IN DISMISSAL FROM SHOW AND/OR ALL FUTURE CLUB EVENTS WITH NO REFUND OF FEES PAID!!! 
 
DEATH OF HORSE ~  If a competing show animal should die after the show season has begun, exhibitor may substitute another horse and keep all points accumulated with current horse and previously deceased horse.  Exhibitor may only keep points from two horses, not multiple animals, except where points follow the exhibitor (i.e. Showmanship, Equitation) 
 
SHOW SAFETY RULES  An exhibitor at all CCEC managed or sponsored horse shows is required to abide by the following guidelines in order to provide the safest possible environment for all horses and riders.  Failure to follow these rules may result in exhibitor being removed from the show and loss of show points.  The Show Manager/CCEC Board Members shall have the final say in all rule enforcement decisions. 
 
RULES: 
 
1)  All English riders must wear a properly fastened, approved safety helmet whenever mounted. 2)  All riders must sit properly astride their horse with both feet in the stirrups or irons while mounted (unless asked by the judge to remove feet from stirrups/irons during a class.) 3)  Riders may not be mounted at any time while inside the stall barn. 4)  Only one rider at a time may be mounted on any horse or other equine. No riding double. 5)  No horse is to be tied by the reins.  Ask for assistance in holding your horse if you need to leave him. 6)  Horses who may kick MUST wear a red ribbon in their tails while on the show grounds.  Any horse deemed by the show manager /CCEC Board Members to be dangerous to other persons or horses may be asked to leave the grounds and/or be prohibited from future CCEC shows. 7)  No children are permitted in the back gate area unless accompanied by an adult and should be supervised at all times. 8)  Only horses entering or exiting a class may be in the back gate area.  Riders waiting for a class are to stay clear of the back gate alley. 9)  Trainers, parents, spectators and well-wishers are not allowed in the back gate alley. 10) For other show rules, please consult the AQHA, APHA, or the USEF/USDF rule books that are available online. 11) Disqualification (DQ) ~ Except as noted for “Trail Classes”  (and abusive behavior), all other disqualifications for performance in a class will be as per AQHA rules for that class, including entering with no number displayed, involuntary dismount, or being off-pattern. 12) Points for each class will awarded as follows:  1st   ~  6.0  points    4th  ~  3.0 points   2nd  ~  5.0  points    5th  ~  2.0  points  3rd  ~  4.0 points    6th  ~  1.0  points  All placings after 6th place, and any exhibitor disqualified, will be awarded 1/2 point to show their participation in that class.   
 
PROPER ATTIRE
WESTERN Required:  Western style, long-sleeved shirt, boots or a sturdy equivalent with heels, long pants, and Western hat are required.  An approved safety helmet may be substituted for Western style hat. Optional:  Spurs and chaps Prohibited:  Shorts, capris, crop-tops, tank tops, halter tops or flat-soled footwear is not proper show attire.  Clothing with vulgar or offensive graphics or language is also prohibited.  Use of any electronic communication device (cell phone, pager, walk-talkie, headset, etc.) is not allowed.  Exception:  A handicapped participant may use electronic devices if, prior to the class, use is approved by judge and show manager. 
 
ENGLISH Required:  Conservative coats of any tweed or Melton, breeches or jodhpurs and tall boots or half-chaps.  Protective headgear is required at all times when mounted.  If, by judge’s discretion, jackets are waived due to hot weather, a traditional short/sleeveless or long-sleeved English riding shirt with chokers or ties is required. Optional:  Spurs and gloves Prohibited:  T-shirts or polo shirts, any electronic communication device (cell phone, pager, walk-talkie, headset, etc.)  Exception:  A handicapped participant may use electronic devices if, prior to the class, use is approved by judge and show manager. 
 
PROPER TACK
WESTERN Required:  Western saddle and bridle, including legal bit as described in AQHA rule book.  Horses in a shank bit with split reins are to be ridden one-handed.  Romal reins are acceptable but are to be used as described by AQHA rule book.  Horses 5 years of age and under (as of January 1st of show year) may be exhibited in a snaffle bit or bosal-style hackamore and ridden with two hands in any class. Optional:  Breast collar Prohibited:  Mechanical hackamores, gag bits, cavesson nose bands, tie downs, martingales or other training devices.  Bits must be legal as defined by AQHA rule book. 
 
ENGLISH Required:  English saddle and bridle, regulation snaffles, pelhams and full bridles, all with cavesson nose bands. Optional:  Crops, bats, English breast plate, spurs Prohibited:  See AQHA Rule Book for prohibited bits & equipment. 
 
HALTER & SHOWMANSHIP   Handler must show in proper Western or English attire.  (See “Proper Attire” above).  Horse to be shown in Western halter or English halter or bridle.  Spurs are prohibited in halter or showmanship classes. 
 
*TRAIL-IN-HAND In Hand Trail Appointments are as follows:  1) In-Hand Tack ~ Suitable halter (Leather preferred) (with or without silver trim), leather lead (with or without a chain) to be used. If a chain is used with the lead it must not be run through the horse’s mouth or over the horse’s nose. 2) In-Hand Attire:  appropriate for English or Western (see above attire descriptions except no crop, whip, chaps, chinks or spurs allowed. 
 
RANCH RIDING TACK & ATTIRE Expensive, fancy tack and clothing is not required—in fact, it is discouraged!  Everyday working gear is the correct way to outfit yourself and your horse.  Horses should be clean, with minimal trimming and without hoof or face polish.  Riders should wear working jeans and a western work-type shirt. Tack should be clean working tack, without excessive silver.  Even the halter in the Conformation class is expected to be a good regular working halter, not a fancy silver-trimmed leather device! However, if riders are competing in multiple classes in fancy tack and clothing, and do not have the time or equipment to change, the rider will not be penalized.
 
DEFINITIONS/CLASS DESCRIPTIONS  
 
AMATEUR ~ is defined as an exhibitor, 18 years and older, who has not shown, judged, trained or assisted in training a horse for remuneration, monetary or otherwise, either directly or indirectly or in which an immediate family member has received remuneration, monetary or otherwise, directly or indirectly.  An Amateur exhibitor may not have instructed another person in riding, driving, training or showing for remuneration, monetary or otherwise, either directly or indirectly.  NOTE THE FOLLOWING CCEC-APPROVED EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE:  Payment for judging for 4-H horse shows is permissible as an AMATEUR without penalty within CCEC shows, but shall not exceed $500 annually. 
 
OPEN ~  is defined as open to all riders and all horses and ponies, of any age or breed. 

 WESTERN/ENGLISH SCHOOLING CLASS ~  a non-judged class where gaits will be called in both directions.  Riders are free to school their horses as needed. This is a non-judged class with no year-end  points. 
 
*TRAIL CLASSES ~  exhibitors may be in either English or Western tack and attire. Trail classes are held concurrently in a separate arena from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
 
HALTER ~ Open to any mare or gelding, of any age or breed. All halter classes are judged on balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characteristics, and degree of proper conformation and conditioning. 
 
SHOWMANSHIP ~ Classes are judged on the exhibitor – the horse is merely a prop to show the ability of the exhibitor.  Conformation is not judged.  Equine may be shown in a halter or English bridle.  Placings are based on the following criteria:     ● HORSE  ~        (A)  Condition & thriftiness of coat;   (B)  Grooming;   (C)  Trimming;     ● EXHIBITOR  ~ (D) Leading;  (E)  Posing;  (F)  Poise, alertness and merits;  (G) Proper execution of posted pattern. Points earned stay with the exhibitor regardless of the horse shown.   WESTERN EQUITATION ~ Open to all riders and all horses and ponies, of any age or breed. Riders are eligible to enter classes based on current division status and age as of January 1st of the show year. All equitation classes will be judged on the rider’s seat, hands, body position, and the ability to control and show a horse at all three gaits going both directions of the show ring. Only the rider is judged. Rein back, dismount and mount, and individual work may be required at the request of the judge.  To be judged on performance 80%, appointments 20%.  Points earned stay with the exhibitor regardless of the horse ridden. 
 
WESTERN PLEASURE ~ Horses shown in standard Western Equipment. To be shown at the walk, jog, and lope both directions of the ring on a reasonably loose rein without undue restraint. Horse should show purity of gaits. To be judged on performance 80%, appointments 20%.  Points are awarded and accumulate per horse/rider combination and may not be combined except under the “Death of a Horse” ruling.  Four beat canters are not permitted and may result in no placement.  
 
WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP ~ Designed to test the horsemanship abilities using western tack. Riders to follow a prescribed pattern of maneuvers at a walk, trot or lope – pattern to be posted in advance.  Judging focuses on the rider’s body position, seat in the saddle and ability to control the horse. 
 
**BEGINNER WALK/TROT – WESTERN ~ Open to horses and ponies, of any age or breed, with Riders in their first two years of showing. To be shown at a walk and a trot both directions of the ring on a reasonably loose rein without undue restraints.  Walk/Trot Equitation exhibitors will be asked to perform a simple pattern as well as riding on the rail and horses shall be required to back up. To be judged on performance and manners 80%, appointments 20%.  Walk/Trot contestants are PROHIBITED from loping or cantering anywhere on the show grounds during a show AND FROM COMPETING in any class which calls for a lope or canter, in any portion of the club (RWC/HJD).  Points are awarded and accumulate per horse/rider combination and may not be combined except under the “Death of a Horse” ruling.  Any Walk/Trot exhibitor who has shown in a class where loping is required, in any portion of the club (RWC/HJD), may no longer show Walk/Trot classes thereafter. 

ROOKIE WALK/TROT - Western ~ This is a Walk/Trot class open to any age horse and rider of any skill level. This class does not follow the Beginner Walk/Trot rule**. Exhibitors who show in this class are allowed to show in any other classes that ask for a Lope/Canter. This class is designed for green horses or riders who are no longer eligible to show in True Walk/Trot classes, but are not yet ready to show in Walk/Trot/Lope classes. Exhibitors in this class may be asked to perform a walk, and trot both directions of the ring, and stop, back up, or pivot, on a reasonably loose rein without undue restraints. Walk/Trot Equitation exhibitors will be asked to perform a simple pattern as well as riding on the rail. Contestants are to be judged on performance and manners 80%, appointments 20%. Points are awarded and accumulate per horse/rider combination and may not be combined except under the “Death of a Horse” ruling. Exhibitors can show in this class for as many years as they would like to. 

WESTERN PONIED LEAD-LINE - WESTERN ~ An adult mounted rider, 18 years or older, may pony a youth rider, 8 years or younger, on a second horse/pony in a Western walk-trot class. Tack must include both a bridle and halter with lead rope on the horse being ponied, and the youth rider MUST wear a helmet.
 
*JACKPOT CLASSES ~ WESTERN ~ Class is open to all ages on any age horse.  Class description will rotate as follows:  1st show ~ pleasure/rail class;  2nd show ~ pattern/equitation class;  3rd show ~ Discipline on the Rail;   4th show ~ pleasure/rail class; 5th show ~ pattern/equitation class.  No year-end points will accrue.  Payout to be 2/3 of entries for class.   
 
RANCH RIDING ~ Open to all riders and all horses and ponies, of any age or breed. Riders are eligible to enter classes based on current division status and age as of January 1st of the show year. To encourage participation in this class, AQHA rules regarding hoof polish and fancy attire will be waived. This is a class designed to showcase the movement and versatility of ranch style horses.  It will be an individually worked, scored class.  There will be a pattern determined by CCEC and posted in advance.  The pattern will consist of specified gaits—walk, trot, extended trot, lope, extended lope—along with three of the five optional maneuvers and a change of directions somewhere in the pattern.  The five optional maneuvers are:  sidepass, turns of 360 degrees or more, change of leads (simple or flying); walk, jog or lope over pole(s); and any other reasonable ranch maneuver.

*TRAIL-IN-HAND CLASSES ~  Horses will be exhibited over the same obstacles and pattern as are used in the riding trail classes. Exhibitors will show their horse at a walk through the course and trot as per pattern.  Exhibitor may not touch the horse at any time.  In Hand Trail horses will not be required to lope.   
 
*TRAIL CLASSES ~ Rider is to pilot horse over a series of obstacles in a posted pattern. Exhibitor may compete in English or Western attire and appointments.  Class is to be judged on the horse’s and rider’s performance, manners and horse’s obedience. Time allowed for refusal of each obstacle will not exceed 30 seconds. The rider (or handler) has the right to refuse to attempt any obstacle.  Loss of points will result.  CCEC does not disqualify exhibitors for going off course, but penalty points will be assessed. Points are awarded and accumulate per horse/exhibitor combination and may not be combined except under the “Death of a Horse” ruling. 

*RANCH TRAIL ~ Obstacles found in a ranch trail pattern are approximate to those found during the course of everyday work The obstacles may include but are not limited to: log drag, rope or swing gate, lope overs, bridge, raincoat, mail box, etc. Time allowed for refusal of each obstacle will not exceed 30 seconds. The rider (or handler) has the right to refuse to attempt any obstacle.  Loss of points will result.  CCEC does not disqualify exhibitors for going off course, but penalty points will be assessed. Points are awarded and accumulate per horse/exhibitor combination and may not be combined except under the “Death of a Horse” ruling.  Judges are looking for a well-trained, responsive and well-mannered horse that can correctly navigate and negotiate the course, and to do so in a correct and efficient manner. To encourage participation in this class, AQHA rules regarding hoof polish and fancy attire will be waived.
 
*NOTE ~  Trail Course Usage Prior to Judged Rides ~  Riding, practicing or accessing the trail course on horseback or with a horse-in-hand AT ANY TIME prior to a judged exhibition is prohibited.  Any exhibitor doing so may be eliminated from Trail classes without refund of any fees paid.  If no competitor is waiting to enter the trail course, the course may be walked WITHOUT a horse in attendance. 
 
ENGLISH CLASSES
***PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR IS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES WHEN MOUNTED!!*** 
ENGLISH EQUITATION ~  All equitation classes will be judged on the rider’s seat, hands, body position, and the ability to show and control a horse at all three gaits.  Only the rider is judged. Backing, dismount and mount, and individual work may be required at the request of the judge.   To be judged on performance 80%, appointments 20%.  Points earned stay with the exhibitor regardless of the horse ridden.   
 
ENGLISH PLEASURE HORSE CLASS - Horses shown in standard English Equipment. To be shown at the walk, trot, and canter both directions of the ring.  Light contact with the horse’s mouth is required.  Horse should show purity of gaits. To be judged on performance 80%, appointments 20%.  Points are awarded and accumulate per horse/rider combination and may not be combined except under the “Death of a Horse” ruling. 
 
**BEGINNER WALK/TROT – ENGLISH ~  Open to horses and ponies, of any age or breed, with RIDERS in their first two years of showing.  To be shown at a walk and a trot, both directions of the ring, with light contact with the horse’s mouth.  Walk/Trot Equitation exhibitors will be asked to perform a simple pattern as well as riding on the rail and horses shall be required to back up. To be judged on performance and manners 80%, appointments 20%.  Walk/Trot contestants are PROHIBITED from loping or cantering anywhere on the show grounds during a show, AND FROM COMPETING in any class which calls for a lope or canter in any portion of the club (RWC/HJD). Points are awarded and accumulate per horse/rider combination and may not be combined except under the “Death of a Horse” ruling.  Walk/Trot exhibitors in a crossbar jumping class will not be disqualified for cantering 1 – 2 strides before or after a jump, as long as they bring their horse back to the trot between jumps.  Any Walk/Trot competitor who has shown in a flat class where a canter is required, in any portion of the club (RWC/HJD) may no longer  show Walk/Trot classes thereafter. 

ROOKIE WALK TROT - English ~ This is a Walk/Trot class open to any age horse and rider of any skill level. This class does not follow the Beginner Walk/Trot rule**. Exhibitors who show in this class are allowed to show in any other classes that ask for a Lope/Canter. This class is designed for green horses or riders who are no longer eligible to show in True Walk/Trot classes, but are not yet ready to show in Walk/Trot/Lope classes. Exhibitors in this class may be asked to perform a walk, and trot both directions of the ring, and stop, back up, or pivot, while maintaining light contact with the horse’s mouth. Walk/Trot Equitation exhibitors will be asked to perform a simple pattern as well as riding on the rail. Contestants are to be judged on performance and manners 80%, appointments 20%. Points are awarded and accumulate per horse/rider combination and may not be combined except under the “Death of a Horse” ruling. Exhibitors can show in this class for as many years as they would like to. 

* Classes NOT offered in 2020