REGULATIONS & JUDGING GUIDELINES
NOVICE LEVEL

Page 1

PLEASE READ AND BE FAMILIAR WITH THE REGULATIONS. It is also important that you be familiar with what the judge will be looking for during all the tests, and where you can pick up bonus points or incur penalties. This information is contained in the body of the Regulations. Know your dressage pattern before coming to the show!

The Working Horse Competition has been created to highlight the type of mount used in different aspects of work in the field. Horses competing at the Novice Level and higher must be a minimum of five (5) years of age or over.

PAALH's working horse competition consists of three different trials whose final result is obtained by totalling the points scored in each.
The trials comprise:
A) Dressage Coefficient 1.5
B) Ease of handling Coefficient 1
C) Speed Coefficient 1.5

GENERAL
A) Dressage Trial

The arena will be a rectangle of 20 metres x 40 metres.
The order of entry will be available at the Show Office.
Competitors have 1 (one) minute to enter the arena after after the bell has been rung, after which they will be disqualified if failing to make an appearance.
It is recommended that the trial be performed to the sound of appropriate music for the exercises. The music will be provided by riders on CD and will be prepared to start playing as soon as the rider commences the trial.
Competitors and judge must bear in mind that the test is not finished until horse and rider exit the arena and not when they salute the judge.
After each trial and after the judge has given his overall score to horse(s) and rider(s), the test sheets will be delivered to the competition secretary for the scores to be totalled.
Test sheets will be available to competitors after the respective trial has finished.
Exercises are classified between 0 and 10, as follows:
10 - Excellent
9 - Very good
8 - Good
7 - Quite good
6 - Satisfactory
5 - Sufficient
4 - Insufficient
3 - Quite bad
2 - Bad
1 - Very bad
0 - Did not perform

The overall scores or collective marks are awarded to participants after their performance in the riding arena and will also vary between 0 and 10 points.

Elimination
Competitors will be eliminated in the event of the following:
a) If they take more than a minute to enter the enclosure after being called;
b) If they enter the riding arena before the bell has been rung;
c) If they take more than a minute to enter the riding arena after the bell has been rung;
d) If they fail to salute the judge;
e) If the horse's four feet step out of the arena;
f) If the horse is wounded, has traces of blood in its nostrils or flanks, or if it shows signs of lameness;
g) If the rider mistreats the horse;
h) If the horse takes longer than 10 seconds to perform a forward movement;
i) Use of protective boots and/or bandages;
j) Use of unauthorized tack or equipment.

Tack & attire
Rider attire must conform to the style of tack used, as outlined in the IALHA show regulations.
Snaffle bits may be used with any tack, use of two hands permitted. Optionally, the following bits are permitted, to be ridden with one hand:
- Spanish tack: black Spanish curb, as permitted in IALHA and/or PAALH show regulations
- Portuguese tack: double bridle as permitted in EC dressage rules, using curb rein only
- Western tack: Western curb as permitted in IALHA/PAALH Western classes
- English tack: double bridle as permitted in EC dressage rules or Pelham with two reins, using curb rein only in each case
The use of martingales, "serretas" (toothed curb chains), protective boots is not permitted.
Saddles and related equipment as outlined in IALHA show regulations or EC dressage rules, as appropriate.
Whips conforming to EC dressage regulations are permitted.
Use of safety equipment or attire not to be penalized.

B) Ease of Handling Trial 
The objective of this trial is to evaluate both the rider's and horse's ability to calmly, precisely, stylishly and harmoniously navigate any obstacles that may typically be encountered in the field or which may illustrate the mutual understanding existing between rider and horse.
Because working gaits in the field are the walk and canter, the trot is not permitted in this trial.
Judging parameters are identical to the dressage trial:

10 - Excellent
9 - Very good
8 - Good
7 - Quite good
6 - Satisfactory
5 - Sufficient
4 - Insufficient
3 - Quite bad
2 - Bad
1 - Very bad
0 - Did not perform

The trial arena has 17 obstacles or exercises, as described below:
1 - Ring bell at end of corridor, open/close gate
2 - Circular turn around barrel
3 - 270ƒ pirouette/spin inside a triangle
4 - Jump over hay bales
5 - Reinback in corridor, sidepass over groundrails and claw pickup
6 - Pickup lost mailbag
7 - Jump over brushpile
8 - Deliver mail, drop off claw
9 - Removing a pole from a barrel
10 - Canter cavaletti
11 - Cross wooden bridge
12 - Using a pole to dislodge a ball off ta simulated bull
13 - Placing a pole in a barrel
14 - Retrieve barrel feeder
15 - Drag barrel over bridge
16 - Drop off barrel, retrieve slicker
17 - Hang slicker on post

Competitors will enter the riding arena in canter and approach the judge, salute, doffing their hat with a downwards sweep of their right hand. Ladies will salute the judge with a slight nod and a sweep of their right arm. After the judge's response has been received, they will replace their hats and the trial will begin.
Appropriate tack and attire is the same as for the dressage tests, with attire appropriate to tack. Moderate use of voice permitted.

The judge will evaluate horses on the basis of the following:
- Regularity of movements, ease of transitions and execution of changes of leg;
- Submission to the aids;
- Naturalness in approaching obstacles;
- Gait, presence, posture vis--vis the various obstacles.

Judges will classify riders on the basis of the following:
- Position in the saddle;
- Precision in performing exercises;
- Precision and effect of the use of aids;
- Presentation and turnout.

The required gait between obstacles is the canter. Changes of leg may be flying or through the walk.* Any trot steps to be penalized.

Grounds for elimination:
- Taking more than a minute to enter the enclosure after being called
- Entering the arena before the bell has been rung;
- Taking more than a minute to begin the trial after the signal has been given;
- Failure to salute the judge;
- Moving away from the start before the judge has given the signal
- Failure to correct a course fault;
- Three consecutive refusals to perform the same obstacle;
- Fall of rider;
- Failure to complete an obstacle;
- Failure to move to the finish;
- Traces of blood on horse;
- Refusal of horse to advance for a period of 15 seconds;
- The same reasons pertaining to dress, tack and bits as in the dressage trial.

Competitors may inspect the course, on foot, prior to the beginning of the trial, during a specially set-aside period, in which the riding arena "will be open". Information on the "opening times" of the riding arena will be available at the show office. Competitors must vacate the arena after closure. The riding area may only be inspected by riders in full dress.
The sides of the obstacles will be marked with a red flag on their right and white flag on their left sides. Obstacles will be numbered.
*Where change of leg is called for, this may be a flying or simple change, but in scoring the judge will place emphasis on the quality of the movement as executed, with secondary consideration given to the degree of difficulty.*

1. Bell at End of Corridor/Gate
The obstacle consists of:
a) sections of ground poles or low fence enclosing an L-shaped corridor. A bell is located on the left side before and next to the gate, suspended from an upright at a height of around 2 metres. The gate consists of a heavy rope suspended between 2 uprights.
The obstacle should be completed as follows:
1a. Bell at end of corridor
The horse will approach the L-shaped corridor and will enter and turn right and proceed to the gate. The rider will ring the bell before proceeding through the gate.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the horse's presence and attitude, the rider's use of aids and speed, the fluidity, continuity and perfection of the execution.
1b. Gate
The gate, which consists of a heavy rope connecting two uprights, will open on the left side. The rider will lift the rope loop and open the gate. He will walk his horse through the entrance without letting go of the rope. When the horse is fully on the other side of the gate, the rider moves his horse to close the gate. He will then replace the rope loop and complete the obstacle.
The rider should retain control of the gate at all times during the course of the exercise.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the horse's action which should be fluid and without any hesitation. The horse should be aware of and participate in the opening and closing movements and evidence no signs of insecurity or disobedience. The rider's action should be easy, precise and free from hesitation.
The rider should never let go of the gate when performing the opening and closing exercises. The judge should penalize this fault with a negative score.
The judge will also penalize any signs of insecurity evidenced by horse or rider and lack of continuity of the action with a negative score.

2. Ride around barrel
To round a barrel located in such a position as to force the rider to ride a circular movement.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should take note of the serenity and response to the rider's use of aids when the horse rounds the barrel.

3. Pirouette inside a Triangle
The obstacle will comprise three stabilized groundrails laid out to define a triangle with sides of 4 metres.
The horse canters into the triangle on the right, crossing one of the sides and with the exit side on its left side. As soon as the horse has fully cleared the groundrail he should perform a 3/4 pirouette or spin to the right and exit along the other side, changing rein to the left as he exits the obstacle. In the case described above, the flag linking the entry/exit sides will be white and the remaining flags red.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the precision of the performance of the 3/4 pirouette (or 3/4 spin) and change of leg, as well as the precision of the location in which they were performed.

4. Jumping over Bales of Hay
The obstacle consists of a single row of bales of hay end to end, forming a barrier between two uprights used to support a rail.
The horse should approach and jump over this obstacle naturally and with assurance.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the action of the horse, the serenity of the rider and his use of aids in dealing with the obstacle. Displacing the hay bales or the rail will be penalized.

5. Reinback in corridor/Sidepass over groundrails/Collect claw
The obstacle consists of:
a) Reinback: sections of ground poles or low fence enclosing an L-shaped corridor. The lower horizontal arm of the L will have a length of around 4 metres, the vertical of the L will have a length of around 6 metres.
The horse will approach the obstacle in canter, pass the entry to the corridor, halt, and reinback around corner into L and continue until the horse is positioned with the end of the single groundrail beside him on his right.
DIRECTIVES - The judge will score the way in which the horse backs up, his fluency of movement and response to the use of aids.

b) Sidepass: Three ground poles laid out in the shape of a T. The two groundpoles that make up the cross bars of the T will have a space between them, and the “upright” of the T will be centred at a right angle.
The horse will sidepass along the length of the groundrail that makes up the left side of the T cross bar, with the groundrail situated between the horse’s forelegs and hindlegs until the horse reaches the other end of the groundrail. The horse will turn around it s hindquarters so that it positions itself straddling the “upright” of the T, and will sidepass to the end where the mechanical claw is located. The horse will retrace its sidepass back to the crossbars, where the horse will now turn on its forehand so that it straddles the second half of the crossbar, and will continue until all four legs have cleared the groundrail.
DIRECTIVES - The judge will score the horse's ability to complete the sidepass, the fluidity and continuity of the action and its serenity. The judge will award a negative score if the horse touches or dislodges the groundrail.

c) Collect claw A mechanical claw with a 3-foot long handle located on the top of a barrel is collected by the rider.
The horse approaches the barrel while sidepassing over a groundpole. The rider picks up the claw before resuming the sidepass in the opposite direction.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should score the way in which the horse approaches the obstacle and its reaction to the movement of the claw
The horse should always advance at a steady pace and should not react to or notice the appearance of the barrel or when the rider removes the claw.
Any slowing down or change of movement by the horse will be penalized. The act of knocking down the barrel or dropping the claw will also be heavily penalized.

6. Pick up lost mailbag
The obstacle consists of a small fabric bag located on the ground that the rider will retrieve using the mechanical claw.
The horse approaches the bag at the canter, and the rider grasps it with the claw as the horse passes it. The rider may hold the bag in the claw for the remainder of the task, or grasp the bag with one hand.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the regularity of the gaits, transitions and willingness/confidence vis--vis the obstacle.
The judge should penalize a horse who shows reluctance in approaching the obstacle, or if the rider drops the bag.

7. Jumping over Pile of Brush
The obstacle consists of a low pile of branches forming a barrier.
The horse should approach and jump over this obstacle naturally and with assurance.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should evaluate the action of the horse, the serenity of the rider and his use of aids in dealing with the obstacle. Displacing the branches will be penalized.

8. Deliver lost mail and drop off claw
The obstacle consists of a mailbox and a barrel or table.
The horse approaches at canter and halts next to mailbox. Rider places mailbag in mailbox and then moves to table and leaves claw on it.
The judge should penalize a horse who shows reluctance in approaching the obstacle, or if the rider drops the bag or the claw, or knocks over the mailbox.

9. Removal of a Pole from a barrel
The rider must approach the barrel at a canter and remove it without the horse's stopping or reacting in any way.
DIRECTIVES - The judge should score the way in which the horse approaches the obstacle, its reaction to the movement of the pole and the rider's ease of movement in using the pole.
The horse should always advance at a steady pace and should not react to or notice the appearance of the barrel or when the rider removes the pole.
Any slowing down or change of movement by the horse will be penalized. The act of knocking down the barrel will also be heavily penalized.

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Last updated June 26, 2006

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