Approved Classes

When you submit an Exhibitor Results Report, NOHSA designates your results for Year-End Awards and World Championship Show qualification based on the criteria you identify when completing your Exhibitor Results Report.

This means that your exact class name may not appear as a NOHSA award category. Instead, it may count toward a broader category.

Step 1: Identify Your Discipline

Determine from the list of options, what category best fits the class you showed.

  • Youth Halter Geldings 18 & Under
  • Youth Halter Mares 18 & Under
  • Small Fry English Equitation 11 & Under
  • Small Fry English Pleasure 11 & Under
  • Small Fry Showmanship 11 & Under
  • Small Fry Trail 11 & Under
  • Small Fry Western Horsemanship 11 & Under
  • Small Fry Western Pleasure 11 & Under
  • Youth English Equitation 13 & Under
  • Youth English Pleasure 13 & Under
  • Youth Showmanship 13 & Under
  • Youth Trail 13 & Under
  • Youth Western Horsemanship 13 & Under
  • Youth Western Pleasure 13 & Under
  • Youth English Equitation 14-18
  • Youth English Pleasure 14-18
  • Youth Showmanship 14-18
  • Youth Trail 14-18
  • Youth Western Horsemanship 14-18
  • Youth Western Pleasure 14-18
  • Youth Walk Trot English Equitation 18 & Under
  • Youth Walk Trot English Pleasure 18 & Under
  • Youth Walk Jog Trail 18 & Under
  • Youth Walk Jog Western Horsemanship 18 & Under
  • Youth Walk Jog Western Pleasure 18 & Under
  • Youth Ranch Rail 18 & Under
  • Youth Ranch Reining 18 & Under 
  • Youth Ranch Riding 18 & Under 
  • Youth Ranch Trail 18 & Under 
  • Halter Geldings 19 & Over
  • Halter Mares 19 & Over
  • English Equitation 19-49
  • English Pleasure 19-49
  • Showmanship 19–49
  • Trail 19-49
  • Western Horsemanship 19-49
  • Western Pleasure 19-49
  • English Equitation 50 & Over
  • English Pleasure 50 & Over
  • Showmanship 50 & Over
  • Trail 50 & Over
  • Western Horsemanship 50 & Over
  • Western Pleasure 50 & Over
  • Walk Trot English Equitation 19 & Over
  • Walk Trot English Pleasure 19 & Over
  • Walk Jog Trail 19 & Over
  • Walk Jog Western Horsemanship 19 & Over
  • Walk Jog Western Pleasure 19-49
  • Walk Jog Western Pleasure 50 & Over
  • Ranch Conformation Geldings
  • Ranch Conformation Mares
  • Ranch Rail 19 & Over
  • Ranch Reining 19 & Over
  • Ranch Riding 19 & Over

Ancillary Classes

Ancillary classes require no qualification and are open to all age groups unless otherwise specified. Exhibitor and horse combinations who have not qualified for World Championship Show classes may still attend and compete in ancillary classes.

  • EWD Halter Geldings
  • EWD Halter Mares
  • EWD Showmanship
  • EWD Walk Jog Horsemanship Independent
  • EWD Walk Jog Trail Independent
  • EWD Walk Jog Western Pleasure Independent
  • Lead Line 6 & Under
  • Open $250 Bareback Horsemanship
  • Open $250 English Pleasure
  • Open $250 Ranch Riding
  • Open $250 Walk Jog Western Pleasure
  • Open $250 Walk Trot English Pleasure
  • Open $250 Western Pleasure

Barrels

Timed speed event where horse and rider navigate a cloverleaf barrel pattern as quickly as possible.

Walk Jog
Year-End: Speed 19 & Over, Speed 18 & UnderWorld Show: Class not offered
Required A Lope/Center
Year-End: Speed 19 & Over, Speed 18 & UnderWorld Show: Class not offered

Country Pleasure

Rail class emphasizing a smooth, relaxed, pleasure-type horse with moderate movement and a calm demeanor.

Walk Jog
Year-End: Class not eligibleWorld Show: Class not eligible
Required A Lope/Center
Year-End: Class not eligibleWorld Show: Class not eligible

Discipline Rail

Rail class rewarding correctness, consistency, responsiveness and quality of movement while maintaining discipline and manners.

Year-End: Class not eligibleWorld Show: Class not eligible

English Equitation

Judges the rider’s position, effectiveness and ability to correctly execute required maneuvers while riding English.

Walk Jog
Year-End: English Walk Trot 19 & Over, English Walk Trot 18 & UnderWorld Show: Walk Jog Western Pleasure 19 – 49, Walk Trot English Equitation 19 & Over, Small Fry English Equitation 11 & Under, Youth Walk Trot English Equitation 18 & Under
Required A Lope/Center
Year-End: English Equitation 19 & Over, English Equitation 18 & UnderWorld Show: English Equitation 19 – 49, English Equitation 50 & Over, Youth English Equitation 13 & Under, Youth English Equitation 14 – 18

English Pleasure

Rail class judging the horse’s quality of movement, manners and suitability as a pleasure riding horse under English tack.

Walk Jog
Year-End: English Walk Trot 19 & Over
English Walk Trot 18 & Under
World Show: Walk Trot English Pleasure 19 & Over
Small Fry English Pleasure 11 & Under
Youth Walk Trot English Pleasure 18 & Under
Required A Lope/Center
Year-End: English Pleasure 19 & Over
English Pleasure 18 & Under
World Show: English Pleasure 19 – 49
English Pleasure 50 & Over
Youth English Pleasure 13 & Under
Youth English Pleasure 14 – 18

Equitation Over Fences

Rider-focused jumping class evaluating position, form and effectiveness over a course of fences.

Year-End: Class not eligibleWorld Show: Class not eligible

Flag

A timed speed event in which the horse and rider race through a prescribed pattern while transferring a flag between containers or buckets.

Year-End: Speed 19 & Over
Speed 18 & Under
World Show: Class not eligible

Fun Class

A non-standard or novelty class designed primarily for participation, entertainment and horsemanship development. (Example: costume classes, egg-and-spoon races, ride-a-buck, command classes, versatility challenges or other games)

Year-End: Class not eligibleWorld Show: Class not eligible

Halter

In-hand class evaluating the horse’s conformation, structural correctness, balance and breed type.

Year-End: Halter 19 & Over
Halter 18 & Under
World Show: Youth Halter Geldings 18 & Under
Youth Halter Mares 18 & Under
Halter Mares 19 & Over
Halter Geldings 19 & Over

Hunter Hack

Combination class requiring horses to perform on the rail and jump a small number of fences.

Year-End: Class not eligibleWorld Show: Class not eligible

In-Hand Trail

Obstacle class where the horse is led through a trail pattern demonstrating manners, willingness and obstacle negotiation.

Lead Line

Introductory class for young exhibitors where a handler leads the horse while the child rides.

Longe Line

Young horse class evaluating movement, manners and future performance potential while worked on a longe line.

Poles

A timed speed event, commonly known as Pole Bending, in which horse and rider navigate a weaving pattern through a line of six poles.

Ranch Conformation

Evaluates a horse’s structural correctness and suitability to perform ranch work.

Ranch Rail

Rail class showcasing a horse suitable for practical ranch work with natural movement and responsiveness.

Ranch Reining

Pattern class demonstrating a ranch horse’s athleticism, responsiveness and control through reining-style maneuvers.

Ranch Riding

Pattern class evaluating a horse’s ability to perform ranch tasks with natural movement, forward motion and willingness.

Ranch Trail

Obstacle class designed to simulate challenges commonly encountered in ranch work.

Ranch Horsemanship

Rider-focused ranch class evaluating the exhibitor’s ability to effectively and correctly guide a ranch horse through a pattern.

Showmanship

In-hand class judged on the exhibitor’s ability to present and maneuver the horse through a pattern.

Trail

Obstacle class evaluating the horse’s willingness, responsiveness and ability to negotiate a variety of trail obstacles.

Western Horsemanship

Judges the rider’s position, effectiveness and execution of a pattern while riding western.

Western Pleasure

Rail class rewarding a pleasant, willing horse with quality movement and suitable manners for western riding.

Western Riding

Pattern class evaluating quality of gaits, lead changes, responsiveness and overall performance.

Working Hunter

Jumping class evaluating a horse’s movement, style, manners and performance over a course of fences.