Tacked up, freshly groomed and ears pricked, the equine competitors of The Sydney Royal Horse Show stepped out onto the pristine turf of the Engie Stadium early in the day with events for horses of ALL sizes.
Today kicked off an extensive series of events running every day throughout the duration of the Sydney Royal Easter Show ranging from pumpkin snatching, heavy horse obstacle course, barrel racing, harness work, best in show for every breed and even a fancy dress competition.
And while, for those unaccustomed to the elegant beasts it might just look like big horses and small horses moving around in big circles and small circles – the intricacies of breeding, training and showing horses has a language all of its own.
So to get you accustomed to the special lingo, here are some common horse terms used when describing horses who are anything other than common!
Hack: A type of horse used for showing in the English discipline, known for its elegance, smooth movement, and refined appearance.
Galloway: A type of show horse that falls between a pony and a horse in height, typically ridden by adults.
Pony: A small breed of horse, often shown by children or small adults.
Led Class: A class where horses are shown in-hand, typically judged on conformation and presentation.
Ridden Class: A class where horses are ridden under saddle, judged on their movement, manners, and way of going.
Harness Class: A class where horses are shown in harness, pulling a carriage or vehicle.
Working Stock Horse: A class for horses used for working cattle, typically judged on their ability to perform tasks such as herding and cutting.
Show Jumping: A competition where horses and riders navigate a course of jumps, aiming to complete it with the fewest faults and in the fastest time.
Dressage: A discipline where horses perform a series of predetermined movements and tests, demonstrating their obedience, flexibility, and precision.
Eventing: A competition combining dressage, cross-country jumping, and show jumping.
Pleasure Driving: A class where horses are shown driving a carriage or vehicle, judged on their manners, performance, and presentation.
Novice: A class specifically for inexperienced horses or riders.
Open: A class that is open to all competitors, regardless of experience or previous wins.
Amateur: A class restricted to riders who do not earn their primary income from training, riding, or showing horses professionally.
