The Hunter Ring
a hunter round, a horse is judged on its "style" over fences, including this term for a horse that tucks its front legs tightly and evenly toward its chin.a hunter round, a horse is judged on its "style" over fences, including this term for a horse that tucks its front legs tightly and evenly toward its chin.
square (or having a good bascule)
This is the ideal "line" an equitation rider should maintain from the side view, connecting these three body parts.
ear, shoulder, hip, heel
This is the specific part of the rider's leg that should remain in constant, soft contact with the horse’s side to provide stability and subtle cues.
inner calf
This is USEF Test #1, which asks the rider to transition the horse from a canter or trot into this stationary state for several seconds.
Halt
This class level is for riders who are just starting out and compete only on the flat at the walk, trot, and canter.
Novice
When showing in "Hunter Under Saddle," a judge may ask for this specific gait, which is a variation of the trot that emphasizes a long, low, ground-covering stride.
trot at will (or daisy cutter movement)
In an equitation "test," a judge might ask a rider to perform this lateral movement where the horse moves sideways and forward with its nose tipped toward the direction of travel.
A leg yield
In a "two-point" or jumping position, the rider’s weight should be balanced over this specific joint to avoid falling behind the motion.
ankle (or heel
In this lateral test, the horse moves sideways and forward on a diagonal, staying parallel to the long side of the arena with no bend in the body.
Leg yield
This highest level of IEA competition features fences at 2'6" and a more demanding flat phase.
Varsity open
This common hunter equipment, used to keep the horse's head in a consistent position, is restricted or prohibited in most jumper and equitation classes
a standing martingale
This prestigious year-end medal final, held at the National Horse Show, is often considered the "Grand Prix" of junior equitation.
ASPCA Maclay Finals
When looking at a rider from the front, their hands should be held at this angle, often described by comparing them to a specific household object.
45 degree angle
A judge may ask you to perform this specific gait "without stirrups" to test your core strength and independent seat.
Sitting trot
IEA riders are strictly prohibited from wearing this piece of equipment, even if they normally use them at home, unless the horse’s description explicitly allows it.
Spurs
This traditional hunter bit features a circular ring with a small "D" shape and a long vertical bar to help with steering and stability.
a Full Cheek Snafflea
When jumping a course, an equitation rider must demonstrate this specific "release," where the hands move up the horse's crest to follow the mouth without losing contact.
A crest release
This term describes a rider whose seat is too far back in the saddle, causing their center of gravity to fall behind the horse's motion and their lower leg to swing forward.
being behind the vertical (or a chair seat
This advanced test requires the horse to canter on the "wrong" lead (e.g., left lead while traveling to the right) without switching
Counter canter
This is the maximum fence height for the "Future" division, which consists of middle school riders.
2ft
In a "Handy Hunter" class, riders are often asked to perform this specific move, which requires the horse to stop completely and move backward in a straight line.
a halt and back
This "test" involves a rider jumping a small fence, stopping, and then jumping the same fence in the opposite direction.
A roll back to counter canter
The "automatic" version of this technique requires the rider to maintain a straight line from their elbow to the horse's bit, even while the horse is in the air over a jump.
Automatic release
In a "Turn on the Haunches," this specific leg of the horse should act as the pivot point while the front end moves in a circle.
Inside hind leg
Unlike AHSA or USEF, IEA riders must wear this specific colored ribbon on their back to help the judge identify them by their draw number.
Black string and number