103.3 Overall Appearance of Exhibitor and Horse
Appearance and Position of Exhibitor
Appropriate western attire must be worn. Clothes and
person are to be neat and clean.
The exhibitor should appear natural in the seat and ride with
a balanced, functional, and correct position regardless of
the manoeuvre or gait being performed. During the railwork
and pattern the exhibitor should have strong, secure, and
proper position. Exhibitors should sit and maintain an
upright position with the upper body at all gaits.
The rider should sit in the centre of the saddle and the
horse‟s back with the legs hanging to form a straight line
from the ear, through the centre of the shoulder and hip,
touching the back of the heel or through the ankle. The
heels should be lower than the toes, with a slight bend in
the knee and the lower leg should be directly under the
knee.
The rider‟s back should be flat, relaxed, and supple.
An overly stiff and/or overly arched lower back will be
penalised. The shoulders should be back, level, and
square. The rider‟s base of support should maintain secure
contact with the saddle from the seat to the inner thigh.
Light contact should be maintained with the saddle and
horse from the knee to mid-calf.
The knee should point forward and remain closed with no
space between the exhibitor‟s knee and the saddle.
The exhibitor will be penalised for positioning the legs
excessively behind or forward of the vertical position.
Regardless of the type of stirrup, the feet may be placed
home in the stirrup, with the boot heel touching the stirrup,
or may be placed with the ball of the foot in the centre of the
stirrup.
The rider‟s toes should be pointing straight ahead or slightly
turned out with the ankles straight or slightly broken in.
Riding with toes only in the stirrup will be penalised. Those
exhibitors that can maintain the proper position throughout
all manoeuvres should receive more credit.
When riding without stirrups, the exhibitor should maintain
the same position as previously described.
Both hands and arms should be held in a relaxed, easy
manner, with the upper arm in a straight line with the body.
The arm holding the reins should be bent at the elbow
forming a line from the elbow to the horse‟s mouth. The free
hand and arm may be carried bent at the elbow in a similar
position as the hand holding the reins or straight down at
the rider‟s side.
Excessive pumping of the free arm as well as excessive
stiffness will be penalised. The rider‟s wrist is to be kept
straight and relaxed, with the hand held at about 30 to 45
degrees inside the vertical. The rein hand should be carried
immediately above or slightly in front of the saddle horn.
The reins should be adjusted so that the rider has light
contact with the horse‟s mouth, and at no time will the reins
require more than a slight hand movement to control the
horse. Excessively tight or loose reins will be penalised.
The rider‟s head should be held with the chin level and the
eyes forward, and may be directed slightly toward the
direction of travel. Excessive turning of the head to the
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