RENAI HORSE – GENERAL INFORMATION MEDALLION HORSE SHOW RHR Registration All horses must be registered with the Renai Horse Registry in each division A, B, and/or C in which it enters. Exhibitors may register eligible horses as a Renai at the show, or may contact Paul Shane (419-588-3000) for more information. Shoeing Regulations With the exception of foals, weanlings & yearlings, there are no shoeing regulations; therefore, there will be no shoe weight, pad or hoof length limitations. However, horses who are over shod, causing artificial, quick, trappy or labored motion, will be penalized. Foals & weanlings cannot wear shoes. Yearlings may be shod with shoes, but no pads. RENAI HORSE FINE HARNESS - SPECIFICATIONS General Competitors enter the ring in a counterclockwise direction at the park trot. Horses may show with a braided, roached or natural mane. Tails may be shaved, natural, set or unset Appointments and Attire To be shown in light show harness, bridle with blinkers and choice of overcheck ,side check or neither. Snaffles or Liverpool bits are acceptable. A four-wheel vehicle suitable to the horse is required. Driver attire: Men – saddle suit with hat; sportcoat, slacks with hat. Ladies – saddle suit, dress, or pant suit, hat optional. Required Gaits The Animated Walk: The animated walk is a highly collected gait, exhibiting much “primp” at a slow and regulated speed, with elasticity and animation. It should have snap and easy control. It can be either a two-beat or four-beat gait. It is performed with great style, elegance and airiness of motion. The Park Trot: The part trot is executed in a highly collected manner, speed to be penalized. The horse’s energy should be directed to impulsion and animation rather than speed. The horse should demonstrate power from behind, with well-flexed forward moving hind leg which is carrying the horse’s elevated weight with balance. The head-neck carriage should approximate vertical, as the base of the neck should come straight out of the horse’s shoulder. The flexion at the poll should be as such, to put the horse in balance. The foreleg should come from the ground slowly and rise to its peak height with a slower, rather than a quicker cadence. There then should be a moment of suspension, followed by an extension of the foreleg, as the foreleg returns to the ground. The foreleg should never reach full extension, appearing stiff legged, but remain with a slight curl. The overall picture should appear willing, forward moving with diagonal front and rear in syncopation. The horse should appear to be naturally balanced with self-carriage. Although the horse should approximate level or higher in his front motion, higher motion, it itself, (unless all else being equal), is not to be favored. Show Your Horse: When called for, the driver will step it up a notch. The horse should gain in impulsion, animation and movement, without losing form. Excessive speed shall be penalized. RENAI HORSE ENGLISH PLEASURE - SPECIFICATIONS General 1. Competitors enter the ring in a counterclockwise direction at the normal trot. 2. Light contact must be maintained with all reins at all gaits. The curb rein should never be tighter than the snaffle the horse must appear to be balanced on its own and not on the bridle. Appointments and Attire 1. Bridle shall be light, show type; either single snaffle, single curb, curb and snaffle, or Pelham. Martingales can be used for single snaffle, if the horse is three years of age or under. Tongue ties are optional, providing if used, are not readily apparent and the horse looks comfortable. Gap bits, blinkers and tie downs are not permitted. 2. Saddle seat type saddle. No forward seat saddles allowed. 3. Informal saddle seat attire is required; no hunt attire. Suggested are conservative colors. Day coat with jodhpurs, also permitted. Boots and derby, soft hat or protective headgear required. Protective headgear may be worn without penalty. Contrasting hats, vests and/or ties are acceptable. 4. Spurs, whip or crop optional, at the exhibitor’s discretion. Required Gaits The Walk: To be moderately collected with a basic four-beat gait and moving forward at an even and consistent pace. Horses must appear relaxed and comfortable. An occasional jig or bounce not to be penalized. Horses that have a reluctance to move forward, appear panicked, uncomfortable or unduly nervous at any time, shall be penalized. The Normal Trot: To be a highly collected and elevated distinct two-beat gait. The horse should demonstrate power from behind with a well flexed forward moving hind leg, which is carrying the horse's elevated weight with balance The head-neck carriage should approximate vertical as the base of the neck should come straight out of the horse's shoulder. The flexion at the poll should be such to put the horse in balance. The foreleg should come from the ground slowly and rise to its peak height with a slow relaxed effort. There then should be a moment of suspension, the longer the better, followed by an extension of the foreleg as the foreleg returns to the ground. The foreleg should never reach full extension, appearing stiff legged, but remain with a slight curl. The overall picture should appear willing, forward moving with diagonal front and read in syncopation. The horse should appear to be naturally balanced with self-carriage. Although the horse should approximate level or higher in its front motion, higher motion in itself, unless all else being equal, is not to be favored. Horse must be even in stride, demonstrating balance, relaxation and soundness. An occasional break of gait is not to be penalized. Horses that appear panicked, uncomfortable, or unduly nervous at any time, shall be penalized. The rider must appear quiet, comfortable and very subtle with his cues, clearly demonstrating the ease and natural ability of the horse. The reins must be held with light contact and not to appear as the rider is holding the horse in its balance or rate. The Strong Trot: All that applies for the Normal Trot applies to the Strong Trot. However, in the Strong Trot the horse must distinctly cover more ground by extending its stride and not by quicker cadence, but in the same style as in the Normal Trot. In doing so, the horse must not lose form, balance or cadence. This gait will separate the best horses from the others, as those that can perform the Strong Trot shall be considered to have the most natural talent and movement, and be closest to the breed standard. The Canter: To be highly collected and elevated three-beat gait performed on the correct leads. The horse must appear comfortable and relaxed with a a slow cadence. The rider must appear quiet, comfortable, and very subtle with his cues, clearly demonstrating the ease and natural ability of the horse. Class Divisions: Classes may be offered with certain, such as Amateur, Limit, Novice, Mares and Ladies, etc. All such classes will be judged in accordance with the same rules. All two-year-old classes will be judged only at walk and trot. The canter will not be called for. RENAI HORSE PERFORMANCE – JUDGING PROCEDURES 1. The overall evaluations score will represent the percentage of the ideal demonstrated by each horse exhibited, and the placings will be assigned, first to the highest, second to the second highest and so forth. 2. The judge will not be penalizing for mistakes such as occasional breaking, taking a wrong lead, etc., but will looking for the quality of the general performance, especially in terms of movement and carriage. 3. The overall evaluations score will range from 60 to 100 (100 being the ideal). The basic guidelines for the determination of the scores are outlined below. Criteria for Determining Evaluations Scores A score of 60 • Horses that are unsound, consistently uneven or unbalanced; or • Horses that do not execute all of the gaits as called; or • Horses that demonstrate panic, quitting, or depression A score of 61-70 • Horses that execute all gaits and are serviceably sound, basically balanced and even in stride; but do not present themselves in carriage and movement as a Saddle Seat or Fine Harness horse as defined by the Standard of Excellence and respective class specifications. A score of 71-80 • Horses that possess the basic carriage, perform the gaits as called, but do not have the movement either in the front leg (level or higher with slight extension of foreleg), hind leg ( well underneath with power and flexion of joints), or may have the desired movement and carriage, but be too restrained or forced looking, too heavy in the bridle or too erratic in its general performance. A score of 81 –90 • Horses that possess good carriage and balance, perform the gaits as called and have level or higher action in front, with slight extension of foreleg, have a hind leg that reaches well underneath, powerful with good flexion of joints, a moment of suspension, but may be lacking in quality, may be occasionally inconsistent in balance, stride, head position and/or general performance. A score of 91-100 • Horses that possess excellent carriage and balance, perform the gaits as called and have consistently above level actions in front with slight extension of foreleg, have a hind leg that reaches well under with extreme power with good flexion of joints, a moment of suspension, beautiful and elegant, consistent in balance, stride, head position and general performance in relationship to the class specifications and that exudes a special presence and expression. RENAI HORSE IN HAND - JUDGING PROCEDURES The In-Hand Saddle Seat Type horses will be judged as future performance horses.