Academy Class Specifications:

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 The AHA Academy Riding division is designed to welcome new riders into the Arabian horse show world by offering a positive, low-pressure introduction to competition. Open to beginning riders of any breed, Academy classes provide an opportunity to build skills, gain confidence, and experience the joy of showing within a supportive and educational environment. Sections may be provided to allow multiple riders to show the same horse. *Sections will be assigned at Instructors request.

 

RIDERS: * Are encouraged to be in a professionally operated lesson program. (not required) * Are encouraged but not required to be an AHA member. First Year Academy Exhibitors are eligible for a FREE AHA Youth Membership.* Riding saddle seat suits, hunt coats and western chaps are NOT allowed * Riding pants, jodhpurs, breeches or colored jeans are considered appropriate. * A neatly fitted shirt or top is suggested. * A riding helmet is MANDATORY for riders 18 years of age and under and suggested for all ages. * Appropriate footwear with a small heel is MANDATORY. * Riders are NOT allowed to cross enter into any non-Academy riding classes and are ineligible to compete in Academy classes once they have shown in a full riding suit or in a non-Academy type show.

 

HORSES & EQUIPMENT: * Horses must be regularly used as lesson horses: While it is preferred that horses are owned by instructors, horses may be owned or leased by riders IF they are used and shown regularly by other riders as a lesson/school horse. * Any breed of horse is allowed, and registration is not required. Horses must be suitable to Academy division displaying good manners and a quiet disposition. * Any horse and rider that is deemed unsafe or is not abiding by these rules may be eliminated by the horse show management or judge. * A cut-back saddle for saddle seat, western saddle for stock seat, and hunt saddle for hunt seat are to be used. * Work bridles and bits, including snaffles are allowed, and running martingales are permitted and encouraged. However, the tie down martingales is NOT allowed. * Horses can cross enter in any Academy type class within the same show, but riders may not cross enter between the Leadline, Walk/Trot, or the Walk/Trot/Canter classes. * Show grooming is permitted, but not necessary as HORSES ARE NOT TO BE JUDGED.

 

JUDGING: * All Academy classes are to be judged on the ability of the rider to control and show their horse to its best advantage. and upon the riding skills of the rider. * Each class should be judged on the rider's basic equitation and horsemanship skills suited to the class discipline, with emphasis placed on the rider's ability to control the horse at all times, identify correct diagonals and leads promptly, and to control their horses rate in a consistent manner. * Riders should convey the impression of good posture, balance, and effective control while commanding proper speed of gaits and show ring placement. * Headers are allowed in the line up in all walk/trot classes. * HORSES ARE NOT TO BE JUDGED, only the rider's ability to control themselves and their horses while presenting themselves to their advantage. * Horsemanship Pleasure is meant to differ from the Equitation class in that it is judged more on the rider's ability to display their horse to its best advantage, communicating to the judge through their horsemanship and riding abilities that the horse is a pleasure to ride and can be guided and set up to show to its best advantage. * Classes may be split at the discretion of show management. * Entries into these classes must follow written Show Premium rules but are NOT AHA or USEF sanctioned classes.

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Reference: https://arabianhorses.org/export/content.export/aha-docs/academy/AA_Standard_Premium.pdf

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Academy Classes Offered:

• ACADEMY Western Seat Walk/Jog/Lope Equitation (all ages)

• ACADEMY Hunt Seat Walk/Trot/Canter Equitation (all ages)

• ACADEMY Saddle Seat Walk/Trot/Canter Equitation (all ages)

• ACADEMY Hunt Seat Walk-Trot Equitation (all ages)

• ACADEMY Western Walk-Jog Equitation (all ages)

• ACADEMY Saddle Seat Walk-Trot Equitation (all ages)

• ACADEMY Walk/Trot/Canter Horsemanship All Seats (all ages)

• ACADEMY Walk-Trot Horsemanship All Seats (all ages)