Horse Show Lingo: Tack

Tack: The equipment worn by the horse depends on the needs of the animal. The saddle and bridle are the staples. Other equipment may be added, such as a martingale, which attaches to the saddle and bridle to keep the horse’s head from rising too high. Horses may also wear boots or bandages on their legs for support or protection.

Horse Shows Lingo: Combination

Combination: Two or three jumps set up so they must be taken in quick succession, separated by only one or two strides. A combination is considered to be a single obstacle. If a horse stops or runs out at any element of the combination (elements are lettered A, B, C), the entire obstacle must be re-jumped.

Horse Shows Lingo: Course

Course: In each class, competitors must negotiate the jumps in a prescribed order. The grand prix is the highest level of show jumping competition, so the fences are larger and the course longer and more challenging. Accredited course designers plan grand prix courses. No two courses are ever the same. Spectators who hear a course described as a “perfect course” (or “PC”) have seen an event in which the number of riders who qualify for the jump-offs is the same as the number of ribbons offered in that class.

Horese Shows Lingo: Conformation

Conformation: Judged on a horse’s bone structure and body proportions (physical build), based on quality, substance and soundness. Conformation faults include things such as high withers, a long neck or short legs. In the conformation hunter divisions, the over fences and under saddle classes are judged 60 percent on performance and 40 percent on their conformation.

Horse Shows by the Bay: Some Background

Founded in 2004, Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival is a series of prestigious week-long summer competitions staged annually at Flintfields Horse Park in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan. The festival attracts thousands of the nations best horses and riders competing in the International Olympic disciplines of show jumping and dressage plus hosts national and locally ranked events for the show hunter, open breed and equitation rider. The festival is produced by Traverse City residents Dean and Alexandra Rheinheimer who collectively have more than 20 years of experience managing and producing equestrian events nationwide.
Each competition is sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation plus carries affiliation with many national and regional equestrian organizations. Horses and riders are in attendance to win points towards year-end awards and titles plus to win a share of the $400,000 in prize money that is awarded each season.
To date the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival has brought more than $40 million in tourism revenue to the immediate area.
Each show week starts on Wednesday and ends on Sunday. Feature events are scheduled on the weekends and include the exciting Grand Prix plus exhibitions, special family day activities, and charity fundraisers.

For lodging: PENINSULA BAY RESORT CONDOMINIUMS on East Bay

2010 Horse Shows by the Bay - Dates & Times

2010 Horse Shows by the Bay - Dates & Times

Dressage by the Bay Series I & II: July 8 - 11

Horse Shows by the BaySeries I, II, & III: July 14 - August 1

Dressage by the Bay Fall Classic: Sept 9 - 12

GAIG/USDF Region 2Championships: Sept 10 - 12

Horse Shows by the Bay - The Piaffe

PENINSULA BAY RESORT CONDOMINIUMS

The piaffe is a dressage movement where as the horse is in a highly collected and cadenced trot, in place. The center of gravity of the horse should be more towards the hind end, with the hindquarters slightly lowered and great bending of the joints in the hind legs. The front end of the horse is highly mobile, free, and light, with great flexion in the joints of the front legs, and the horse remains light in the hand. The horse should retain a clear and even rhythm, show great impulsion, and ideally should have a moment of suspension between the foot falls. As in all dressage, the horse should perform in a calm manner and remain on the bit with a round back.
The piaffe was originally used in battle to keep the horse focused, warm, and moving, ready to move forward into battle. In modern times the piaffe is mostly taught as an upper level movement in Classical dressage and as a Grand Prix level movement. Additionally, it is needed to develop the levade and from that the airs above the ground.

Horse Shows on the Bay - "Lingo": Dressage

Dressage
Dressage is a path and destination of competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from amateur to the Olympics. Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse. At the peak of a dressage horse's gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider's minimal aids by performing the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless. Dressage is occasionally referred to as "Horse Ballet." Although the discipline has ancient roots, dressage was first recognized as an important equestrian pursuit in the West during the Renaissance. The great European riding masters of that period developed a sequential training system that has changed little since then. Classical dressage is still considered the basis of trained modern dressage.