Here at Kenlee Park we are mad keen on our show jumping, just another reason why miniature horses are so versatile.

Below are a few photo's of our high flyers and a description of jumping events.

Please contact us at Kenlee Park if you have any questions about performance and training. We may be able to help you and if we can't we will point you in the right direction of someone who can.

MINIATURE HORSE JUMPING EVENTS

Here at Kenlee Park our favourite activity we like to do with our miniature horses are jumping. Its fun to do at home around a little course or in the paddock and it's a hotly contested event at shows. As we are members of the MHAA the information contained on this page is based around the rules and regulations of that association.MHAA feature shows have an extensive jumping and performance programme so there is plenty of opportunity for you to test your skills as a horse person and have plenty of fun along the way. Some miniature horses can jump in excess of 41” high, this makes these classes exciting to compete in and are a joy to watch.

Many Kenlee Park horses have competed successfully at national and state level winning many championships in both open and youth classes.

Below you will find a description of each jumping event and some tips that will hopefully help you and your horse compete safely and successfully in these exciting classes.

Please note that your horse must be 3 years old (36 actual months) to compete in any of these classes except for the junior hunter. Your horse must be over 12 months old and under 3 yo to be eligible for entry in this event.

Jumps are never set any higher than 42” and usually start around 18” high.

In these jumping events, as we are not actually riding these animals, no special equipment is required. All you need is a halter and a lead that is at least 8' long. The halter must be a flat webbing, leather or pvc type that fits flat against the horse's nose. Make sure the nose band buckle is not sitting on top of the nose, as most miniature halters do. You can buy ones where the buckle does up underneath. If you can't find one of these you can take the noseband off and replace it with a continues (no buckle) strap. Alternatively you could use a rope (Johnstone) halter. But there must not be any knots on the nose band which would exert any pressure on the sensitive areas of your horses face. You are not allowed to use any type of chain on thehalter or lead and must not carry a whip. The handler must be wearing closed toe shoes. Runners don't look good in the show ring at any time particularly bright white ones. We use either very comfortable boots with good grip or plain black runners with no bright patterns on them. It ispermissible to plait or tie up your horses mane and tail for the performance events but as they must be shown in the halter classes with free flowing manes and tails we don't bother tying it back.

Judging and Scoring for the show jumping, six bar and fault and out classes.Please note that the scoring for the hunter classes is a little different and is explained further on.Before starting each jumping class, just prior to entering through the start cones and on completion (after leaving the finish cones), you should circle your horse at a trot so the judge can asses if your horse is sound. Some times the judge has not been made aware of this rule so its a good idea to do it all the time, just in case. Keep an eye on the judge and acknowledge that you are ready or that you have heard her say to proceed with a nod and a SMILE.

Each of the following will incur 4 fault points.

Knockdowns when an obstacle is knocked down by the horse or handler.

Refusals (also known as disobedience) If your horse stops at a jump and does not move then jumps over then that's fine. But if he stops at a jump and moves backwards or even sideways then that's a refusal. If your horse refuses twice at the same jump then he is eliminated.

Unnecessary circling (also disobedience) Once on the course you must not circle your horse making it go back and cross over its original track between two jumps or anywhere on the course.

Run out (also a disobedience) if your horse evades a jump by dodging it or if you or your horse knock down a jump or jump marker.

Broken tack If your halter or lead breaks then you can stop and quickly fix it but you will be penalised 4 faults. If your horse runs free you will be eliminated. Here is a good tip, make sure he does not break free!

Automatic disqualification

•  2 refusals at the same jump

•  3 disobediences over the course

•  Running of course or going the wrong way around

•  If the horse or handler falls (sounds a tad harsh!)

•  If the handler jumps over the jump (only the horse does the jumping)

•  If your horse runs free from you

•  Wilful abuse of the horse

•  Carrying a whip

•  An unsound horse

•  Leaving the arena without permission of the judge or steward

•  Pulling or dragging a horse over a jump

•  Jumping of a jump before it has been reset. So if you approach a jump and notice it has not been reset after the previous horse has knocked it down then stop and advise the steward and wait un till it has been reset. You will not be penalised for this and sometimes you will be asked if you would like to start again.

It all sounds a lot to remember but you don't need to worry too much about It all as the judge will be the one to determine how many jumping faults you have incurred, if any. All you need to do is what you have trained your horse to do at home, stay calm and enjoy.

You are allowed to talk to your horse while competing in the show jumping, fault and out and six bar. We tend to use the word “hup”in a short, sharp high pitch voice but you can use whatever you feel comfortable with. Always praise your horse after each round, if he is not happy he wont be preforming at his best and you won't have much of a chance at winning.

Miniature (34' and under) and small horses (34' to 38') never compete together

in the performance events. At some shows they are run through together but are placed 1 st 2 nd and 3 rd separately.

A typical MHAA Victorian show programme for the performance section

would be:

YOUTH TRAIL (child handler with an A or B horse)

YOUTH HUNTER (child handler with an A or B horse)

CHAMPION AND RESERVE CHAMPION YOUTH PERFORMANCE

JUNIOR TRAIL A (horse 12mo to 36mo, under 34', colt, filly or gelding)

JUNIOR TRAIL B (horse 12mo to 36mo, 34'to 38', colt, filly or gelding)

JUNIOR HUNTER A (as above)

JUNIOR HUNTER B (as above)

CHAMPION AND RES CHAMPION JUNIOR A PERFORMANCE HORSE

(Taken from junior hunter and junior trail)

CHAMPION AND RES CHAMPION JUNIOR B PERFORMANCE HORSE

(Taken from junior hunter and junior trail)

SENIOR TRAIL A (horse over 36mo, under 34', mare, stallion or gelding)

SENIOR TRAIL B (horse over 36mo, 34” to 38”, mare, stallion or gelding)

SENIOR HUNTER A

SENIOR HUNTER B

SHOW JUMPER A

SHOW JUMPER B

SIX BAR A

SIX BAR B

FAULT AND OUT A

FAULT AND OUT B

CHAMPION AND RES CHAMPION SENIOR A PERFORMANCE HORSE

(Taken from all the senior jumping events and trail)

CHAMPION AND RES CHAMPION SENIOR B PERFORMANCE HORSE

(Taken from all the senior jumping events and trail)

There are three age categories for the children. These are: youth under 8 years, 9 to 12 years and 13 to 17 years.

In the performance classes the youth may run through together or in no particular order but they are awarded a 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd in each age category. The champion and res champion is overall.

The children can still enter into the other classes and compete with the adults. Our children often compete against their dad in the jumping and trail classes and have often won! They love it.

NOTE children can not handle a colt or stallion of any age, at any time at a MHAA show . (special permits can be obtained from the MHAA national committee for older youths)

DESCRIPTION OF EACH EVENT

SHOW JUMPING

This course consists of 4 to 8 jumps. Each jump must be completed in a particular order. There will either be a course map or the judge or steward will inform competitors of the correct course. All horses have their turn at jumping. After the first round only the exhibits without faults will continue. If there are no clear rounds (without faults) then those with the lowest amount of faults will continue.

After each round one jump is taken away and the remaining jumps are put up higher. This continues until a winner is determined. Sometimes a winner is determined after only one round other times it takes 3 or 4 rounds.

SIX BAR

In this exciting event the jumps are placed in a straight line and equal distance apart, 12' As the name implies, six jumps are usually used and are all the same type.

Everyone has their turn and all those with a clear round can continue on. If there are no clear rounds then those with the lowest amount of faults will continue. At the end of each round the height of each jump is raised until there is a winner. If 2 or more competitors are of equal placing's a jump off will occur. In the line of jumps the 1 st one will the lowest raising in height at each jump to the 6 th one. The first jump in round one will be 14” high with the 6 th jump in round 6 (if you get that far) being 42”high.

FAULT AND OUT

There is only one jump set up in this event. This is simply a process of elimination. Each horse has their turn and all those who jump clear can continue. After each round the jump is raised higher until there is a winner. This is a fast paced, exciting event.

HUNTER (youth, junior and senior)

This event is not only judged by the number of faults incurred but on the style and manners shown while you complete the course. You and your horse should be calm and consistent in your chosen pace. If you start of at a trot you should try and maintain that pace throughout the remainder of the course. The handler should be presented neatly, preferably with hat and gloves. Horses should also be well presented.

There is a minimum of six jumps. These can be of varying type like a hay bale or row of plants.

Each exhibit has only one go at the course and there are no jump offs.

Junior Hunter is for horses 12 months to 36 months

Senior Hunter is for horses 36 months and over

Youth Hunter refers to a child handler.