The show hack is designed for horse's with exception training. Arabian, Half-Arabian and National Show horses divisions offer Show Hack Classes. Open show Hack Classes are seen in some areas, particularly Canada where the class has a far longer history than in U.S.A. The class is judged on manners, performance, quality and conformation. The Show Hack is neither a Dressage Class nor an English Pleasure Class. The horse should be Arabian, Half-Arabian or NSH of good quality and elegant appearance. Other breeds should specify their class and the division as being held in an Open Horse Show. The gaits called for are: normal, collected, and extended walk, normal, collected and extended trot, normal, collected and extended canter, and hand-gallop. The horse and rider may be asked to halt and rein back on the rail. The horse's frame should compare to a mid to upper level dressage horse, it should be neither as low as a Western or first-level horse nor as high and tight as an English Pleasure or Park Horse. Action will vary but it will not approach English Pleasure style, high action is either desired nor penalized. In general it is the equivalent of desired hunter pleasure action or slightly higher as the show hack horse must demostrate impulsion in the collected gaits.
Tack
English saddle of any type; however, no cutbacks (saddleseat saddles) are used. Bridle must be single snaffle, pelham (kimberwicke permitted but rarely seen) or full bridle; browbands and cavessons acceptable in hunter and dressage classes may be used.
Unacceptable tack: breastplates, martingales, boots or bandages, colored browbands or cavesson sets, or any other bridle types not acceptable in hunter or dressge, single-curb bridles, flash, drop, or figure 8 nosebands, decorations on braids.
A dressage saddle, although some forward seat saddles are often seen. A square dressage saddle pad most often in black with white piping/edging or white with colored piping/edging is the most used. Standard shaped saddle pad is acceptaqble as well. The current style is to the dressage-style full bridle, although snaffle bridles are also seen. Manes are frequently braided with either the french-braid or smocking for full manes or a standard hunter braid job for pulled manes. Tails may also be braided but are usually left loose. Braids may be secured with yarn, tape, or rubber band, but decorations are not permitted. A checkerboard or other pattern is frequently brushed or clipped into the croup area of the horse.
Attire
The rule specifies informal hunt attire, except in evening classes or championships. Virtually all riders appear in full formal turnout of shadbelly coat, white breeches, canary, buff or yellow vest, black boots, white stock tie, gloves and top hats. Whip and spurs are optional.
Other Information
A standard huntseat turnout is equally acceptable under the rules. Horses performing upper level movements such a passage, pirouette, work on two tracks etc, are not performing to class specifications and must be dropped to the bottom of the class.
Photo Credit:
DA SIDI BISHIIR Arabian stallion wearing full double bridle again by Corinne Ensorr. Horse and doll by Karon Grieve and shown by Karon Grieve.
Resources:
NAMSHA Rule book
AHSA Rulebook