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A horse show is a judged exhibition of and pony. Many different and equestrianism disciplines hold competitions worldwide, from local to the international levels. Most horse shows run from one to three days, sometimes longer for major, all-breed events or national and international championships. Most shows consist of a series of different performances, called classes, wherein a group of horses with similar training or characteristics compete against one another for awards and, often, prize money.
The rules of the FEI govern competitions open to riders from all nations, including the Olympic games and the World Equestrian Games.
At the other end of the competition spectrum, Pony Club is an international movement that teaches young people riding skills suitable for English riding competitions. To help develop positive experience and good sportsmanship, Pony Clubs also sponsor horse shows open only to young people under the age of 18 and their horses. Various nations have similar programs for developing young equestrians, such as the 4-H program in the United States.
The British Horse Society oversees many shows at national, regional and local level as does the Pony Club, the British Show Pony Society and the British Show Horse Association. Breed societies, particularly those related to the Welsh pony and Arabian horse, also organise their own shows. At local, unaffiliated level, riding clubs across Britain organise regular shows, which are often staffed by volunteers. The newly formed Showing Council is working towards officially overseeing all horse shows (non-FEI disciplines).
The Olympic equestrian disciplines are overseen by the British Equestrian Federation. There are several subdivisions. Dressage competitions are held separately from regular horse shows and are overseen by British Dressage, show jumping competitions are overseen by the British Showjumping Association (BSJA), and eventing is overseen by British Eventing.
Horse shows in the United States take several forms: Some are restricted to a particular breed, others are "open" or "all-breed" horse shows, which offer classes to all breeds as well as breed-specific classes for many different breeds. In the last few decades, American open horse shows have tended to become specialized by discipline into show hunter-show jumping or "sport horse" shows, dressage shows, and shows featuring English riding or Western riding riding events. However, there are still some multi-day, all-breed events that feature multiple breeds and disciplines.
English riding classes fall into two primary styles, hunt seat and saddle seat. "Hunt type" or sport horse classes include dressage, show jumping and , eventing (also called horse trials), and English pleasure or Hunter Under Saddle, also known as a "flat" class, where the event is judged on presentation, manners and rideability of the horse. "Saddle seat" or "saddle type" classes are all on the flat and are variations on English Pleasure, though the high action "Park" style classes differ because they emphasize brilliant trotting action. Equitation classes judge the form and ability of the rider.
Show jumping, eventing and dressage are sometimes called "Olympic" events, because they are the equestrian sports included in the Olympic Games.
Western riding or stock horse competition includes working cattle events, such as cutting, team penning and working cow horse in the United States, and campdrafting in Australia. They also include "dry" classes (without cattle) that include western pleasure, reining and equitation.
There are also specialized classes for draft horse showing, and a number of events for horses and ponies driven in horse harness, including Fine harness classes for saddle seat-type horses, Roadster classes that use equipment similar to that of harness racing, and the FEI-sanctioned sport of combined driving. also have their own shows with a number of specialized classes.
Most horse shows offer Halter classes, also called "breeding", "conformation", or "in-hand" classes. In these classes horses are led without saddles, not ridden, judging conformation and horse gait. To train young equestrians in halter showing techniques, horse showmanship classes are offered. They are the halter equivalent of equitation because the handler, not the horse, is judged.
Classes may be broken down by the age of horse or rider, by the number of first place ribbons earned by horse or rider, and by size or breed of horse or pony. In addition, there are numerous other regional or specialty classes that may be offered. Various types of costume classes are frequently offered; sidesaddle classes are common; a "leadline" or "walk-trot" division may be offered for small children or very inexperienced riders; and assorted "freestyle" classes, where a horse and rider perform a routine set to music, are also popular.
and horse pulling competitions are not technically horse shows, but they are competitive equestrian events, often with a great deal of prize money. Equestrian vaulting is not usually seen at ordinary horse shows, even though it is an FEI-recognized equestrian sport. Games, such as Gymkhana or O-Mok-See competition are usually held separately from ordinary horse shows, though a few of these "speed" events may be thrown in as "fun classes", particularly at 4-H, Pony Club, and other small shows.
Trophy are usually awarded to the first place horse in a class, depending on the size of the show. In a championship event, trophies may be awarded to both the champion and the reserve champion, and at a national or international show trophies are sometimes given to the top five to ten competitors.
Other types of objects, such as dishes, trays, or plates, are sometimes given out as alternates to trophies.
Medals are given at international events such as the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics. Usually only three medals—gold, silver, and bronze—are awarded to the top three individuals or teams.
Rosettes or ribbons are often given for the top placings in a class. Often ribbons are given through the top six place entries, although some of the larger shows may award ribbons to the top ten. Ribbon color varies from country to country, as shown in the following chart.
| + Prize Ribbon Colors | ||||||||||||
| 1st | blue | red | yellow | yellow | orange | red | red blue white | blue, yellow | red | blue | gold | 1st |
| 2nd | red | blue | white | gray | red | blue | red | blue | blue | red | silver | 2nd |
| 3rd | white | white | red | white | white | yellow | blue | yellow | yellow | yellow | bronze | 3rd |
| 4th | green | yellow | blue | blue | blue | green | green | red | green | white | blue | 4th |
| 5th | yellow | green | green | red | green | pink | yellow | green | pink | pink | red | 5th |
| 6th | brown | pink | violet | green | pink | purple | white | purple | green | green | 6th | |
| 7th | purple | any other | green | pale green | purple | orange | 7th | |||||
| 8th | brown | green | tan | brown | violet | 8th | ||||||
| 9th | orange | green | brown | gray | 9th | |||||||
| 10th | mauve | green | gray | lt. blue | 10th | |||||||
| Ch. | blue, red, white | red, blue, white | ? | red, white, blue | dark purple, light purple | blue, red, and yellow or solid purple | Ch. | |||||
| Res. Ch. | purple | blue, white, yellow | ? | red, yellow, and white or solid lavender | Res. Ch. |
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