It may be helpful to think of regional finals as two horse shows running at the same time, an individual competition and a team competition.
In a regular season horse show, the individual and team classes are run together as one class with all riders trying to earn individual points and the designated point riders working to earn individual and team points. This is not the case at regional finals.
At regional finals, the individual and team classes are run separately. The riders in the individual classes are competing for a spot at zones as an individual and the riders in the team classes are working to earn team points to help their team in the regional team competition.
Individual Regional Finals Classes
Individual riders must qualify for regional finals by earning 15 points in one class. Individual riders can qualify in just fences, just flat, or both fences and flat. Individual riders only compete at regional finals in the class(es) in which they qualify.
Individuals Moving on to Zones
The top one, two, or three riders in each individual class move on to zone finals. The number of riders who qualify is determined by the size of the region. A large region may be able to send its top three or four riders per class on to zones, while a smaller region may be allowed to send only its top one or two. To find out how many riders from each individual class move on to zone finals in your region, ask your coach.
The winner of each individual class at regional finals is declared the Regional Champion for that class. The second place rider is declared the Regional Reserve Champion.
Team Regional Finals Classes
Teams must qualify for regional finals by earning 20 team points during the regular season. Each qualified team has one rider in each of the team classes. Those riders earn points for their team based on their placing in the team class.
At the end of the regional show, the team with the most points is declared the Regional Champion Team. The second place team is declared the Regional Reserve Champion Team.
Teams Moving on to Zones
Depending on the size of the region, the top one, two, or three teams move on to the zone final team competition. To find out how many teams from each regional show move on to the zone finals team competition, ask your coach.
Riders who win a team class earn a blue ribbon and seven points for their team, but they are not declared the Regional Champion. That title is reserved for the winner of the individual class.
Choosing Riders for the Team Competition
The coach of a team competing in the team competition at regional finals may choose any eligible team member to ride for the team in the team class. The rider does not have to be qualified for regional finals as an individual.
Regional Show Class Order
Having separate individual and team classes makes for a lot of classes and it can be a little confusing, especially for riders who are competing both as an individual and for their team. And just to keep everyone on their toes, there is no set order for the classes. The class order is up to the regional show manager.
Below are a couple examples of class orders for regional shows.
Class Order Example #1
Here is an example of a class order for a regional show. Note that each class is designated either "team" or "individual."
Class #6 Team - Varsity Open on the flat
Class #7 Team - Varsity Intermediate on the flat
Class #10 Team - Future Intermediate on the flat
Class #1 Team - Varsity Open o/f 2’6”
Class #2 Team - Varsity Intermediate o/f 2’
Class #4 Team - Future Intermediate o/f 2’
Class #6 Individual - Varsity Open on the flat
Class #7 Individual - Varsity Intermediate on the flat
Class #10 Individual - Future Intermediate on the flat
Class #1 Individual - Varsity Open o/f 2’6”
Class #2 Individual - Varsity Intermediate o/f 2’
Class #4 Individual - Future Intermediate o/f 2’
**BREAK**
Class #8 Team - Junior Varsity Novice on the flat
Class #9 Team - Junior Varsity Beginner on the flat
Class #11 Team - Future Novice on the flat
Class #12 Team - Future Beginner on the flat
Class #3 Team - Junior Varsity Novice o/f x-rails
Class #5 Team - Future Novice o/f x-rails
Class #8 Individual - Junior Varsity Novice on the flat
Class #9 Individual - Junior Varsity Beginner on the flat
Class #11 Individual - Future Novice on the flat
Class #12 Individual - Future Beginner on the flat
Class #3 Individual - Junior Varsity Novice o/f x-rails
Class #5 Individual - Future Novice o/f x-rails
Class Order Example #2
And here is another example of a class order, this time the abbreviated "T" and "I" are used to designate team or individual, so its important to read carefully.
1T. Varsity Open o/f 2’6”
1I. Varsity Open o/f 2’6”
6T. Varsity Open on the flat
6I. Varsity Open on the flat
2T. Varsity Intermediate o/f 2’
2I. Varsity Intermediate o/f 2’
4T. Future Intermediate o/f 2’
4I. Future Intermediate o/f 2’
7T. Varsity Intermediate on the flat
7I. Varsity Intermediate on the flat
10T. Future Intermediate on the flat
10I. Future Intermediate on the flat
9T. Junior Varsity Beginner on the flat- Walk/Trot/Canter
9I. Junior Varsity Beginner on the flat- Walk/Trot/Canter
12T .Future Beginner on the flat- Walk/Trot/Canter
12I. Future Beginner on the flat- Walk/Trot/Canter
8T. Junior Varsity Novice on the flat
8I. Junior Varsity Novice on the flat
11T. Future Novice on the flat
11I. Future Novice on the flat
3T. Junior Varsity Novice o/f x-rails
3I. Junior Varsity Novice o/f x-rails
5T. Future Novice o/f x-rails
5I. Future Novice o/f x-rails
The Draw
The draw at regional finals can be a "steward draw" done by the steward and other designated show officials prior to the show (this is the draw procedure used most frequently in regular season shows), or the draw can be a "live draw" in which each rider physically draws her horse herself.
The steward draw most often occurs in its entirety at the beginning of the day, though it may be done in two parts: morning classes at the beginning and afternoon classes at the break.
The live draw may happen in one of three ways: all at once the morning of the show; in two parts (morning classes at the beginning of the day and afternoon classes at the break); or continuously throughout the day.
Check with your coach prior to the show to find out which type of draw your regional final will have.
Judges and Stewards
Regional finals may have one or two judges, but they all have two stewards.
Best of luck at Regional Finals!
Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."
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Thanks! --Amanda
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