Eligibility.

Open: Any rider 14 years and over.

Pace Disciplines: Any rider 14 years and over.

Professional: A professional rider is one who has accepted remuneration of any kind within a two-year period prior to the show in question for training or riding Icelandic Horses.

Intermediate: Any non-professional rider who has not achieved a final score of 6.0 or higher three times, riding the same or different horses, in a specific discipline at USIHC sanctioned competitions.

Novice: Any non-professional rider who has not achieved a score of 5.0 or higher three times, riding the same or different horses, in a specific discipline at USIHC sanctioned competition. In other words, a rider who has achieved a score of 5.0 or higher three times in Novice Tölt is ineligible to enter that class again and must advance to the Intermediate level in Tölt. This rider may continue to compete as a Novice in the other discipline until he/she achieves a score of 5.0 three times in those remaining Novice classes. Thereafter he/she must advance to Intermediate Division.

[Experimental] Beginning Rider: Any non-professional rider who has not achieved a score of 5.0 or higher three times on any horse in any discipline in USIHC sanctioned competition.

[Experimental] Green Horse: Any horse which has not achieved a score of 5.0 or higher three times under any rider in any discipline in USIHC sanctioned competition.

Youth: Youth classes may be split into classes with the following age groups:

1. Eleven years and under.

2. Twelve through sixteen years.

A rider may enter any class or level unless specifically prohibited by the definition of that class or level. In other words, a rider may enter at the same show, Intermediate and Novice classes if he/she is a non-professional rider and has not achieved a score of 5.0 or above three times at USIHC sanctioned competitions in that discipline.

The cut-off score in those classes will follow the rider only. It will not follow the horse or the horse and rider combination with the exception of the determination of a “green horse”.

A rider may enter the same class with more than one horse. Where the Open Class is conducted as individual programs, no limit shall apply. In classes conducted in groups, the rider shall be allowed, as many entries as there are groups for the class.

The number of tests a horse may be ridden per day is specified in FIPO Section 2.1.

Compliance. The individual responsible for enforcing compliance with all the USIHC Sport Rules at sanctioned shows shall be an Intern Judge. If an Intern Judge is not available then the official Scribe shall enforce the rules. In the absence of either an Intern Judge or Scribe then a designated member of the Sport Committee will enforce compliance by all show participants with the rules. In all cases the individual must have a solid working knowledge of the USIHC Sport Rules. All the materials and information needed to ensure proper compliance shall be provided by the show organizer. If a dispute arises as a result of a decision made by this individual an appeal may be made in a timely fashion to the Judge who shall have the final decision.

Jurisdiction. The USIHC Competition Rules are National Rules, to be utilized in any USIHC Sanctioned Show. In the event an International FEIF Show shall be conducted in the United States it must be conducted pursuant to the entire FIPO then in effect, including the provisions excluded or amended in these National Rules.

Revisions to FIPO and the USIHC Competition Rules. As revisions to FIPO are approved by FEIF, the USIHC will determine if the USIHC Competition Rules should be revised in accordance with the FIPO revisions. Other revisions to the USIHC Competition Rules may occur as circumstances demand.

Arbitration. For the duration of a competition an Arbitration Committee must be formed consisting of the following:

1. The competition manager or a representative previously appointed by him/her.

2. The head judge

3. A rider’s spokesman, elected before the start of the competition by those actively competing. If the riders’ spokesman has to be substituted, then the rider with the second highest votes will become the spokesman’s representative.

4. The sport chairperson or delegate previously appointed by him/her

All decisions made by the Arbitration Committee are final. No one may be involved in any arbitral decisions, who is either directly concerned or has interests therein or is any other way prejudiced.

Arbitration proceedings are conducted verbally. Minutes are to be taken, which should at least include the following information:

1. Members of the arbitration committee

2. Place and time of the proceedings

3. Parties present

4. Issues and decisions of the committee.

Arbitration proceedings are public. Conferring is done in private. Decisions by the arbitration committee are taken on a simple majority. In the event of votes being equal, the chief judge will have the casting vote. The decision then must be immediately given in writing to the party concerned.

Dress Code. All provisions in FIPO Section 3.3 shall apply. The dress requirements in all FIPO classes at USIHC sanctioned shows shall be those required at international sport competitions. The dress requirements in all non-FIPO classes shall be those allowed in Pace Race and Pace Tests.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

The class descriptions listed below are taken directly from FIPO and will be the USIHC required classes. The scores from these classes will be recorded in the USIHC National Ranking database.

OPEN DIVISION

These classes may be entered by any rider 14 years and older. Organizers shall offer both preliminary and finals for all Open Division classes

Tölt 1 Open (FIPO T1) or Tölt 3 Open (FIPO T3)

Preliminary Round:

At the discretion of the show organizer, the preliminary round may be conducted pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.1 (Preliminary rounds with one rider on the track) or FIPO Section 5.4.2 (Finals and preliminary rounds with more than one horse on the track). The manner in which the class will be conducted must appear in the show premium.

Sections:

1. Begin at the middle of the short side and ride one round in slow tölt on either rein. Return to walk at the middle of the short side and change rein.

2. From the middle of the short side ride one round in slow tölt, lengthen stride distinctly on the long sides.

3. From the middle of the short side ride one round in fast tölt.

Final round:

The finalists ride together and are instructed by the speaker. They ride the same sections as in the preliminary round on both reins as described in 5.4.2.

Tölt 2 Open (FIPO T2)

Preliminary Round:

This class is ridden with three riders on the track at once. The horses show the three sections as instructed by the speaker as described in FIPO Section 5.4.2. They start on the rein chosen by the riders in each group pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised.

Sections (called by the speaker):

1. Any speed tölt

2. Slow, steady and calm speed tölt. Return to walk and change rein

3. Slow to medium speed tölt, holding both reins in one hand clearly showing no rein contact with the horse’s mouth The marks for section 3 are doubled.

Final round:

The finalists ride together and are instructed by the speaker. They ride the same sections as in the preliminary round as described in 5.4.2. 

Four-gait Open (FIPO V1) or (FIPO V2)

At the discretion of the show organizer, the preliminary round may be conducted pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.1 (Preliminary round with one rider on the track) or FIPO Section 5.4.2 (Finals and preliminary round with more than one rider on the track). The manner in which the class shall be conducted must appear in the show premium.

Preliminary round:

The test may be ridden on either rein. The rider has four and a half rounds to show the following gaits in any order:

1. Slow tölt

2. Slow to medium speed trot

3. Medium walk

4. Slow to medium speed canter

5. Fast tölt

Each gait may be shown only once, walk for a half round and the other gaits for one full round.

Final round:

The finalists ride together. The horses show the gaits in the order instructed by the speaker as described in 5.4.2. The rein is determined pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5.5.

Five-gait Open (FIPO F1) or (FIPO F2)

At the discretion of the show organizer, the preliminary round may be conducted pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.1 (Preliminary round with one rider on the track) or FIPO Section 5.4.2 (Final round and preliminary round with more than one rider on the track). The manner in which the class shall be conducted must appear in the show premium.

Preliminary round:

The test may be ridden on either rein. The rider has four and a half rounds to show the following gaits in any order:

1. Slow to medium speed tölt

2. Slow to medium speed trot

3. Medium walk

4. Slow to medium speed canter

5. Racing pace

Each gait may be shown only once, walk for a half round and the other gaits for a full

round. The racing pace is shown on the long sides only. The marks for tölt and pace will be doubled.

Final round:

The finalists ride together and show the five gaits in the order instructed by the speaker as described in FIPO Section 5.4.2. The rein is determined pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5.5 as revised.

The horses may show racing pace 3 times on one long side. The riders choose the long side by majority vote. In the event of a tie, the vote of the preliminary round winner is doubled.

The marks for tölt and pace will be doubled. 

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION

Intermediate classes are open to all non-professional riders who have not achieved a score of 6.0 three times, riding the same or different horses, in a specific discipline at USIHC sanctioned competitions. Once a rider has achieved a score of 6.0 or higher three times in a specific discipline, he/she must compete in Open Level classes thereafter in that discipline.

The conducting of a final round in Intermediate Classes is in the discretion of the show organizer. In the event a final round is conducted it shall be pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Intermediate Tölt (FIPO T5):

The class is ridden with no more than six horses on the track at once. The rein is selected pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The horses show the sections as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Slow tölt. Return to walk and change rein

2. Slow tölt on the short sides, fast tölt on the long sides

Intermediate Loose-Rein Tölt (FIPO T6):

This class is ridden by no more than six riders on the track at the same time. The rein is selected pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The horses show the sections as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Slow to medium speed tölt

2. Slow to medium speed tölt, on the long sides holding both reins in one hand clearly showing no rein contact with the horse's mouth.

Intermediate Four-gait (FIPO V3):

This class is ridden with no more than six riders on the track at once. The rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The sections are ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Slow to medium speed tölt

2. Slow to medium speed trot

3. Medium walk

4. Slow to medium speed canter

5. Medium to fast tölt

Five-gait Intermediate (FIPO F2):

Preliminary round: The test may be ridden on either rein. The rider has four and a half rounds to show the following gaits as directed by the Speaker:

1. Slow to medium speed tölt

2. Slow to medium speed trot

3. Medium walk

4. Slow to medium speed canter

5. Racing pace

Each gait may be shown only once, walk for a half round and the other gaits for a full

round. The racing pace is shown on the long sides only. The marks for tölt and pace will be doubled.

Final round:

The finalists ride together and show the five gaits in the order instructed by the speaker as described in FIPO Section 5.4.2. The rein is determined pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5.5 as revised. The horses may show racing pace 3 times on one long side. The riders choose the long side by majority vote. In the event of a tie, the vote of the preliminary round winner is doubled.

The marks for tölt and pace will be doubled.

NOVICE DIVISION

Novice classes are open to all non-professional riders who have not scored 5.0 three times, riding the same or different horses, in the Novice classes in USIHC sanctioned competitions. In other words, once a rider has scored 5.0 or above three times in a Novice Tölt class, he/she may not compete further in that class and must compete thereafter in the Intermediate Tölt class. He/she may continue to compete in the other Novice classes until he/she has achieved a score of 5.0 three times in the other Novice classes. Thereafter he/she must compete in the Intermediate Division.

The conducting of a final round in the Novice Classes is in the discretion of the show organizer. In the event a final round is conducted, it shall be pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Novice Tölt (FIPO T7):

This class is ridden with no more than six riders on the track at once. The rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The sections are ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Slow tölt. Return to walk and change rein.

2. Any speed tölt

Novice Four-Gait (FIPO V5):

This class is ridden with no more than six riders on the track at once. The rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The sections will be ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Any speed tölt

2. Slow to medium speed trot

3. Medium walk

4. Slow to medium speed canter

YOUTH DIVISION

These classes are open to riders 16 years and younger as described below. The conducting of a final round in Youth Classes is in the discretion of the show organizer. In the event a final round is conducted it shall be pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2. The results of the preliminaries shall be used to compute the National Ranking.

Youth Tölt (FIPO T8):

This class is ridden with no more than six horses on the track. Rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5.5 as revised. The sections shall be ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Any speed tölt. Return to walk and change rein.

2. Any speed tölt

Youth Four Gait (FIPO V6):

This class is ridden with no more than six horses on the track. The rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5 as revised. The sections will be ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Sections:

1. Any Speed Tölt

2. Slow to medium speed trot

3. Medium walk

4. Slow to medium speed canter. The start into canter and the stop after canter into walk is shown separately by each rider as instructed by the speaker

BEGINNING RIDER DIVISION

This division and the associated classes are EXPERIMENTAL. Organizers are encouraged but not required to offer these classes. This division intended to provides riders new to competition on the Icelandic Horse a place to receive feedback on their riding with the most opportunity to succeed without compromising the judging guidelines.

Beginning Rider classes are open to all non-professional riders who have not scored 5.0 three times, riding the same or different horses, in any disciplines in USIHC sanctioned competitions.

The conducting of a final round in Beginning Rider Class is highly encouraged as it provides riders with a second opportunity to receive feedback from the judge(s). However, offering Beginning Rider Class finals is in the discretion of the show organizer. In the event a final round is conducted, it shall be pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Beginning Rider Tölt (TBR)

This class is ridden with no more than three horses on the track. The sections shall be ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2. Only the performance on the long sides of the track is judged. Riders may use the corners and short side to prepare their horses without being judged. If a final is offered, the sections are the same as the preliminary round.

Sections:

1. Any speed tölt. Return to walk and change rein.

2. Any speed tölt

Beginning Rider Four-Gait (VBR)

This class is ridden with no more than three horses on the track. Rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5.5 as revised. The sections shall be ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Only the performance on the long sides of the track is judged. Riders may use the corners and short side to prepare their horses without being judged. If a final is offered, the sections are the same as the preliminary round.

Sections:

1. Any speed tölt.

2. Any speed trot.

3. Medium walk.

4. Medium canter (shown one rider at a time).

5. Any speed trot or tölt. (The mark in this section shall replace the mark for the earlier section allowing the rider a chance to improve the tölt or trot score.)

GREEN HORSE DIVISION

This division and the associated classes are EXPERIMENTAL. Organizers are encouraged but not required to offer these classes. This division provides trainers a place to introduce young horses to competition with the most opportunity to succeed without compromising the judging guidelines.

Green Horse classes are open to all levels of riders on horses that have not scored 5.0 three times, in any disciplines in USIHC sanctioned competitions.

The conducting of a final round in a Green Horse Class is highly encouraged as it provides riders with a second opportunity to receive feedback from the judge(s). However, offering Green Horse Class finals is in the discretion of the show organizer. In the event a final round is conducted, it shall be pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Green Horse Tölt (TGH)

This class is ridden with no more than three horses on the track. The sections shall be ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2. Only the performance on the long sides of the track is judged. Riders may use the corners and short side to prepare their horses without being judged. If a final is offered, the sections are the same as the preliminary round.

Sections:

1. Any speed tölt. Return to walk and change rein.

2. Any speed tölt

Green Horse Four-Gait (VGH)

This class is ridden with no more than three horses on the track. Rein is chosen pursuant to FIPO Section 5.5.5 as revised. The sections shall be ridden as instructed by the speaker pursuant to FIPO Section 5.4.2.

Only the performance on the long sides of the track is judged. Riders may use the corners and short side to prepare their horses without being judged. If a final is offered, the sections are the same as the preliminary round.

Sections:

1. Any speed tölt.

2. Any speed trot.

3. Medium walk.

4. Medium canter (shown one rider at a time).

5. Any speed trot or tölt. (The mark in this section shall replace the mark for the earlier section allowing the rider a chance to improve the tölt or trot score.)

RANKED CLASS CHART