EQUI-THEATER  - Each exhibitor creates and presents with their horse, an entertaining routine to the audience using: costumes, choreography, music, props, storytelling and acting. Routines may be serious, dramatic, elegant or funny.

• EquiTheater is not like any other musical horse sport, because it has fewer required elements, and the main emphasis of a routine is on its ENTERTAINMENT value, not on how well a horse performs.

• EquiTheater is not a Dressage Kur or a Freestyle Reining pattern. It is not stepping, prancing or dancing around in the arena, nor riding on the rail in a costume with background music. It is not a horse(s) at liberty act, nor a trick horse(s) act.

• The primary emphasis is to encourage exhibitors of all ages and all abilities and their horse(s) to have FUN with EquiTheater, and for EquiTheater to attract spectators.

• All exhibitors should understand that judging is very subjective.

• Although special tack or attire is not required, exhibitors must still adhere to the IJA rules for shoeing, shank length on bits and comply with all other IJA rules that promote the humane treatment of the horse (restrictions on action devices, severe bits, etc.)

• Costuming, song and routine must all be "G" rated, suitable for a general, family oriented audience. For example nothing risqué, controversial, demeaning, derogatory, or using bad language is allowed. Use of the National flag is not allowed.

• Although costumes are an integral part of this class, safety for both horse and rider is of prime importance.

• For safety purposes, a "spotter" is allowed in the arena for beginning, young, fearful or handicapped exhibitors etc.

• A solo routine is one horse/one exhibitor: a duo routine is two horses/two exhibitors; and a trio routine is three horses/three exhibitors. Horses may be ridden, driven, in-hand (In-hand includes line driving), or any combination thereof. Each entry may use “extras” (people) to come and go, or to stay in the arena to serve as props, characters, or actors in the skit.

Required Elements:

• While there are no time limits, guidelines are: each routine to be a maximum of 4 minutes; an additional 2 minutes in total is allowed for setting and dismantling props.

• The arena is considered is a stage and exhibitors should position their routine so they perform to the audience. The performance should have a balanced appearance.

• Riding in figure 8 type patterns, or riding exclusively on the rail will be penalized.

• The performance must include at least one stop and one back-up.

• The exhibitor must demonstrate at least 2 gaits, each gait in both directions of the ring.

• In addition to the other required elements, in-hand exhibitors must work off both sides of the horse. (In-Hand classes include Line Driving.)

Judging Criteria:

• EquiTheater is judged by individual evaluation.

• The judge must sit in the audience for judging and must use the scoring sheet.

• Scoring criteria: 60% entertainment 40% required elements.