In light of the significantly shortened show season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saddle & Bridle Magazine has adjusted the qualifying requirements for its 2020 finals. Classes affected include the Shatner Western Pleasure, Hunter Seat Classic, Pleasure Equitation Medallion and Working Western Pleasure.

For the 2020 show season only, all Saddle & Bridle class ribbon winners will qualify for Saddle & Bridle’s prestigious finals at St. Louis National Charity September 23-26 in Lake St. Louis, Mo. All other rules – including class fill rules and winners of certain classes being eliminated from further competition in the class that season – remain the same.

For example, according to Saddle & Bridle’s Rules & Regulations packet, a minimum of three entries is required in the Shatner Western Pleasure class for it to serve as a qualifier for the finals. With this temporary rule change in effect, if three or more horses entered the Shatner Western Pleasure class, all ribbon winners would be qualified for the finals and the first place winner would still be eliminated from further competition in the class for the 2020 show season. In the Hunter Seat Classic, qualified horses are allowed to continue competing in the class, so if three or more horses entered a Hunter Seat Classic class this year, all ribbon winners would be qualified for the finals and all horses could continue competing in the class.  

As always, if the minimum number of entries is not met for any class (i.e. the class does not fill) none of the horses would be qualified for the finals and all entries would be allowed to continue competing in the class.

Saddle & Bridle’s Working Hunter Classic is unaffected by this temporary rule change, as it has always operated as an invitational. Rules for the Working Hunter Classic remain the same.

Please note that Saddle & Bridle’s qualification requirements are dependent on the availability of qualifying horse shows and are subject to change. Saddle & Bridle will continue to monitor the situation, and if horse shows are unable to resume in a timely manner, further changes may be made to qualifying requirements for 2020.

For more information on Saddle & Bridle’s classes and finals, and to view the 2020 Rules & Regulations packet, visit saddleandbridle.com/programs/classes.