What are the classes at a horse show?

It depends on what kind of horse show you enter. There are many, many types of shows out there.

The most common in the east are ring shows and three-day events. At ring shows, they have a variety of classes for every discipline. For English riding, they have:

Equitation - where the rider is judged

Pleasure - where the horse is judged

Discipline on the Rail - aka command. The horse must perform different gaits and transitions quickly and efficiently.

Bridle Path Hack - Like a road hack class. Looking for how much ground a horse can cover.

Jumping - Many different heights for every rider.

For Western riding, they have -

Horsemanship - Like equitation. The rider is judged.

Pleasure - same as English definintion.

Trail - The horse is judged on their ability to perform different obstacles, such as a bridge, opening and closing a gate, turns, etc.

Rodeo classes - Barrel racing, pole bending, and many gymkhana events. Mainly a speed race.

There are also driving classes at many shows.

Saddleseat is a popular discipline in the east as well. They have the same classes as any English rider. (They do not jump, however).

For English riders, they have flat classes (where you perform requested gaits in a ring) and jumping classes (where you perform with your horse over a course of fences).

In a three-day-event or three-phase, there is dressage, which is where you perform a pattern on your horse, cross country, a one-way run with jumps in it, usually obstacles you would encounter on a trail, and stadium or show jumping, which is the pole-and-standard jumps in the ring. There are many different levels of three-phases, from schooling shows to the Rolex event in Kentucky to the Olympics.

Showmanship is a popular class as well. This is where the rider or owner takes their horse into the ring (just in a bridle or halter, you are not riding) and presents the best of their horse to the judge. Your horse must be clean, and they must be obedient and calm. Usually, horses are asked to trot, walk, and halt along a line to show obedience and respect.

There are also many fun classes at horse shows, like costume class, cake walk, and many gymkhana events.

Just remember that there are tons of things to choose from at horse shows, but consult your trainer or instructor to see which classes would be appropriate for your level of skill.