What is an "Open Command Class"?

[KitKat987]

I was just checking out the class list for a little ag society show near home here. There's an English Open Command Class listed. I haven't shown in a decade, so thought it might be a good show to take one of my boys to for their first time, and my first time in a very long time. I don't recall ever seeing one of these classes before however. Could someone explain what it is?

Thanks :)

[Lori B]

Command class, if I am understanding correctly, is the following: The judge calls out gait changes and changes of direction, and all the riders/horses in the class have about 3 strides to correctly execute the command, and if they fail to make the change, they are out. The last rider & horse left are the winners. I always thought it was a fun and useful class when they had them at the big barn I used to take lessons at.

Go and have fun.

[vxf111]

Kind of like a Simon Says flat class. The announcer calls out for something ("all riders posting trot") and you have to do it immediately. If you don't, you're out and have to leave the ring/stand in the middle. It usually starts with basic flat class type commands (walk, trot, canter, halt, back, change rein, etc.) and then if the announcer can't get people out-- gets weirder/tougher (dismount and remount, counter canter, etc.)

[DeeThbd]

These can be a LOT of fun! The judge will call out various commands beyond the basic w/t/c....perhaps a counter-canter, half-pass, etc (at least I hope I am remembering it right - hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong!:lol:
Dee

[KitKat987]

Thanks all! Sounds like a fun class. I'll sign myself up :-)

[findeight]

As above..and the OPEN means open to all horses and riders.

[InWhyCee Redux]

I used to do those at every 4H show as a teen — nothing like throwing 40 QHs, Tennesse Walkers, and TBs in one ring for half an hour! Just make sure when you ask your horse to stop, he STOPS — that's usually the first way they'll winnow out the class. ;)

[Lori B]

Yeah, it would be very unusual for most of these classes to get as far as counter canter. Halt will thin out the ranks pretty well, as will trot-canter-trot transitions, and backing up too.

[Ghazzu]

Yeah, it would be very unusual for most of these classes to get as far as counter canter. Halt will thin out the ranks pretty well, as will trot-canter-trot transitions, and backing up too.

I entered one in which we got asked for a half pass:eek:

[summerhorse]

I used to love them. Usually the tie breakers were english-missed diagonal and western missed flying lead change. Breaking gait was an immediate out of course! I won one once in walk trot (my first show) and the other ride was western so just got to sit there while I had to make every diagonal! Eventually his pony/horse broke his jog which was such a relief as we were all getting tired of it!!

[Ecks Marx The Spot]

those were always fun at the 4-H shows as a kid!
We always won on the "hand gallop" to a halt because he stopped on a dime with out a single step forwards or backwards. I think a counter canter or half pass would have been good ones to add, but this was 20 something years ago so they might not have been too imaginative then! LOL!

[eponacowgirl]

We had a different spin on it- Apple Chin Equitation. Same as above, but you had to hold an apple under your chin.

We finally had a judge call for around-the-world at the WALK before one of us gave in last time I did it... the other girl was western, I was english and she was like "ok, no way." We'd both just started our horses within the year and they were sharpest to our commands... it was hilarious... we couldn't breathe we were laughing so hard.

[Lori B]

Ghazzu -- :eek::eek: indeed!

I was such a new rider when I did it that canter was a big deal. :-)

[Hunter Mom]

This sounds cool. I think I may have to include one at our next barn show.

[HenryisBlaisin']

That was always one of my favorite classes! In my area they usually gave the command and then counted to three. They would speed it up toward the end too. I won several ribbons on the halt-if your horse moves one foot, you're usually out, and my old guy always stood like a rock. Another hard one was the hand gallop-halt; that one always got a few, including me more than once. Reverses at trot without breaking were hard too, because to make the full reverse you had to make a very tight turn and many horses broke gait. We never got asked for a half pass, but once they made us reinback about a quarter of the arena. Always had a blast trying to guess what was coming next!

[Huntertwo]

It is sort of like a "Simon Says" game. Always fun, but nerve wracking.

Certain things to watch out for - If they say reverse, reverse at the same gait you were at. If you were at a stand still, and they call "reverse", reverse and stand still.

If you were at a walk and they announce "reverse", reverse and keep walking.

Teach your horse to stand still for periods of time. Many times they call "halt" and many horse will only stand still for a few seconds and then get antsy.

If they are down to a few good horses, I've always seen the counter-canter used.

My previous QH was excellent at this and won many command class because of the counter-canter.

[Huntertwo]

I used to love them. Usually the tie breakers were english-missed diagonal and western missed flying lead change. Breaking gait was an immediate out of course! I won one once in walk trot (my first show) and the other ride was western so just got to sit there while I had to make every diagonal! Eventually his pony/horse broke his jog which was such a relief as we were all getting tired of it!!

I was at a show that made the Western riders post on the correct diagonal. :yes: