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The United Professional Horsemen's Association has updated and revised its Exceptional Challenge Cup Championship class procedure and judging specifications going into 2017.

• Open to all English Equitation riders, with a mental or physical handicap, riding a mare or gelding of any breed. Western Tack will be allowed as adaptive equipment.
• Open to Walk and Trot riders only. Rider must never have been judged in a class at a recognized or non-recognized show that required a canter. Tournaments, Academy classes, and Schooling Shows are considered non-recognized shows.
• All riders are to wear Academy Attire appropriate for their seat. For the saddle seat rider, they are to wear jodhpurs, a collared shirt, vest (sweater vest are acceptable), and tie. For Academy attire, the hunt seat rider is to wear breaches, tall boots, hunt shirt, and may wear a sweater vest or vest. There are to be no coats permitted.
• Horses must be shown in English style bridles with riders using both hands to steer. There will be no curb bits permitted.
• At the UPHA American Royal, riders will be provided with two practice times to practice as a group. There will also be an instructors meeting held prior to the first practice.
• A first place win in a UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup class does not eliminate that rider from further competition for the remainder of the qualifying season. Winners of the UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Finals shall be eliminated from further competition in the UPHA Challenge Cup program after three (3) consecutive or nonconsecutive wins of the Finals Class.
• In the UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Finals, all exhibitors must compete collectively as a group (or in groups) of twelve (12), unless show management feels there is a safety issue, at such time the management reserves the right to split at eight (8) to ten (10) riders. Riders will compete on the rail at a walk and trot both ways of the ring, line up and complete an individual workout. If a class is divided because of size, it will be split by every other number. If divisions(s) of the class are necessary, each section will perform both rail work and the individual workout before calling the next section. Riders will remain in the line-up inside the ring throughout the individual workout portion of the class, a header is allowed in the lineup.
• The UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Committee will provide a safety officer at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show who is responsible for helping ensure the safety of all of our riders. The safety officer will be at all practices and has the authority to dismiss a horse from practice or competition due to safety concerns for the rider or other riders. If a horse is asked not to participate for safety reasons, every effort will be made to help find a suitable replacement.
• The individual workout for the Finals will be the mandatory workout required in the qualifying class: “Trot down the rail to the two thirds point of the rail. Trot a two loop serpentine across the end of the arena. Return to the line up at the trot. .” Correct diagonals shall be taken into consideration on the rail and in the individual workout.
• During the work out portion of the class the instructors may select who or what will help mark their riders points in the pattern and may talk to their rider.
• The judging specification shall be based 60% on rail work and 40% on the individual workout, the same as the qualifying classes. Should the judges require a second rail work for the purpose of trying the class, the specifications shall be 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. One third on the Phase 1 rail work, one third on the workout, and one third on Phase 2 rail work. No predetermined number need be selected from each group.
• Rider’s will be broken into levels 1- 5 based on the rider’s abilities as stated by the rider and instructor.
• Rider’s may wear any standard of English dress that is appropriate for the discipline they are riding (i.e. saddle seat, hunt seat, dressage). They also may use protective and adaptive equipment necessary to them and to the division in which they show, please see FEI adaptive equipment rules.
• One (1) handler per entry shall be permitted in the ring to facilitate the safety of the rider. Handlers shall stand quietly as a group in a designated area of the ring unless their assistance is requested by the judges(s) or ringmaster. We have adapted the UPHA American Royal dress code for all trainers, handlers, and grooms 1. Collared shirts are required; stable names and logos are acceptable; 2. Shirts must be tucked in while in the show ring; 3. Slacks or khaki pants only (no denim or shorts); 4. Billed hats must be worn forward. Overall, handlers must present a clean, professional, and a put together appearance.
• The “Top Ten” riders shall be chosen from each of the Levels for the awards presentation ceremony. From each level a Champion and Reserve Champion shall be awarded. The “Top Ten” shall be announced first and called in individually and numerically for the ribbon presentation and photograph with their instructors/handler, who will then remain in the ring with their riders. These ribbons will be presented with out leaving the line up. Immediately following will be the presentation to the Reserve Champion and then the National Champion. Each rider will then make a victory pass down the designated rail of the ring and exit. The numerical eight of the “Top Ten” shall be called first, followed by the Reserve Champion and finally the National Champion. A UPHA representative will be on hand to fully explain this procedure to the instructors prior to the class.
• The UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Class shall be conducted under the express ruling of the USEF dispensation rule, in conjunction with the United Professional Horseman’s Association, Inc. (UPHA)

UPHA EXCEPTIONAL CHALLENGE CUP WALK AND TROT WITH ASSISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS PROCEDURE AND JUDGING SPECIFICATIONS

• Open to all English Equitation riders, with a mental or physical handicap, riding a mare or gelding of any breed. Western Tack will be allowed even as adaptive equipment.
• Open to Walk and Trot riders only. Riders must never have been judged in a class at a recognized or non-recognized show that required a canter. Tournaments, Academy classes, and Schooling Shows are considered non-recognized show.
• A first place win in a UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Walk and Trot with Assistance Class does not eliminate that rider from further competition for the remainder of the qualifying season. Winners of the UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Walk and Trot with Assistance Finals shall be eliminated from further competition in the UPHA Challenge Cup program after three (3) consecutive or nonconsecutive wins of the Finals Class.
• In the UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Finals, all exhibitors must compete collectively as a group (or in groups) of twelve (12), unless show management feels there is a safety issue, at such time the management reserves the right to split at eight (8) to ten (10) riders. Riders will compete on the rail at a walk and trot both ways of the ring, and lineup. If a class is divided because of size, it will be spit by every other number. Ten riders shall be chosen to return for Phase 2.
• The individual workout for the Finals will be the mandatory workout required in the qualifying class: “Walk or trot down the rail to the two thirds point of the rail. Walk or Trot a two loop serpentine across the end of the arena. Return to the lineup at a walk or trot.”
• During the work out portion of the class the instructors may select who or what will help mark their riders points in the pattern and may talk to their rider.
• The judging specification shall be based 60% on rail work and 40% on the individual workout, the same as the qualifying classes. Should the judges require a second rail work for the purpose of trying the class, the specifications shall be 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. One third on the Phase 1 rail work, one third on the workout, and one third on Phase 2 rail work.
  No predetermined number need be selected from each group.
• All riders are to wear Academy Attire appropriate for their seat. For the saddle seat rider they are to wear jodhpurs, a collared shirt, vest (sweater vest are acceptable), and tie. For Academy attire the hunt seat rider is to wear breaches, tall boots, hunt shirt, and may year a sweater vest or vest. There are to be no coats permitted.
• Riders may wear any standard of English dress that is appropriate for the discipline they are riding (i.e. saddle seat, hunt seat, dressage). They may also use protective and adaptive equipment necessary to them and to the division in which they show, please see FEI adaptive equipment rules.
• Horses must be show in English style bridles with riders using both hands to steer. There will be no curb bits permitted.
• At the UPHA American Royal riders will be provided with two practice times to practice as a group. There will also be an instructors meeting held prior to the first practice.
• Each entry must be on a lead line and can have two side walkers, if necessary based on their level, to assist the rider.
• The UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Committee will provide a safety officer at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show who is responsible for helping insure the safety of all of our riders. The safety officer will be at all practices and has the authority to dismiss a horse from practice or competition due to safety concerns for the rider or other riders. If a horse is asked not to participate for safety   reasons every effort will be made to help find a suitable replacement.
• We have adapted the UPHA American Royal dress code for all trainers, handlers, and side walkers. 1. Collared shirts are required; stable names and logos are acceptable; 2. Shirts must be tucked in while in the show ring; 3. Slack or khaki pants only (no denim or shorts); 4. Billed hats must be worn forward. Overall, handlers must present a clean, professional, and put-together appearance.
• Riders will be broken into levels 1- 5 based on the rider’s abilities as stated by the rider and instructor.
• The “Top Ten” riders shall be chosen from each of the Levels for the awards presentation ceremony. From each Level, a Champion and Reserve champion shall be awarded. The “Top Ten” shall be announced first and called in individually and numerically for the ribbon presentation and photograph with their instructors/handler, who will then remain in the ring with their riders. These ribbons will be presented without leaving the lineup. Immediately following will be the presentation to the Reserve Champion and then the National Champion. Each rider will then make a victory pass down the designated rail of the ring and exit. The numerical eight of the “Top Ten” shall be called first, followed by the Reserve Champion and finally the National Champion. A UPHA representative will be on hand to fully explain this procedure to the instructors prior to the Class.
• The UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup Class shall be conducted under the express ruling of the USEF dispensation rule in conjunction with the United Professional Horseman’s Association, Inc (UPHA).

UPHA EXCEPTIONAL CHALLENGE CUP LEVELS

LEVEL 1

• can post the trot consecutively until asked to stop
• can steer left and right when needed without assistance
• can follow commands when asked
• can hold reins correctly
• has control of their horse without assistance
• able to stop and start their horse without assistance
• rides correct diagonal and changes when appropriate

LEVEL 2

• can post most of the time at the trot with minimal breaks in the posting rhythm
• stop and start their horse without assistance
• follow commands with minimal assistance
• can change diagonals
• can Steer when needed
• able to stop and start horse without assistance

LEVEL 3

• can do minimum of 10 consecutive posts at the trot
• can hold reins and steer left and right when asked with or with out verbal assistance *most riders have ability at home to ride unassisted but for safety reasons show on lead at the show

LEVEL 4

• can do a sitting trot
• can post a minimum of 2-5 strides in a row
• can hold the reins without dropping
• can steer when asked at least one direction
• may be able to change their diagonal when asked
• may be permitted to have side walkers if needed

LEVEL 5

• can do a sitting trot for a short time
• can hold the reins most of the time
• can walk and keep balance in the saddle
• may be able to demonstrate some steering
• may be permitted to have side walkers if needed

-- via UPHA