6 Rings of Hunter & Jumper competition from approximately

8 am to 5 pm Wednesday through Sunday

Grand Prix startat approximately 1 pm

Free admission excluding special events and Grand Prix. $5 per person admission for Grand Prix, $10 for special events.*

Kids 12 and Under are always Free. Parking Free.

SPECTATOR PACKET

2018 HITS Chicago SeriesShowplace Spring Classic I • May 9-13

Showplace Spring Classic II • May 16-20

Showplace Spring Classic III • May 23-27

Showplace Spring Spectacular I • June 6-10

Showplace Spring Spectacular II • June 13-17

Showplace Spring Spectacular III • June 19-24

Showplace Summertime I • July 4-8

Showplace Summertime II • July 11-15

Showplace Summertime III • July 18-22

Showplace End of Summer I • August 8-12

Showplace End of Summer II • August 15-19

Showplace Fall Classic I • September 12-16

Showplace Fall Classic II • September 19-23

HITS Balmoral Park26435 S. Dixie Hwy, Crete, IL 60417 | 708.304.2329 | info@HITSShows.com | HITSShows.com

HITS, Inc. | 319 Main Street | Saugerties, NY 12477-1330

HITS CHICAGO

FEATURED EVENTSSaturday, May 12Saturday, May 19Saturday, May 26

Saturday, June 9Saturday, June 16Tuesday, June 19

Saturday, June 23

Saturday, July 7Saturday, July 14Saturday, July 21

Sunday, August 12*Sunday, August 19*

Saturday, September 15

Friday, September 21

$35,000 HITS Grand Prix

$35,000 HITS Grand Prix

$35,000 HITS Grand Prix

$50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix

$50,000 HITS Grand Prix

Derby Tuesday featuring:

$25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

$10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

$2,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby

$50,000 HITS Grand Prix

$35,000 Adequan Grand Prix

$35,000 Ulcerguard Grand Prix

$35,000 HITS Grand Prix & $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

$100,000 Adequan FEI 3* Grand Prix

$500,000 HITS Chicago FEI 5* Grand Prix & PAWLOOZA,

benefit for the American Cancer Society

$25,000 HITS Grand Prix

$25,000 In It To Win It Open Speed Challenge

SPECTATOR PACKET

HITS CHICAGO

*Admission for Sunday, August 12 and Sunday, August 19 is $10 per person.

HUNTERS - Hunter competitions are based on the horse. The horse should be beautiful and well turned out. He needs to be completely clean, and his coat shiny. His mane and tail should be braided. The rider should be properly turned out as well, with clean, well-fitting attire and polished boots.

The horse’s movement and carriage are an important part of the presentation. The horse should be light and graceful across the ground. A relaxed horse with a long, low neck and a good expression (ears forward and alert) is the most desirable.

Probably the most important aspect for a hunter horse is jumping style. The horse should jump with his front legs folded high and evenly. His head and neck should stretch out and down to insure a well-balanced jump. It is important that horse’s body and legs stay straight while jumping, and that the horse stays in the middle of the jump. His expression should say that he enjoys his job (ears forward), and his jumping should appear effortless. A top hunter does not appear nervous or difficult to handle.

The Judges determine after each class which horse’s round best meets the above criteria.

The hunter course is designed to simulate actual hunt field conditions. A typical hunter course is comprised of approximately eight jumps. The jumps consist of natural colored rails, gates and brush.

JUMPERS - All jumper classes are subject to the same scoring systems. Horse and rider must take the fences in a designated sequence. Their goal is to cover the course with no faults within the time allowed for the course. Style is not considered and does not affect the scoring in jumper competitions.

When any part of the fence is knocked down the pair receives 4 faults.

The first time a refusal to jump occurs, the penalty is four faults, the second refusal constitutes elimination. If either the horse or rider falls then the duo will be eliminated.

There is also a penalty for exceeding the time allowed to complete the course. A single time fault is given for each second or part of a second over the time allowed. The horse with the fewest faults (penalties) is the winner.

Most jumper classes are ‘time first jump-off’ classes. After the first round, all horses that have jumped without any penalties are asked to continue to a jump-off round over a shortened course. In the jump-off, the same scoring rules apply and the horse with the fastest time and fewest faults will be declared the winner.

HUNTERS & JUMPERS

HITS CHICAGO

GLOSSARY OF EQUESTRIAN TERMSAMATEUR-OWNER - Divisions that are restricted to non-professional adult riders who ride horses owned by them-selves or members of their immediate family.

CLEAN ROUND - When a horse completes the pre-scribed jumper course within the time allowed without incur-ring jumping faults. When more than one horse has a “clean round,” a jump-off is held to determine the winner.

COMBINATION - Two or three jumps set up so they must be taken in quick succession, separated by only two strides.

COOLER - A blanket used to cover a horse that is over heated or sweating after a competition. It aids the horse in cooling off without catching a chill.

COURSE - In each class over fences, competitors must negotiate the jumps in a prescribed order. Courses for each class are posted in advance near the In-Gates so that riders and trainers may memorize them. It is the role of the course designer to establish the degree of difficulty in the course. No two courses are ever the same. Spectators who hear a course described as a “perfect course” (P.C.) have seen an event in which the number of riders who qualify for the jump-off is the same as the number of ribbons offered in that class.

DISOBEDIENCE - A refusal or inability to jump a fence, resulting in the horse stopping before or running out to the side of a fence. A disobedience is scored as a penalty.

EQUITATION - Equitation classes are classes in which the rider, not the horse, is judged. The rider must demon-strate good seat and hands and sufficient management of the horse to perform the required tests, either over fences or on the flat, in a smooth, controlled and accurate manner. Riders are classified according to their age and previous winnings in equitation classes. Equitation classes are graded, the grad-ing sequence from easiest to most difficult is: Lead line, Short Stirrup, Maiden, Novice, Limit, Intermediate and Open.

FAULT - Penalty assessed jumper classes for mistakes

such as knockdowns, refusals, and exceeding the time al-

lowed.

GAITS - The different paces at which the horse travels are

the walk, trot, canter, gallop and varying speeds of each.

GREEN - An inexperienced or young horse.

HUNTER - A well-mannered, smooth gaited jumping

horse judged on their looks.

IN AND OUT - A two-jump combination, with elements

separated by one or two strides.

JUMP-OFF - All horses with “clean” first rounds jump a

shortened course against the clock to determine the winner.

JUMPER - An athletic horse who is judged on how fast

they complete the course.

JUMPING ORDER - The jumping order or starting

order is determined in a drawing before the event so that each

competitor has an equal chance of attaining a favorable start-

ing position. Riders near the end of the starting order have the

advantage of seeing how the first riders complete the course.

RIDER’S ATTIRE - Breeches and boots, a rat catcher,

hunt coat and hunt caps are all worn by the riders. Breech-

es are the tight fitting pants worn under leather boots. A rat

catcher is another name for the riding shirt worn under the

hunt coat or jacket. A rider may also elect to wear spurs or

carry a crop or stick, to encourage the horse over the fences.

JUNIOR - Any rider who has not reached their 18th birth-

day by December 1st.

RAIL - The wooden bar used on a jump. Rails must be a

minimum of four inches in diameter and eight feet in length.

RIBBONS - Results are announced at the end of each

class and prize ribbons are awarded. The color of the ribbon

indicates the order of finish.

ROUND OR “TRIP” - Terms used to describe a rid-

er’s turn in each class.

SCHOOLING - The warm-up session prior to each rid-

er’s round in which they jump practice fences in the schooling

area.

STANDARD - The various types of supports that hold

up the rails or planks of a jump.

STRIDE - The amount of ground covered by a horse in

one “step” at the canter. The average horse’s stride is 12 feet.

Distances between fences are set accordingly by the course

designer.

TACK - The equipment worn by the horse depends on the

needs of the animal. The saddle and bridle are the staples.

Other equipment may be added such as a “martingale”, which

attaches to the saddle and bridle to keep the horse’s head

from raising too high. Horses may also wear boots or bandag-

es on their legs for support or protection.

WALKING THE COURSE - Riders and horses may not practice on a course prior to actual competition, but riders are permitted to walk out the route, pacing off the number of strides between jumps and examining the obstacles close-ly. It is a course designer’s job to set up problems that will challenge the ability of exhibitors. Riders and trainers must determine what and where these are in a course and develop

strategies accordingly.