Show Ribbons, Prizes, and Points

Ribbons are Traditional Horse Show Prizes

Over the weekend at a horse show I chatted with some new-to-the-sport parents that were asking a lot of questions...good questions! Here are some of the answers...

Horse show ribbons are the most common prize awarded to equestrians. They can vary widely by style, size and overall design, but for the most part, the main rank colors are always the same.

Who Picks the Prizes?

The horse show host (farm) is in charge of choosing and designing the show’s ribbons. There are many different varieties of ribbon styles to choose from. Of course, the fancier the ribbon, the higher the cost. There are many ribbon companies to pick from when you go to order your ribbons.

Additional Options for Horse Show Prizes

In addition to the traditional set of ribbons awarded to each horse show class, a farm might decide to offer additional prizes- a prize tent!

Some standards:

• Medal to the first place winner

• Trophy to the first place winner

• Cash to the winners

• Candy or other small trinkets to first place winners and leadliners

• Champion and Reserve ribbons to division winners

• Stuffed animals for the younger riders

• Equipment - leadlines, treats, buckets, etc.

• Toys - Breyer horses, horse themed games, etc.

What are Champion and Reserve Champion placings in a horse show?

Typical horse shows offer groups of classes called divisions. A division is usually made up of 3-4 classes that offer competition to the same age/skillset of competitor. For example, a mini stirrup division might be offered to riders 10 and under. Three classes in a mini stirrup division might be walk/trot, walk/trot/canter, crossrails/poles.

Riders in each division compete to see not just what they can win in individual classes, but to see how many points they can earn in the entire division. After all classes in a division are pinned, the rider with the most points earns “Champion” status. The rider with the 2nd highest points is the “Reserve Champion” of the division. Many shows offer ribbons for these high point winners.

What happens in a tie? When the top two riders in a division each earn the same number of points, the tie-breaker usually comes down to the jump class. Whichever rider had the higher placing in the jump class bumps to Champion. The other rider would win Reserve Champion.

How many points are ribbons worth?

In a traditional hunter/jumper show, the points allocated to each ribbon/placing are as follows:

• 1st place – 7 points

• 2nd place – 5 points

• 3rd place – 4 points

• 4th place – 3 points

• 5th place – 2 points

• 6th place – 1 point

This point system is what is used to determine who wins Champion and Reserve Champion in each division.

Ribbons Colors and Their Placings

Most horse shows offer placings in each class from 1st place to 6th place. Some rated shows, exhibition shows, and other specialty shows may offer ribbon placings all the way down to 10th place.

Here are the colors most commonly associated with horse show results:

• Blue – 1st place

• Red – 2nd place

• Yellow – 3rd place

• White – 4th place

• Pink – 5th place

• Green – 6th place

• Purple – 7th place

• Brown – 8th place

• Gray – 9th place

• Light Blue – 10th place

Note: these are the horse show ribbon colors commonly used in the United States. Other countries might have slightly different prize colors.

Ribbon Color is EVERYTHING

Okay, maybe not to every rider. But ribbon color is definitely important – especially to the youngest riders! If you ever want to see this in action, head over to the leadline class. These classes are for the very youngest equestrians and there is almost always someone who is not happy with her ribbon, because of… the color. I remember when my daughter only wanted the pink ribbons...LOL GONE are those days and now she ONLY wants blue.

My daughter at her latest show with her best boy, Action Jackson.

"badass" hat from Mare Modern Goods

Ways to Display Horse Show Ribbons

As you start to accumulate more than a handful of ribbons, you may want to look into different ways to display them!

A simple string or wire strung from 2 nails across the wall will certainly get the job done. There are lots of other options though!

Here are a few:

• Metal Ribbon Rack or a Wooden Ribbon Rack (check out Etsy!)

• Have them sewn into a ribbon quilt - there are services that do this!

• Pack them into a shadow box - Michaels has them!

What are YOUR ribbon stories? How did you display them? POST YOUR PHOTOS of show season success in the Forum section under photos!