Light Horse & Rodeo
Light Horse Show & Rodeo Rules
No horses on the grounds prior to 4:00 PM, Thursday, August 21st. This allows volunteer committee preparation.
Liability Insurance: Mandatory for anyone competing or handling horses/ponies in any light horse class. IHC Insurance will not be sold at the fair office. Purchase through Island Horse Council at
islandhorsecouncil.ca.
Entries: See entry form for fees and contact info.
NEW RULE: Entries are due August 21st, 2025. Late entries will incur a $20 fee and will not qualify for prize money or championship points.
Stalls: Horses staying Friday/Saturday night must reserve stalls with Aimee Comeau at 902-218-0700.
Exhibitors must clean their stalls before leaving—failure to do so will result in prize money being withheld.
Divisions
- Peewee: Riders 10 and under (as of Jan 1, 2025)
- Youth: Ages 11–17
- Senior/Adult: 18 and over
Show Attire – New Rule
Western and English attire is required. No hoodies, ball caps, sneakers, or casual wear permitted.
General Regulations
- Be in the holding area and ready to enter when class is called. No late entries once gate is closed.
- All participants must behave responsibly and maintain control of their animals.
- Inhumane treatment will not be tolerated.
- Animals must be sound and in good health.
- Judge has authority to disqualify any exhibitor if safety is compromised.
- Friday warm-ups permitted in lower ring until reining classes begin.
- Judge may combine classes with fewer than 3 entries.
- Helmet Rule: ALL riders under 18 must wear a helmet in all events (including Lead Line and Pet Pony).
- Individual numbers must be worn at all times by each entry.
Class Descriptions
Lead Line
For children 10 and under. Child holds reins from the bridle. Leader must have a lead line attached to a halter over the bridle. Feet must be in stirrups.
PeeWee Rider
Walk-Jog/Trot class judged on rider’s ability.
Pet Pony Class (Jazz Memorial Plaque)
- Ponies shown in saddle only – no carts.
- Adult handler may be in the ring but not leading the pony.
- All ponies must be 14.2 hands or under.
Hunter Hack
Shown at walk, trot, and canter. Riders will also jump a few fences.
Standardbred Classes
Promoting Standardbreds in new careers.
- Standardbred Road Hack & Pleasure Stake: Walk and trot/pace only.
- Pleasure Stake: Riders dismount and remove saddles for confirmation judging.
- English and Western tack are both permitted.
- Participants may enter other classes as well.
English Classes
If Adult entries are low, they may be combined with Youth, but will be judged separately.
Light Horse Show – Friday, August 22nd at 9:00 AM
Lunch Break: Time to be announced during the show.
Prizes
1st – $15.00 | 2nd – $10.00 | 3rd – $5.00 | 4th – $4.00 | 5th – $3.00
High Point Awards
- English Adult
- English Youth
- Western Adult
- Western Youth
- Champion Standardbred
- Champion PeeWee Rider
- Youth Reining
- Adult Reining
Main Ring – Morning Classes
- Lead Line Class
- PeeWee Showmanship (Preston Balisdell Memorial Trophy)
- Youth Showmanship
- Adult Showmanship
- Pet Pony Class (Jellybean Memorial Plaque)
- PeeWee Rider
- Standardbred Road Hack
- Standardbred Pleasure Stake
Lunch Break
Main Ring – Afternoon Classes
- Costume Class
- English Equitation – Adult
- English Equitation – Youth (Under 18)
- English Pleasure – Adult
- English Pleasure – Youth (18 and under)
- English Command Horse/Pony
- Youth Hunter Hack (Cross Pole 18″ max)
- Adult Hunter Hack (18″ to 24″)
- Western Pleasure – Youth (Under 18)
- Western Pleasure – Adult (Darla Cooper Memorial)
- Western Horsemanship – Youth (Under 18)
- Western Horsemanship – Adult
- Western Command – Youth
- Western Command – Adult
Lower Ring Classes
- Youth Reining
- Adult Reining
Dundas Rodeo ~ August 23rd, 1:00 PM
Location: Lower Ring
This year the schedule will be as follows:
- PeeWee, Youth, and Adult Games
- Trail Challenge
Trail Challenge
Division: PeeWee, Youth & Adult
Rules
- No horse can be entered twice in the same class.
- This is a timed event.
Class
Gambler’s Choice: Competitors must complete as many obstacles as possible within an assigned time or no score is given. Competitors are judged on horsemanship skills.
PeeWee Games Rules
Leaders are optional as long as safety is not compromised. All riders being led must have a separate halter and leadline. The rider must have the reins from the bridle. Children’s feet must be in the stirrups. It will be a timed competition.
Prizes – Lower Ring
Class Prizes:
1st – $15.00 | 2nd – $10.00 | 3rd – $5.00 | 4th – $4.00 | 5th – $3.00
High Point Prizes:
PeeWee/Youth/Adult Games, PeeWee/Youth/Adult Trail
PeeWee, Youth and Adult Games
- Rescue Race
- PeeWee Barrels
- Youth Barrels
- Adult Barrels
- PeeWee Poles
- Youth Poles
- Adult Poles
- PeeWee Down & Back
- Youth Down & Back
- Adult Down & Back
- PeeWee Musical Sacks
- Youth Musical Sacks
- Open Toilet Paper Game
- Flag Race (Neil Ross Memorial)
Trail Challenge
- Gambler’s Choice – PeeWee, Youth and Adult
