Hors de Concours (HC)
Hors de Concours = Hors Concours = HC is “outside of competition.” A rider rides a test but is not part of the competition so is not formally in a class, is not placed in a class, does not receive a ribbon, and the ride is not eligible for any awards.
A rider may choose to ride HC if they do not want the ride recorded but want the experience of riding in a show.
In many schooling shows, a ride will automatically be HC if it is the second ride of the same test before the same judge. For schooling shows, if you want to ride HC, red the prize list for the show’s HC policies. If you still have questions, contact show management.
For USEF/USDF shows, a rider must ride HC if they have trained before the judge within the past 30 days.
A request for HC must be made BEFORE the ride, preferably as part of the show entry.
USEF Rules for HC:
GR827 Hors de Concours. Competition Management may, in its sole discretion, permit an exhibitor to exhibit in a class Hors de Concours. If a horse exhibits in a class Hors de Concours, the horse cannot compete in a subsequent class for prize money in the same ring on the same day. However, the rider of a Hors de Concours horse may compete in subsequent classes.
Exceptions: a. Dressage Competitions (out of competition); see DR119.5 and DR119.9.
USEF DR119 Participation in Dressage Competitions
5. Only with the permission of competition management may a horse/rider combination enter a class Hors de Concours. Such entries must pay the full entry fee but scores for these entries will not be published or recorded, nor shall they count towards any prizes, placings or year-end awards. Said permission must be granted prior to the start of the class(es) involved. Hors de Concours entries must follow all Federation General and Dressage Division rules that apply to other entries in the same class, except as described below. Having competed Hors de Concours at a competition, a horse is no longer eligible for further prizes, awards or placings at that competition except in situations of emergency substitutions of judges. Hors de Concours entries are not permitted in Federation/USDF Championship or NAYC qualifying and championship classes.
USEF DR119 Participation in Dressage Competitions
9. A Dressage competition manager or secretary may not serve as judge or compete at their own competition. However, a Dressage competition manager or secretary may ride Hors de Concours if they designate an assistant in charge while they are riding. This does not absolve the manager’s or secretary’s duties and responsibilities. A judge may not be an owner of any competing horse, except that horses may be shown Hors de Concours in classes where the owner is not officiating (see GR1304 and GR1039).
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