Following are the PAC categories and their description that have been pre-approved by APHA . Classes are grouped within each category as staff sees fit. Examples of where classes are categorized can be seen below.

Open Class Categories

• Barrel Racing—Restricted to cloverleaf
• Eventing —Includes USEA approved events. Fill out the PAC Combined Training Exhibitor Report form for Eventing PAC credits.
• Color Class- classes judged on coat color alone (classes based on confirmation should be listed as halter)
• Cutting—Includes NCHA, ACHA, and CCHA approved events. Classes include Cutting, Ranch Cutting, etc.
• Dressage—Includes traditional, western and eventing dressage, as well as USDF, USEA, and WDAA-approved events. Fill out the PAC Dressage Exhibitor Report form for Dressage PAC credits.
• Driving—Includes pleasure and utility driving and ADS-approved events
• Endurance — Includes NATRC and AERC approved rides
• English Pleasure—Includes all non-breed registry-sponsored competition (AQHA, APHA, PtHA, etc), such as NSBA-approved events. Classes include bridle path hack, hunter under saddle, English pleasure, Country pleasure, Dressage Suitability, etc.
• Equitation—Includes Western, Ranch, Bareback, and English-style equitation. Classes include Western Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Stock Seat, Bareback Equitation, Equitation on the Flat, etc.
• Games—Includes cowboy mounted shooting, key hole and other games. (Cloverleaf barrels do not count in the Games category.)
• Halter—Not to include Color classes. Classes based on confirmation only. Classes include Halter, Grand or Reserve Champion Halter, Ranch Confirmation, Hunter-In-Hand, Hunter Model, English Young Model, Confirmation, etc.
• Handicap Competitions—Competitions approved by a nationally recognized organization, such as NARHA.
• Over Fences—Includes all variations of jumping in all non-breed registry-sponsored competition (AQHA, APHA, PtHA, etc), such as NSBA or USEF/USHJA approved events. Classes include Hunter Hack, Working Hunter, Equitation Over Fences, Handy Hunter, Jumpers, Jumping, Hunter Derby, Ground Rail, Crossrails, Gambler’s Choice, etc.
• Recreational Riding – Exhibitors 19 & Over – non-competitive riding. Fill out the PAC Recreational Riding Time Log for Recreational Riding PAC credits. Hours can be logged for trail rides, lessons, fox hunting, clinics, etc. Hours logged while riding in State or National Parks are counted double.
• Reining—Includes snaffle bit, hackamore, open and NRHA-approved events. Classes include Reining, Freestyle Reining, Ranch Reining, etc.
• Roping—Includes team roping, heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer stopping and breakaway roping, as well as USTRC and USCRA-approved events.
• Showmanship—Includes all in-hand competition except for Longe Line and In-Hand Trail. Classes include Western, English/Hunter, or Ranch Showmanship, Liberty, Suitability for Dressage In-Hand, Fitting & Showing, Grooming & Conditioning, Cowboy Dressage-POG Dressage, Cowboy Dressage-Liberty Dressage
• Team Penning/Ranch Sorting—Includes all non-breed association-sponsored competition (AQHA, APHA, PtHA, etc).
• Timed Events—Restricted to pole bending, barrel racing other than cloverleaf, stakes racing.
• Trail—Includes all non-breed association sponsored competition (AQHA, APHA, PtHA, etc), such as NSBA-approved events. Classes include Western, Ranch, or Hunter/English Trail, Walk/Jog Trail, 2 y/o and older In-Hand Trail, ACTHA, Cowboy Obstacle Race, Challenge Cowboy Dressage, Trail or Obstacle Challenges, etc.
• Walk Trot – leadline, all walk-trot classes except games, showmanship, over fences and trail classes or 4-H classes.
• Western Pleasure—Includes all non-breed registry-sponsored competition (AQHA, APHA, PtHA, etc), such as NSBA-approved events. Any Western rail class judged on horse’s movement, not rider’s posture and ability. Classes include Western Pleasure, Ranch Pleasure, Stock Horse Pleasure, Ranch Rail Pleasure, Jack Benny, 2 y/o and older Longe Line, Western Dressage Suitability, etc.
• Western Riding—Includes all non-breed registry-sponsored competition (AQHA, APHA, PtHA, etc), such as NSBA-approved events. Any Western pattern class judged on horse’s movement, not rider’s posture and ability. Classes include Western Riding, Ranch Riding, Ranchmanship, etc.
• Working Cow Horse- Includes Working Cow Horse, Ranch Cow Work, Boxing, Mechanical Cow Flag, etc.
• Yearling Performance—Longe Line, in-hand trail

Youth Class Categories (must denote that the class is youth)

• Youth Barrel Racing
• Youth Halter
• Youth Dressage
• Youth English Pleasure
• Youth Equitation
• Youth Games
• Youth Recreational Riding
• Youth Showmanship
• Youth Timed Events
• Youth Trail
• Youth Walk-Trot
• Youth Western Pleasure

4-H Class Categories (must denote that the class is 4-H)

• 4-H English performance
• 4-H English showmanship
• 4-H Western performance
• 4-H Western showmanship
• 4-H Halter
• 4-H Timed events
• 4-H Dressage

Live shows are no longer required to submit a PAC event approval application.  All live shows are PAC approved as long as the show results are retained for one year and classes are open/all-breed (points/credits cannot be earned from national breed/color associations such as AQHA, PtHA, ApHC, etc but can be earned from national or local discipline associations such as NSBA, USEF, USHJA, NCHA, NRHA, etc). Show management must simply sign off on the exhibitor’s report form before submission.

All APHA E-Shows count for PAC credits! Other virtual shows must submit a written request before the show takes place for approval via the PAC Virtual Event Approval Form. Only virtual shows that do not hold the same classes as APHA E-Shows can be approved. If a show holds some of the same classes as well as some classes that are not offered at APHA E-Shows, the classes not held by APHA E-Shows can be approved. APHA E-Show class list can be found HERE. To see the list of PAC approved virtual shows, visit the PAC Events Calendar page.

PAC Virtual Show Approval Form:

PAC Virtual Show Approval Form