Spotlight Classes

All of our featured classes explained

Spotlight Classes

All of our featured classes explained

About Our Spotlight Classes

Each Cascade show features thrilling spectator-favorite classes in both the Hunter and Jumper disciplines, including unique formats that can be experienced best at our shows. These are the classes that bring everyone together to cheer on their favorites.

Cascade Grand Prix

The Grand Prix is the highest level of the show jumping sport, featuring elite horses and riders in thrilling competition. Our Grand Prix classes pit competitors against jumps and technical challenges up to 1.3 meters high. Working against a time clock, horses and riders must go “clear” in their first round within the time allotted. For the victory, clear riders must return for the exciting, fan-favorite jump-off competition, where only the fastest athletes win! Our Grand Prix classes are generously sponsored by Barn Pros Nationwide, Horseware Ireland, and Whittier Trust.

USHJA National Hunter Derby

The Hunter Derby is the pinnacle of hunt-seat competition. Hunter Derby courses are designed to closely resemble the hunt field, with fewer groundlines, taller and narrower fences, walls, hedges, and more. Approaches to jumps vary greatly, and riders are rewarded for choosing more difficult routes and optional jumps! Our traditional Hunter Derbies consist of two rounds: a hunter Classic course followed by a Handy hunter course (ridden by the top 12 Classic finishers). We also offer Derby competition in the popular “Hunt & Go” format during our season-opening Cascade Preview show. To win in the Hunter Derby requires demonstrations of grace, composure and technical mastery from both horse and rider.

Luxury DerbyCross™

The DerbyCross is an exciting Cascade Horse Shows-exclusive event in which horse and rider compete in a combined Hunter Classic Round, followed immediately by a Jumper Speed Round, where the highest combined score determines the winner. This event is pays homage to classic hunt-seat competition of the past; success is rewarded to those with high levels of handiness, horse and rider communication, and daring.

Cascade Memorial Cup

The Cascade Memorial Cup is a unique Team Hunter Derby event run in Nations Cup style, with teams riding to honor someone special. Each team consists of four riders: one professional and a combination of either juniors or amateur riders. Team members each ride one of 4 Derby rounds: a classic and handy at 2’6”, and a classic and handy at 3’. The top 3 combined scores determine placings for each team. 100% of the proceeds from the entry fees for this class are donated to charities selected by the top 3 placing teams.

Voltaire Design Need For Speed

The Need for Speed is a classic Jumper Speed Round where horse and rider compete for the shortest time through a challenging course up to 1.2 meters high. Speed is important, but victory often favors the daring pair able to pick out the most “exciting” line through the jumps, which may even involve breathtaking turns! Great athleticism is always on display in the Cascade Need for Speed. The winner receives Voltaire Design prizes valued over $500.

Rosé All Day Amateur Classic

Hold onto your horses—and wine—for this one! Our exclusive Rosé All Day Amateur Classic is a classic English Hunter Hack competition with a little extra challenge. In a Hunter Hack, exhibitors in Hunt seat attire and tack perform on the flat at a walk, trot, canter and hand gallop, and then jump two low fences. Our event, which is open to amateur riders ages 21 and up, awards an extra bonus at the end for the quiet, well mannered pairs who keep the most wine in their glasses!

Rising Stars Leadline

We look forward to it every year, and our Rising Stars Children’s Leadline class never fails to delight! See our sport’s youngest stars demonstrate their horsemanship skills as they “perform” on the flat (with their horse guided by an adult or older sibling). Following their feats in the ring, they get to prove their knowledge by fielding tricky questions posed by our jumper judge or show managers. Amazingly, our talented leadliners never fail to tie for first place!

Passions on Parade™ Leadline

What if you could take everything you love about our Rising Stars Leadline class, and turn it on its head? That’s the spirit of our “just for fun” Passions on Parade™ leadline class, featured at our season-opening Cascade Preview show each June. Entrants are invited to show off their passions: their championship horse, baby horse, favorite horse show attire, or even their parents! As a celebration of Father’s Day weekend, this class recognizes all of the amazing parents of both genders who support the future of our sport through our junior riders.

Cascade Canine Derby

One event that everyone looks forward to is the Cascade Canine Derby, sponsored by Evolution Equestrian and Amanda Gelderman. This “just for fun” class pits our fabulous horse show dogs and their favorite handlers against an agility-inspired obstacle course. Scored by our show judges and emceed by show management, this event never fails to bring smiles and gasps from an appreciative crowd.