To be eligible, horses must be full thoroughbred and registered in the Weatherbys General Stud Book. The horse must have been in training as a racehorse, but need not necessarily have raced. They must also be over four years old, and stand taller than 15 hands high (hh).

Turnout and rider wear should conform to the appropriate class - competitors showing their horses as riding horses should wear navy jackets and hats, while those showing their horses as hunters should wear tweed coats.

Competitors qualifying for the evening performance at the Horse Of The Year Show should wear black or navy jackets and a top hat

Trick riding is a form of dangerous horse riding stunts which include the rider standing upright on a horse, while the horse is galloping. Other stunts include hanging upside off of the horse by a strap or jumping on and off the horse which is running at a gallop.

Horse riding stunts have been performed in many films, as well as in equestrian events such as Equitana.

Horse riding stunts were also performed on the musical theatre production of "The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular". The trick riders for the show included Deborah Brennan and also Zelie Thompson (who has also taken part in other horse shows such as Equitana). Zelie Thompson is an Australian stuntwoman who trains her own horses for her trick riding stunts.

A riding instructor is a person whose job it is to teach methods of horse riding (and also horse care) to beginners and improve the intermediate and advanced rider's style and technique.

Instructors may work at a riding school or training centre/college, or may be freelance and travel from stable to stable.