The Speed Phase of Working Equitation is to test the speed, agility, athleticism, and submission of the horse and the balance, aids, and seat of the rider. 

Disqualifications in the  Speed Phase 

• Starting the course or passing through the start flags before the judge has given permission by ringing a bell or blowing a whistle.
• Not starting the course within 45 seconds of the whistle or bell starting signal.
• An error in the course. (i.e., skipping an obstacle, doing an obstacle backwards, or doing the obstacles out of order)                
• Three refusals on the course.
• Non-completion of an obstacle.
• Failure to pass through the obstacle flags (if obstacle is so marked.)
• Refusal of more than 15 seconds to perform an obstacle.
• Obviously showing an obstacle to the horse or attempting an obstacle before the test has begun.
•  Fall of the horse or rider.
• More than three complete strides of canter in the Young Horse Test A, Walk Trot or Novice Speed Phases.



Gaits Allowed in Speed Phase: 

• Young Horse in Hand – No Speed Phase
• Young Horse Test A – Trot
• Young Horse Test B – Canter
• Lead Line – No Speed Phase.
• Walk – No Speed Phase
• Walk Trot – Trot
• Novice – Trot
• Preliminary - Canter
• Intermediate - Canter
• Advanced - Canter
• International – Canter

Please note that the given gait is the maximum gait allowed at that level during the Speed Phase.

Guidelines

• The obstacles used in the Speed Phase are the same obstacles that are allowed at each level of the Ease of Handling. The Jug obstacle is never used in the Speed Phase. The Livestock Pen is only used in one direction in the Speed Phase.  (See Ease of Handling)

• The Judge will signal the rider to begin by the ringing of a bell or blowing a whistle.  Failure to begin within 45 seconds after the signal will result in disqualification.  Starting before the signal will result in disqualification.
• The timer for the speed class starts running as soon as the horse's nose crosses the starting line and the timer is stopped as soon as the horse's nose crosses the finish line. When manually timed, two timers must be used for each rider.  The same two timing devices and people must be used for each competitor in a class.  Timing devices and people can only be changed between classes.   When timed with an electronic timer, a manual backup timer must be used. 
• Obstacles can have tennis balls on any part of the obstacles that when dislodged by the horse or rider hitting the obstacle will incur 10 sec added onto their time for each occurrence. Knocking down part of, or the entire obstacle, will result in a 20 sec penalty added for each occurrence.
• When manually timing the Speed Phase there must be two timers. One timer will be designated the head timer and the second timer will be the backup. The head timer’s time will be the recorded time unless there is a timer failure. 
• Any obstacle already ridden is considered “dead” and may be ridden through in any direction without penalty, although be aware that knocking an obstacle (even a dead one) will affect the final time by incurring the appropriate time penalty.
• The rider must enter and leave the speed obstacle arena at a walk.