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The show system in the game is, to some extent, based on showing in the real world. By that I mean that there is a progression of shows from simple to more complex, the Show Levels.

In each Level, there are 4 Grades, which represent the areas from which contestants are drawn. They start out with Local shows, which include horses from a relatively small area-a county in a given state of the US, for example. These shows award a limited number of points based on where a horse places, including half points.

Next comes Regional. This Grade represents shows that attract the best horses from a number of Local areas. Perhaps this might include horses from a whole state.

Next comes National, where the best horses from a whole country come together in competition.

Finally come the World shows, where horses from a number of countries can be found competing. The Olympics are a World class show for horses.

There are 8 Levels. They are sometimes referred to by their number--1 through 8. At other times they will be referred to by the level of skill/training needed to compete.

Level 1--Inhand. These are shows where horses are shown on a Lead Rope and are not being ridden. Mostly this would be young stock.

Level 2--Green Under Saddle. Now the horses will be ridden at a walk, trot, and canter. They are still young and are not yet being trained to jump.

Level 3--Green Over Fences. These horses are starting their jumping training. The jumps will be relatively low and the layouts fairly simple.

Level 4--Training. The horses are being schooled over higher and more complex jumps. Some spread jumps might be included, maybe an in and out, but I'm really not a part of the horse world enough to be positive. The layouts will become more complex as well.

Level 5--C Level. Again there will be increasing height and complexity in the jumps and more difficult layouts.

Level 6--B Level. The height and complexity of jumps and of layouts continues to increase.

Level 7--A Level. Once again there is an increase in complexity. By this level, the horses need to very fit and very well trained to compete. Many horses will never be able to compete at this level.

Level 8--Grand Prix. These are the highest levels of competition with the most difficult jumps and layouts with the tightest turns and reversals of direction. Only the very best horses are capable of competing at this level.

In Hunt and Jump, the Performance Test score will predict to some extent how long a horse will benefit significantly from training and how far up the showing ladder they will progress. Horses with a PT score in the 9's will level off when they turn 9 if they are intact. This means that they will only add minute fractions of a point to their show score with each training. They will may only advance to Level 6 Local. Neutered horses with similar PT scores will level off when they turn 10. They may advance to 6 National.

As the PT scores increase, the horses will train longer. A horse with a high 10.? score may reach 8 Local. Horses with a PT score of more than 11 will probably be able to reach 8 National and then 8 World.

This progression is possible because the higher the PT score, the more points are added to the potential show score with each training.

When horses are created or foals are born, they are randomly assigned a starting score, usually between 1 and 10. All four Level 1 grades fit into those first 10 points, so a new create or new foal that has a starting show score of 9 or 10 will start out in 1 World.

After that, every Level/Grade covers a span of 10 points in the show score. At some point in Level 6, the number of points added to the show score before the next level begins to increase. If a horse reaches 8 World, it stays there forever, no matter how high its show score reaches.