Hors concours (often abbreviated as HC) is a French term meaning “out of competition” or “without rival.” It refers to a participant in a competition—frequently in equestrian, arts, or exhibition events—who competes but is not eligible for placings, points, or prizes.
“Hors concours” is a French term translating to “out of competition” or “beyond competition,” originating in the 1880s to describe artists, architects, or exhibitors too skilled to compete for standard prizes. It signifies an unparalleled standard of excellence, often used when winners of previous competitions are displayed without being judged, essentially placing them above the rest.
Key Historical Points:
- Origin: The term appeared in written evidence by the 1880s, originating from French exhibitions, often denoting elite artists.
- Artistic/Exhibition Usage: It allowed experienced or elite artists to display work at events like the Paris Salon without undergoing competition, ensuring they were recognized but not competing against newcomers.
- Evolution: The concept evolved to mean “unrivalled” or “unequalled” in any field, particularly high-end events like Concours d’Elegance (car shows), where esteemed vehicles might be displayed hors concours.
- Modern Usage: Today, it is still used in arts and curated exhibitions to acknowledge individuals or works that are esteemed too high for standard rankings.
History of “Hors Concours” in Equestrian Sports:
- Origin: As indicative above, the term “hors concours” has roots in French exhibitions and found its way into competition rules in the late 19th century. The Oxford English Dictionary identifies its first use in English in the 1880s, specifically 1884.
- Usage in Shows: In horse shows, particularly in hunter or breed classes, a horse may be entered as “HC” to participate for exposure or training without influencing the scoring of other competitors.
- Purpose: It allows judges to evaluate a horse’s quality without disrupting the competitive ranking for awards. In some contexts, it refers to retired champions who make a final appearance.
Key Aspects of Hors Concours (HC) with an equine context:
- Purpose: Allows competitors to participate for training, experience, or to showcase a young horse without pressure.
- Non-Competitive: The entry is excluded from the final rankings and prize pool.
- Usage: Commonly used when a horse has too many points for a specific class or to ride in a lower-level class to build confidence.
- Equine Context: It is frequently used in riding, horse showing, and showjumping – denotes a participant whose work is not judged competitively against others.
From the Equestrian Australia jumping rules:
Hors Concurs – A Horse, which is not fully eligible for a particular Competition, may be allowed to take part in that Competition Hors Concours, subject to the following conditions.
Permission is entirely at the discretion of the OC.
The Judge must be informed that permission has been given.
The Athlete is subject to the rules as if he/she were an athlete in the Competition, except as provided in this rule.
The Owner, Athlete and Horse must meet the membership requirements as set out in the EA General Regulations Art 100, Art 113, Art 139
A Horse, which has competed at an Event Hors Concours, is not allowed to compete subsequently for prizes on that day at that Event in the same ring.
Further information can be found here: