Western Showmanship (Halter)
Official: The showmanship class shall be designed to evaluate the exhibitor’s ability to execute, in concert with a well groomed and conditioned horse, a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence, and maintaining a balanced, functional and fundamentally correct body position.
Western Horsemanship/Equitation
Official: The western horsemanship class is designed to evaluate the rider’s ability to execute, in concert with their horse, a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence, and maintaining a balanced, functional and fundamentally correct body position. The ideal horsemanship pattern is extremely precise with the rider and horse working in complete unison, executing each maneuver with subtle aids and cues. The horse’s head and neck should be carried in a relaxed, natural position, with the poll level with or slightly above the withers. The head should not be carried behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance.
Western Pleasure
There are no complicated maneuvers in a western pleasure class, and you won’t have to go over or around any obstacles. You simply walk, jog and lope in both directions with a group of other riders in the show pen. An announcer will let you know what gait to pick up and when to change direction. At the end of the class, you’ll be asked to line up with the other riders in the middle of the arena and you may be instructed to back up one at a time under the judge’s watchful eye. In a western pleasure class, the judge is looking for a horse that looks like he is a pleasure to ride. A good western pleasure horse is quiet and well behaved in the show pen. And your horse should travel on a loose rein with his head level to his withers—not held high in the air or low near the ground—the entire time he’s being judged.
Official: Emphasis is placed on the horse’s performance. A good pleasure horse has a free-flowing stride of reasonable length in keeping with his conformation. He should cover a reasonable amount of ground with little effort. Ideally, he should have a balanced, flowing motion, while exhibiting correct gaits that are of the proper cadence. The quality of the movement and the consistency of the gaits is a major consideration. He should carry his head and neck in a relaxed, natural position, with his poll level with or slightly above the level of the withers. He should not carry his head behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance. His head should be level with his nose slightly in front of the vertical, having a bright expression with his ears alert. He should be shown on a reasonably loose rein, but with light contact and control. He should be responsive, yet smooth, in transitions when called for. When asked to extend, he should move out with the same flowing motion. Maximum credit should be given to the flowing, balanced and willing horse that gives the appearance of being fit and a pleasure to ride.
Western Walk & Favorite Gait
The western walk and favorite gait class is designed to evaluate the horse and rider’s ability to work as a team and both the horse and the rider will be judged. The riders ability to execute, in concert with their horse, a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence, and maintaining a balanced, functional and fundamentally correct body position. Emphasis is also placed on the horse’s performance. The horse has a free-flowing stride of reasonable length in keeping with his conformation. He should cover a reasonable amount of ground with little effort. Ideally, he should have a balanced, flowing motion, while exhibiting correct gaits that are of the proper cadence. The quality of the movement and the consistency of the gaits is a major consideration. He should carry his head and neck in a relaxed, natural position, with his poll level with or slightly above the level of the withers. He should not carry his head behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance. His head should be level with his nose slightly in front of the vertical, having a bright expression with his ears alert. He should be shown on a reasonably loose rein, but with light contact and control. He should be responsive, yet smooth, in transitions when called for. When asked to extend, he should move out with the same flowing motion. Maximum credit should be given to the flowing, balanced and willing horse that gives the appearance of being fit and a pleasure to ride
Western Trail
Official: This class will be judged on the performance of the horse over obstacles, with emphasis on manners, response to the rider and quality of movement. Credit will be given to horses negotiating the obstacles with style and some degree of speed, providing correctness is not sacrificed. Horses should receive credit for showing attentiveness to the obstacles and the capability of picking their own way through the course when obstacles warrant it, and willingly responding to the rider’s cues on more difficult obstacles.
Ranch Versatility
Ranch Riding – Ranch riding and ranch trail will be shown back to back. Each exhibitor will perform the trail obstacle course and then immediately perform the ranch riding pattern along perimeter of arena or in the vicinity of the ranch trail obstacles if the ranch trail course is set outside of arena. The suggested ranch riding pattern may be used or another pattern may be drawn as long as all elements of the class are fulfilled. The ranch riding class shows the horse’s ability to move at a working speed with a rider. Horses will be shown individually at three gaits – walk, trot and lope – in each direction of the arena. Horses will also be asked to reverse away from the rail, to stop and back. The judge must ask for an extended trot and extended lope at least one direction of the ring. A horse will be given credit for traveling with his head held in a normal position, ears alert and moving at a natural speed for the gait requested. Credit will also be given for making a smooth transition between the gaits, for keeping the correct lead, and for maintaining the gait requested until the judge requests a change. A rider must show his horse with only one hand on the reins, unless the horse is 5 years old or younger and is being shown in a snaffle bit or hackamore (bosal). Judges are encouraged to work exhibitors thoroughly, if time permits. Allow pleasure pattern signs to be permitted in the pleasure/trail combined classes.
Ranch Trail – The ranch trail class contains a course with a minimum of six obstacles and is designed to show a horse’s ability and willingness to perform several tasks that might be asked of him during the course of a normal day’s ranch work. Whenever possible, realistic or natural obstacles are encouraged. Also, the course is encouraged to be set outside of an arena using the natural terrain of the land whenever possible. The horse will be judged on three gaits – walk, trot and lope – performed between six obstacles to be determined when the judge chooses the pattern. A horse will be rewarded with higher credit for performing these gaits on the correct lead and with an alert attitude.