A western pleasure show horse is judged on his calm demeanour and smooth flowing gaits. Highly strung horses will have trouble succeeding in such a class. The horse should be a pleasure to ride and needs to travel with a low head carriage. The topline should be level. Correct conformation and expert training will enable a horse to develop the muscling needed to travel in the required relaxed frame.
A walk, jog and lope will be required in the arena. A rein-back is also required. Horses that are very slow and those that have irregular gaits will be penalized. The horse is ridden with a noticeable loop in the reins. To achieve control and smooth transitions on a loose rein requires hours of training. The horse should stay in the same frame whatever he is asked to do.
Stock horse breeds are suited to this discipline. This includes the Quarter horse, American paint and appaloosas. Saddlebreds, Morgans and Arabians are also quite common. A breed that has a natural high head carriage will find it difficult to move naturally and correctly if its head position is altered too much.
The ideal is for the head to be level with the withers. If this position is unnatural for the horse, he will be uncomfortable and unhappy. The lower the head carriage the harder it is for the horse to get his hind legs well under him in the proper manner, Hours of training are necessary to strengthen the muscles of the hindquarters. A steady, rhythmic pace, especially at the jog, is essential if you are to catch the judge's eye.
Horse and rider wear western gear. Chaps, jeans or dress pants, fitted shirt, belt, cowboy hat and boots are standard. Some like to add a waistcoat. Anything that suggests the rider is not sitting still should be avoided. Frills, a loose-fitting shirt or loose, bouncing hair all detract from a rider's appearance. As styles change a little with each season, it pays to note what is currently in fashion. Pay attention to the colour of your outfit to ensure it complements your horse.
The horse must be scrupulously clean. The muzzle, legs, face and ears are clipped to give a smooth appearance. Requirements vary from breed to breed. Arabians, Morgans and Saddlebreds must not have their manes tampered with. Quarter horses, paints and appaloosas usually have their manes shortened. Stock breeds often have their manes banded to encourage the hair to lie flat.
Before adding a tail extension, check that it is not against the regulations. The tail is normally cut straight across the bottom. Hold the tail in a natural position before cutting off straight across the bottom. When at rest, the tail appears longer than it does when the horse is moving so don't cut off too much.
Saddlery should be thoroughly cleaned. Polish any silver until it gleams. If you need an underblanket under the saddle, it should not be visible. Ringcraft will help you display your mount to its best advantage. Try to avoid entering the ring with a bunch of other riders. While appearance of horse and rider is very important, western pleasure show classes are judged mainly on the behavior and manners of the horse.
A walk, jog and lope will be required in the arena. A rein-back is also required. Horses that are very slow and those that have irregular gaits will be penalized. The horse is ridden with a noticeable loop in the reins. To achieve control and smooth transitions on a loose rein requires hours of training. The horse should stay in the same frame whatever he is asked to do.
Stock horse breeds are suited to this discipline. This includes the Quarter horse, American paint and appaloosas. Saddlebreds, Morgans and Arabians are also quite common. A breed that has a natural high head carriage will find it difficult to move naturally and correctly if its head position is altered too much.
The ideal is for the head to be level with the withers. If this position is unnatural for the horse, he will be uncomfortable and unhappy. The lower the head carriage the harder it is for the horse to get his hind legs well under him in the proper manner, Hours of training are necessary to strengthen the muscles of the hindquarters. A steady, rhythmic pace, especially at the jog, is essential if you are to catch the judge's eye.
Horse and rider wear western gear. Chaps, jeans or dress pants, fitted shirt, belt, cowboy hat and boots are standard. Some like to add a waistcoat. Anything that suggests the rider is not sitting still should be avoided. Frills, a loose-fitting shirt or loose, bouncing hair all detract from a rider's appearance. As styles change a little with each season, it pays to note what is currently in fashion. Pay attention to the colour of your outfit to ensure it complements your horse.
The horse must be scrupulously clean. The muzzle, legs, face and ears are clipped to give a smooth appearance. Requirements vary from breed to breed. Arabians, Morgans and Saddlebreds must not have their manes tampered with. Quarter horses, paints and appaloosas usually have their manes shortened. Stock breeds often have their manes banded to encourage the hair to lie flat.
Before adding a tail extension, check that it is not against the regulations. The tail is normally cut straight across the bottom. Hold the tail in a natural position before cutting off straight across the bottom. When at rest, the tail appears longer than it does when the horse is moving so don't cut off too much.
Saddlery should be thoroughly cleaned. Polish any silver until it gleams. If you need an underblanket under the saddle, it should not be visible. Ringcraft will help you display your mount to its best advantage. Try to avoid entering the ring with a bunch of other riders. While appearance of horse and rider is very important, western pleasure show classes are judged mainly on the behavior and manners of the horse.
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