The western pleasure event is judged on the horse’s ability to be a pleasure to ride, which includes these characteristics: responsive to the rider’s cues while being on a loose rein or with light contact Riders may be asked to show their horse with a lengthened stride at all three gaits.
How is the western pleasure event judged?
The western pleasure event should be judged on the degree to which a horse exhibits the following criteria: The following faults should be considered when judging western pleasure and counted against the horse based on the severity: Below is a video on How to Judge Western Pleasure.
What is western pleasure horse riding?
Western pleasure is a type of western riding where the horse appears to be a “pleasure” to ride. The class is judged at horse shows on the manners and suitability of the horse. A western pleasure horse is relaxed and slow but possesses collected gait cadence, along with a calm and responsive disposition.
How hard is western pleasure to score?
In a Western pleasure competition, each horse and rider team performs three gaits going one way in the arena, then reverse and do the same three gaits the other way. At some point they will also be required to back up. The three gaits are walk, jog, and lope. How difficult could that be to score? Western pleasure is actually quite technical.
What does western pleasure mean to you?
Western pleasure is about making the horse look good. When deciding what to wear for western pleasure, the goal is to look professional and remember that western pleasure is about making the horse look good. (Credit: Journal)
What do judges look for in western pleasure?
The western pleasure event is judged on the horse's ability to be a pleasure to ride, which includes these characteristics: being broke and quiet. soft and smooth. responsive to the rider's cues while being on a loose rein or with light contact.
What is considered western pleasure?
Western pleasure is a western style competition at horse shows that evaluates horses on manners and suitability of the horse for a relaxed and slow but collected gait cadence, along with calm and responsive disposition. The horse is to appear to be a "pleasure" to ride, smooth-moving and very comfortable.
What makes a good western pleasure horse?
The modern western pleasure horse must be balanced, attractive and very athletic looking. A steeper slope to his shoulder will make him less ground covering and will allow his neck to come out of his body leveller. A strong top line with withers higher than the hip will give him more balance when in motion.
How do you judge western horsemanship?
The judge: evaluates the rider's position. tests the ability of the rider and the horse to perform a prescribed pattern....► 100-Point Scoring System90-100: Excellent: Rider including body position and use of aids. ... 80-89: Very Good: Performance in execution of the pattern as well as correct horsemanship and use of aids.More items...•
What do you wear to a western pleasure class?
WESTERN PLEASURE Chaps; blouse or slinky top, with or without vest or short jacket; gloves; western hat; western boots; belt and buckle. Color coordinate clothing with horse and saddle blanket.
What bits are allowed in western pleasure?
Western Pleasure horses under the age of five years may use a snaffle or bosal; horses five and over must use a curb bit. In Paso Pleasure when using Western style tack, Columbian and Western hack- amore, mecates, sidepulls, curb, and snaffle bits may be used. Cavessons and nosebands are prohibited.
Do you post when riding western?
Though most Western riders prefer to sit the trot, it's still a good idea to learn how to post. In most Western disciplines, the rider will sit to their horse's trot. There are a few occasions where posting will be encouraged and almost necessary.
What does it mean if a horse is pleasure bred?
Any breed of horse can be kept for pleasure. A pleasure horse is a privately kept horse maintained for pleasure or casual riding, rather than competition or work.
What is a 4 beat lope?
In the case of most horses who four-beat the lope, the condition is manmade. It often is the result of a rider who, in an effort to set a horse's head and make him lope slowly, allows the animal to shorten his stride thereby losing impulsion in the rear, which creates a four-beat lope.
What do horsemanship classes judges look for?
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.
How is Western Riding scored?
The scoring method is very similar to that of reining. The scores will be on a scale of 0–100 with a 70 being an average score basis. Points are added or subtracted based on credits or faults observed.
What is horsemanship judged on?
Horsemanship is judged on the rider's appearance and position in the saddle, and his ability to control his horse, as indicated by the horse's performance in the maneuvers prescribed in the class. The horse should move naturally, quietly and smoothly throughout his performance.
What is ranch horse pleasure?
In the American Quarter Horse Association, the ranch pleasure is a pattern class that includes extended gaits, stops, a back-up, turns, and walking and/or side passing over logs. All three of the horse's gaits should have more forward movement and the horse should hold a more natural head-set.
What is English pleasure horse?
An English pleasure class is suitable for all horses that can walk, trot and canter in both directions of the arena. This class spotlights the horse that moves the most willingly and evenly — he doesn't have to be the best mover. The English pleasure horse shouldn't pull on the reins or refuse to go forward.
What is a pleasure pony competition?
Pleasure Driving is a carriage driving sport, where horses and ponies are hitched to a two or four-wheeled show cart. The horses are shown at a walk and two trotting speeds of trot, with an emphasis on manners. The horses are judged on manners, performance, quality and conformation.
What is reining in horse competition?
Reining is a western riding competition for horses where the riders guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops. All work is done at the lope (a version of the horse gait more commonly known worldwide as the canter), or the gallop (the fastest of the horse gaits).
What is the Western pleasure rulebook?
The western pleasure rules section of the AQHA rulebook covers western pleasure judging, defines each gait and describes what constitutes quality to poor quality, ranging from: excellent, very good, good, correct, poor, very poor and extremely poor.
When showing western pleasure, should your horse be a pleasure to watch and a pleasure to ride?
All of your efforts when showing western pleasure should be aimed at making your horse look smooth.
What is the least important element in horse performance?
This element must only be considered if the requirement for correctness has been met and combination of correctness and quality allow the performance to be considered for placement. Difficulty is greatly influenced by exhibiting a pleasure horse at a pace and speed that allows for correctness and best quality of a gait for that individual. A performance of a walk that is ground covering and free flowing has a high degree of difficulty . A jog or lope that is performed with a slow rhythm without sacrificing correctness or quality has a high degree of difficulty . Slowness that sacrifices correctness or negatively impacts quality shall be considered incorrect and a poor performance at best.
What is the speed of a horse in Western pleasure class?
In a western pleasure class, there are only three speeds: too fast, too slow or just right. According to the rulebook, the just-right speed is cadenced and balanced, not just slow. When you're on the rail, work on keeping a rhythm to effectively show your horse, not someone else's.
How to make a horse look good?
Work on making your horse look good. If your horse is rough, don't wear a ponytail that swings around like a helicopter. Pin your number down so it's not flopping. If your reins are draped so long that they're swaying and making your horse look rough, they're too long. If the back of your saddle is bouncing, it doesn't look smooth. Everything from your western pleasure attire to your equipment should make your horse look as smooth as possible. Western pleasure is about making the horse look good.
What is a walk in horse riding?
The walk is a natural, flat-footed, four-beat gait. The horse must move straight and true at the walk. The walk must be alert, with a stride of reasonable length in keeping with the size of the horse.
Is it better to pass or crowd?
Passing isn't bad – it's better to pass than to crowd – but you can set yourself up better if you get behind a horse that jogs faster than yours so you don't have to make that decision. If you need to pass, do it, but be smart about it. Plan ahead. Don't start thinking about passing when you're 6 inches from the tail of the horse in front of you. What you should do is start moving your horse off your leg toward the center of the ring a couple of horse lengths before you pass the horse in front of you, leaving plenty of room.
What is the speed of a horse in Western pleasure class?
In a western pleasure class, there are only three speeds: too fast, too slow or just right. According to the rulebook, the just-right speed is cadenced and balanced, not just slow. When you're on the rail, work on keeping a rhythm to effectively show your horse, not someone else's.
What is a walk in horse riding?
The walk is a natural, flat-footed, four-beat gait. The horse must move straight and true at the walk. The walk must be alert, with a stride of reasonable length in keeping with the size of the horse.
How to make a horse look good?
Work on making your horse look good. If your horse is rough, don't wear a ponytail that swings around like a helicopter. Pin your number down so it's not flopping. If your reins are draped so long that they're swaying and making your horse look rough, they're too long. If the back of your saddle is bouncing, it doesn't look smooth. Everything from your western pleasure attire to your equipment should make your horse look as smooth as possible. Western pleasure is about making the horse look good.
Is it better to pass or crowd?
Passing isn't bad – it's better to pass than to crowd – but you can set yourself up better if you get behind a horse that jogs faster than yours so you don't have to make that decision. If you need to pass, do it, but be smart about it. Plan ahead. Don't start thinking about passing when you're 6 inches from the tail of the horse in front of you. What you should do is start moving your horse off your leg toward the center of the ring a couple of horse lengths before you pass the horse in front of you, leaving plenty of room.
How many gaits are there in a Western pleasure competition?
In a Western pleasure competition, each horse and rider team performs three gaits going one way in the arena, then reverse and do the same three gaits the other way. At some point they will also be required to back up. The three gaits are walk, jog, and lope.
Why do horse owners choose pleasure classes?
Horse owners looking for ways to have more fun with their horses often pick the pleasure class as the first attempt in their new show career. Because the class routine itself is not very complicated, new exhibitors are frequently confused and disappointed by their lack of early success. Here are the basics of Western pleasure competition and ...
Is Western pleasure technical?
Western pleasure is actually quite technical. Many riders compete in Western pleasure and never truly understand what the judge looks for when selecting the winners and placing the riders from first to last. In a pleasure class only the horse's performance is judged, not the rider's. Riders are judged in horsemanship and equitation classes.
What does a negative comment on a horse show?
Your negative comment shows your ignorance and lack of appreciation for horses and horse lovers. We are all one family no matter what style you ride!
Is the Mysef video easy to understand?
This video was very easy to understand, follow, and grasp exactly what the judges were saying. i mysef wish to one day be a accomplished judge, and this video gave mme some helpfu insight to judging in the future. Thankyou
