Western Riding Categories
Showmanship
This Class is judged on the competitor exhibiting the best ability to show a horse in a halter with precision and safety (without touching the horse). Performing a set pattern including walk, jogs, stops, turns and back ups. Halter
A Halter class is defined as a class when the horse is judged upon its conformation. The judge is looking for different characteristics in each breed of horse. The Handler has to walk and jog the horse to and past the judge so the judge can look at the horses legs and movement and the handler is then expected to stand the horse square and balanced on all fours so the judge can look at the horses top line and stance Horsemanship
In This event the rider is judged, but the performance of the horse comes into contention. Contestants exhibit their ability to ride and control a horse to a pattern set by the judge. This must include walk, jog, lope, stop and back up. Western Pleasure The Horse is judged on performance, conformation, quality and substance. Horses are shown at the walk, jog, lope and are required to rein back. The winning western pleasure horse is a pleasure to ride, perform with smooth transitions without visible commands on a reasonably loose rein. Trail An Individual event. Horses are judged on their ability to negotiate obstacles in a specified order and gait. These can include opening, riding through and closing a gate, walking, jogging or loping over poles, side pass and back through. Western Riding An Individual riding event using set patterns at specified gaits. Horses are judged on the qualities of each gait, flying changes of lead, response to the rider, manners, disposition and intelligence. This event requires a high degree of training for the horse. It involves a number of flying changes of lead at a controlled pace. This event is one of the most challenging of the western events. Ranch Riding
An Individual patterned event designed to showcase the movement and versatility of ranch style horses. Patterns will consist of specified gaits, manoeuvres and change of rein. Horse and Rider are scored on cadence and rhythm of gaits, smoothness and consistency of performance and how well the manoeuvres are completed. Ranch Riding is a horse class - if a horse enters this class it cannot be entered into any western pleasure class. Reining
An Individual event performed using one of the 12 patterns and consists of mostly, loping with controlled speeds demonstrating circles, variation in speed, flying lead changes, roll backs and spins. Working Cow Horse
An Individual event consisting of a reining pattern, followed by cow work. Following completion of the reining pattern, the horse and rider must demonstrate control of the cow. |