If you wish to ride in a western pleasure show, there are a number of points to consider. To be successful the right type of horse is paramount. Western pleasure in not suited to highly strung, spirited mounts. Horses in these classes should move in a smooth, slow manner with a relatively low head carriage. They will need to be well-conformed and perfectly groomed.
The gaits required are the walk, jog and lope. Contestants will also be asked to rein back. Choppy gaits are penalized as is an exceedingly slow way of going. Performing with little or no pressure on the reins is very important. The horse should appear to be the ideal mount for a relaxed ride. He should be calm and go forward on a loose rein. Changes in pace should occur with no visible commands being given by the rider.
The most popular breeds used in these classes are the stock horse breeds such as the American paint, the Quarter horse and the appaloosa. Arabians and Morgans are also quite popular. Breeds that carry their heads in a naturally higher position need consistent training if they are to achieve the required lower carriage.
The head should be carried level with the withers. Too much deviation from the horse's natural position will result in an unhappy and stressed mount. If the head is carried too low, the hindquarters will not engage properly and points will be lost. Consistent training is necessary to fully develop the muscles to enable the hind legs to come well under the body. The cadence or rhythm of the gaits, especially the jog, is important. Choppy or uneven strides are not desirable.
Western clothing is worn. This includes jeans or dress pants, shirt, chaps, belt, cowboy boots and hat. A waistcoat is optional. Frills, bouncing hair and loose-fitting shirts should be avoided. A nicely fitted shirt will show off your position better. Excessive ornamentation is not recommended. Clothing styles continually change and a rider needs to keep up with what is stylish at the moment. Choose a co-ordinated outfit that complements the colour of 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.
The tail is normally cut straight across the bottom. Trim a little at a time so that you don't accidentally cut the tail too short. The horse carries his tail higher when moving than when at rest and it is easy to remove too much. Horses shown with natural manes and tails should not to be shown with a tail extension.
Clean your saddle and bridle thoroughly and polish any silver. Under-blankets should not be visible under the saddle. Be considerate in the ring. Try to enter the ring as an individual rather than as one of a bunch of riders. The neat and sparkling appearance of horse, saddlery and rider all help attract the judge's attention but the behavior and movement of the horse is the first priority in western pleasure show classes.
The gaits required are the walk, jog and lope. Contestants will also be asked to rein back. Choppy gaits are penalized as is an exceedingly slow way of going. Performing with little or no pressure on the reins is very important. The horse should appear to be the ideal mount for a relaxed ride. He should be calm and go forward on a loose rein. Changes in pace should occur with no visible commands being given by the rider.
The most popular breeds used in these classes are the stock horse breeds such as the American paint, the Quarter horse and the appaloosa. Arabians and Morgans are also quite popular. Breeds that carry their heads in a naturally higher position need consistent training if they are to achieve the required lower carriage.
The head should be carried level with the withers. Too much deviation from the horse's natural position will result in an unhappy and stressed mount. If the head is carried too low, the hindquarters will not engage properly and points will be lost. Consistent training is necessary to fully develop the muscles to enable the hind legs to come well under the body. The cadence or rhythm of the gaits, especially the jog, is important. Choppy or uneven strides are not desirable.
Western clothing is worn. This includes jeans or dress pants, shirt, chaps, belt, cowboy boots and hat. A waistcoat is optional. Frills, bouncing hair and loose-fitting shirts should be avoided. A nicely fitted shirt will show off your position better. Excessive ornamentation is not recommended. Clothing styles continually change and a rider needs to keep up with what is stylish at the moment. Choose a co-ordinated outfit that complements the colour of 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.
The tail is normally cut straight across the bottom. Trim a little at a time so that you don't accidentally cut the tail too short. The horse carries his tail higher when moving than when at rest and it is easy to remove too much. Horses shown with natural manes and tails should not to be shown with a tail extension.
Clean your saddle and bridle thoroughly and polish any silver. Under-blankets should not be visible under the saddle. Be considerate in the ring. Try to enter the ring as an individual rather than as one of a bunch of riders. The neat and sparkling appearance of horse, saddlery and rider all help attract the judge's attention but the behavior and movement of the horse is the first priority in western pleasure show classes.
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