WESTERN PLEASURE
Prepared By the
Education/Evaluation Commission and Judges & Stewards Commissioner P. O. Box 10805 East Bethany Drive Aurora, Colorado 80014 (303) 696-4539
© 2019 Arabian Horse Association
WESTERN PLEASURE
Table of Contents Ultimately, the horse is very eye appealing and gives the Impression of being a
pleasure to ride. DESCRIPTION ...... 2 GAITS ...... 2 Light contact should be measured by a WESTERN PLEASURE CHART ...... 4 horse’s response to the rider’s hands, seat WESTERN ...... 4 and legs and not merely by the tension in PLEASURE ...... 4 the reins. CHART ...... 4 However, an excessively draped rein is just GOOD ...... 4 as undesirable as extremely tight rein. MINOR FAULT ...... 4 Subtle cues are desirable, while an MAJOR FAULT ...... 4 absence of cues is not. The individual that ELIMINATION ...... 4 willingly and quietly responds to subtle GENERAL ...... 4 cues by the rider is performing with light ITEMS ...... 4 contact. CONDUCT ...... 5 For performance criteria, see Western APPOINTMENTS ...... 5 Pleasure Chart. TACK ...... 5 ATTIRE ...... 7 GAITS WESTERN PLEASURE SPECIFICATIONS ...... 7 CREDITS OF THE WESTERN PLEASURE Walk - A four beat gait; True, flat footed, and HORSE: ...... 8 ground covering. The ideal walk is bright and ground DESCRIPTION covering with a slight over stride of the The good Western pleasure horse has a front hoof by the rear hoof. Some horses comfortable free flowing stride of will exhibit subtle head movement. This reasonable length in keeping with the slight head movement assists the individual’s conformation. brachiocephalicus neck muscle to move It should cover a reasonable amount of the arm and foreleg forward.This head ground with little effort. Ideally, the horse movement is always acceptable as long as should have a balanced, sweeping motion the horse is in balance. that requires no more than light contact by The walk should be a deliberate, sweeping the rider. motion which does not waste energy while The head and neck serve as a balance arm responding to the guidance of the rider. and are carried in a relaxed, natural A horse should have rhythm and use his position appropriate for each individual’s legs to propel his body forward. own conformation. You can count the four beats as the feet hit Maximum credit should be given to the the ground. Each foot should leave the responsive, confident, willingly guided ground at the same pace as it landed. The horse that performs all the required gaits sequence of foot falls are (1) left hind, (2) correctly with strength and finesse. left fore, (3) right hind, (4) right fore. The horse should be balanced in all aspects; conformation, gait and disposition. Such a horse is an athlete that goes softly and gives the appearance of being fit and capable of the tasks.
Western Pleasure effective 12/1/19 2 Jog-Trot - A two beat diagonal gait; free, suspension to take place and directly square, slow and easy. result in a compromise of gait correctness The horse should be relaxed through the and quality. back and have a true 2-beat diagonal gait at the jog-trot. His hocks are well under him and his front legs are reaching forward. There is a definite rise in the back which allows the legs to sweep underneath the horse. The horse should remain collected and Hand Gallop - Not merely an extended lope, moving forward in a smooth fashion. The but a real hand gallop; extreme speed to be sequence of footfalls are (1) left hind and penalized. The genuine hand gallop has a very right fore, (2) right hind and left fore. distinct difference from the lope. The good hand gallop derives from the further engagement of the hindquarter resulting in a lengthening of stride without sacrificing frame or cadence. It is bold and strong. It is the western pleasure horse’s expression of elegance in motion.
NOTE: All gaits are to be considered equally Lope - A true 3 beat gait; smooth, slow, easy, when judging. and straight on both leads.
A properly executed lope has a rhythmic,
rolling effect which is truly beauty in
motion. The sequence of footfalls for a
lope on the right lead are (1) left hind, (2)
right hind and left fore, (3) right fore.
The beats of the lope do not take place in equal intervals, rather there is a slight hesitation between the one and two beats. In the good lope, the impulsion of the "drive leg" causes a graceful lift in the back and initiates the rolling effect of this gait. It is this lift that is responsible for the subtle, but definite, hesitation between the one and two beats. This hesitation allows the two diagonal legs to sweep under the horse. Finally, the "lead leg" swings forward and lands to balance the horse as the drive leg rises again to start the sequence over. A suspension takes place after the third beat as a result of this rhythmic, rolling effect. Absence of the hesitation will cause a failure for this
Western Pleasure effective 12/1/19 3 WESTERN PLEASURE CHART
WESTERN GOOD MINOR FAULT MAJOR FAULT ELIMINATION PLEASURE GENERAL CHART ITEMS
WALK GROUND SLOW NERVOUS TWO HANDS ON COVERING NOT ATTENTIVE JIGGING REINS (EXCEPT FLAT FOOTED FAST NOT WALKING WHEN USING GOOD ATTITUDE INTIMIDATED SNAFFLE/ WALK HACKAMORE)
TROT GOOD MOVEMENT TOO SLOW NOT CONSISTENT TOO FAST PERFORMING A STEADY INCONSISTENT TWO-BEAT JOG RATE & CARRIAGE FAILING TO JOG UNNATURAL TAIL BOTH FRONT AND CARRIAGE BACK HARD OR ROUGH RIDING FINGERS BETWEEN WOGGING CLOSED REINS OR SHORT STEPPING MORE THAN ONE FINGER BETWEEN LOPE GOOD MOVEMENT TOO SLOW TOO NOT STRAIGHT SPLIT REINS CONSISTENT FAST IMPROPER LEADS STEADY INCONSISTENT LUGGIN/PULLING RATE & CARRIAGE NOT PERFORMING A THREE-BEAT LOPE
HAND GALLOP TRUE TOO FAST EXTREME SPEED KICKIING LENGTHENING OF INCONSISTENT NO DISTINCTION
STRIDE & FRAME RATE & CARRIAGE IN CHANGE OF
FRAME OBVIOUS
LOSS OF CONTROL
BACK PROPER FLEXION HESITATING RESISTANT READILY NOT STRAIGHT THROWING HEAD RESPONSIVE GAPPING PULLING ILLEGAL BACKS A STRAIGHT REFUSAL REARING EQUIPMENT LINE FAILURE TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL PLACE
Western Pleasure effective 12/1/19 4 WESTERN GOOD MINOR FAULT MAJOR FAULT ELIMINATION PLEASURE GENERAL CHART ITEMS
GENERAL Uninterrupted gait Over and under Gaits not straight Proper movement flexion and true Obedient and soft Sour ears Agitated tail LAMENESS Smooth Switching tail Throwing head Steady Inconsistent speed Bad mouth Proper flexion Out of balance Excessive use of Balance Poll too high or bridle Good attitude too low to throw Gapping Self-carriage horse out of Constant breaking balance Improper of gaits or incomplete Obvious schooling FALL OF HORSE OR appointments Intimidation RIDER Transitions- Undue stress excessive use of cues
CONDUCT TACK Competitors enter the ring in a BRIDLE. Any western type headstall without counterclockwise direction at the jog-trot. noseband in conjunction with any standard Light contact with horse’s mouth must be western bit shall be allowed. maintained at all gaits. A standard western bit is defined as having If bridles are to be checked, it is the sole a shank with a maximum length overall of decision of the judge to do so. The judge 8 1/2”. may designate the steward to check The mouthpiece will consist of a round or bridles at the out gate. Riders must oval bar 5/16” to 3/4” in diameter as dismount. measured one inch in from the shank. A Junior Western Pleasure horse shown in The bars may be metal, rubber, or either a hackamore or snaffle must never synthetic material and may be inlaid but have been shown in any Arabian must be smooth or only latex wrapped. Competition/Division Western Pleasure The bars may be encased in smooth 5/16” event in a bridle. (Except Trail, Reining, to 3/4” in diameter tubular barrels that Reined Cow Horse and Working Cow rotate around the bars. Nothing may Horses. See Sub-Chapters 26 and 28) protrude below the mouthpiece (bar) such as extensions, prongs, or rivets designed APPOINTMENTS to intimidate the horse. Competitors must be penalized for Rollers attached to the center of the bit are incomplete appointments, but not acceptable, and may extend below the necessarily disqualified. Competitors must bar. be eliminated for illegal equipment. Jointed mouthpieces are acceptable and may consist of two or three pieces and may have one or two joints.
Western Pleasure effective 12/1/19 5 A three piece mouthpiece may include a 1” in from the ring with a gradual decrease connecting ring of 1 1/4” or less in to the center of the snaffle. The rings may diameter or a connecting flat bar of 3/8” to be from 2” to 4” outside diameter of either 3/4” (measured top to bottom with a the loose type, eggbutt, dee, or center maximum length of two 2”), which lies flat mounted without cheeks. in the mouth, or a roller or port as If a curb strap is used (with a snaffle bit) it described herein. must be attached below the reins. The port must be no higher than 3 1/2” A hackamore includes a bosal rounded in with roller(s) and covers acceptable. shape and constructed of braided rawhide Jointed mouthpieces, half-breeds, and or leather and must have a flexible non- spade bits are standard. metallic core, attached to a suitable Slip or gag bits, rigid donut mouthpieces headstall. and flat polo mouthpieces are prohibited. No other material of any kind is to be used Roping bits with both reins connected to a in conjunction with the bosal, i.e., steel, single ring at center of crossbar shall not metal or chains (Exception: smooth, plastic be used. electrical tape is acceptable if applied in a Reins must be attached to each shank. smooth, untwisted manner). Curb chains, if used, and flat leather chin Attached reins may be of hair, rope, or straps must be at least 1/2” in width and leather. Both hands must be visible to the lie flat against the jaws of the horse. judge. Two hands may be used on No wire, rawhide, metal or other hackamore (Bosal) and Western snaffle substance can be used in conjunction with reins. or as part of the flat leather chin strap, or Split reins or closed reins are equally curb chain. acceptable. Only one hand may be used on Round, rolled, braided or rawhide curb reins and hands must not be changed straps are prohibited, except when used except to negotiate an obstacle in a Trail on a ring snaffle when applied below the Horse Class. reins. While working a cow in herd work/ranch A light lip strap (often cutting and Limited Reined Cow Horse, it is a shoelace) is legal to hold the reins and the romal in one permissible. A full hand (rein hand). The other hand may be explanation of it’s use used to hold the saddle horn. can be found in the Hand to be around reins. USEF Western When ends of split reins fall on side of Equipment Booklet. reining hand, one finger between reins is Any rein design or permitted. When using romal or when other device which increases the effective ends of split reins are held in hand not length and thereby the leverage of the used for reining, no finger between reins is shank of a standard Western bit is allowed. prohibited. (see WS105.2) Rider may hold romal or end of split reins Junior horse classes require a snaffle bit or to keep them from swinging and to adjust hackamore. Hackamore (Bosal) or the position of the reins provided it is held standard snaffle are permitted in any class with at least 16 inches of rein between the on horses five years old and under, unless hands. prohibited in the prize list. Rope, riata and/or hobbles are optional. A standard snaffle bit is defined as a center Hackamore bits, cavesson type nosebands, jointed single, rounded, unwrapped, martingales and tie-downs are prohibited. smooth mouthpiece of 5/16” to 3/4” diameter metal as measured from ring to
Western Pleasure effective 12/1/19 6 Saddle: Any standard stock saddle with a horn CONFORMATION: is required, but silver equipment will not count The correct structural form as it relates to over a good working outfit. Tapaderos may not the functions of a western pleasure horse. be used. ATTITUDE: ATTIRE The horse's mental approach to the entire Riders shall wear Western hat, long- discipline of western pleasure. A horse's sleeved shirt with any type collar, trousers attitude is reflected in his ears, tail, mouth, or pants (one piece long sleeved and way of going. equitation suit is acceptable provided it A desirable way of going is recognized in a includes a collar); chaps, shotgun chaps, or soft eye, relaxed back, a willingness to go chinks, and boots. forward comfortably, and an overall A vest, jacket, coat, and/or sweater may pleasant appearance. also be worn. Competitors with incomplete attire must SUITABILITY OF HORSE TO RIDER: be penalized. The horse's appropriateness for that rider Spurs are optional at the discretion of the for western pleasure determines exhibitor; whips are not allowed except suitability of horse to rider. (ATR, JTR, with side saddle. (see GR1310 AATR, AOTR, AAOTR, JOTR, Ladies to Ride, Dispensations) and Gentlemen to Ride classes) Boots and/or bandages are permitted on entries in Jumping, Reining, Working Cow, Western pleasure classes will be judged by Cutting, Reined Cow Horse and Gymkhana the above specifications in this order: classes. OPEN. To be shown at a walk, jog-trot, lope WESTERN PLEASURE SPECIFICATIONS and hand gallop. Extreme speed to be penalized. To be judged on manners, MANNERS: performance, substance, quality, The conduct or behavior of the horse as it conformation and attitude. In the lineup, performs. The ability to be willingly guided horses may be asked to back in a straight line and controlled with light contact. with no additional testing, returning to the This includes the horse's acceptance of its lineup at a walk. Horses may not be asked to surroundings and other horses in the back on the rail. arena. AMATEUR. To be shown at a walk, jog-trot and PERFORMANCE: lope. To be judged on manners, performance, The execution and accomplishment of suitability of horse to rider, substance, quality, required tasks. conformation and attitude. In the lineup, horses may be asked to back in a straight line SUBSTANCE: with no additional testing, returning to the The perception of strength and power to lineup at a walk. Horses may not be asked to do any required task for an extended back on the rail. amount of time with minimal effort. LADIES, GENTLEMEN. To be shown at a walk, QUALITY: jog-trot and lope. To be judged on manners, The degree of athleticism required to performance, suitability of horse to rider, appear effortless and with finesse. This substance, quality, conformation and attitude. requires condition, presence, carriage, In the lineup, horses may be asked to back in balance and excellence. a straight line with no additional testing,
Western Pleasure effective 12/1/19 7 returning to the lineup at a walk. Horses may Balance is the overall poise of the horse. not be asked to back on the rail. Every dimension of the western pleasure horse should be in a state of equilibrium. JUNIOR HORSE (five years and under). To be In other words, opposing forces that shown at a walk, jog-trot and lope. To be comprise each aspect of the ideal western judged on substance, quality, performance, pleasure horse meet "somewhere in the manners and attitude. In the lineup, horses middle." may be asked to back in a straight line with no additional testing, returning to the lineup GOOD ATTITUDE AND MANNERS: at a walk. Horses may not be asked to back "Maximum credit should be given to the on the rail. responsive, confident, willingly guided horse..." CREDITS OF THE WESTERN PLEASURE HORSE: The excellent western pleasure horse must appear to enjoy his tasks and respond to PROPER ENGAGEMENT: the rider readily. “Ideally, they should have a balanced, sweeping motion that requires no more or NATURAL, FREE, AND EASY MOTION: less than light contact by their riders.” "The good western pleasure horses have a comfortable, free flowing stride of The connection from the horse’s reasonable length in keeping with their hindquarters through the back and neck to conformation. They should cover a the bit and the rider's hand with light reasonable amount of ground with little contact is "engagement". effort." Engagement gives the horse's forward notion a sense of energy. It is the The western pleasure horse's origin stems appropriate amount of energy generated from the old west. The cowboy needed a by the hip, stifle, and hock. This causes the comfortable horse that could take him hind legs to be working under the horse's considerable distance. In order to do so, body with moderate power, not strung out the excellent western pleasure horse or trailing. How deeply the horse reaches needs this type of motion. underneath itself with the hind legs (amount of engagement) depends on its NATURAL HEAD CARRIAGE: conformation, training, confidence, and "The head and neck serve as a balance arm relaxation. and are carried in a relaxed, natural position appropriate for each individual's PRESENCE: own conformation." "Ultimately, they are very eye appealing and give the impression of being a pleasure Without the head being carried in a to ride." natural position the horse will have to find other means to compensate for not being Presence is the manner in which a horse able to balance his frame. This generally carries itself or its bearing. It is, in a word, results in a compromise in his motion, “style.” attitude, and/or presence.
BALANCE: CONDITION: “They should be balanced in all aspects: "These horses are athletes that go softly conformation, gait, and disposition.” and give the appearance of being fit and capable of their tasks."
Western Pleasure effective 12/1/19 8 Condition is exuded by muscle tone, depth of muscle, clean fine bone, balance front REMEMBER .... to rear, good carriage, and a dignified Judging is not absolute. It requires presence. observation and evaluation. In other words, it is exactly what it says it is: A EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE: Matter of Judgment. “…that performs all the required gaits It is based on certain criteria (class correctly with strength and finesse.” specifications) and rules; in judging the western pleasure horse everything is Not only must the excellent performers be relative. correct, but they must accomplish their All faults should be considered according tasks with a degree of difficulty by doing to their severity and the depth of the their tasks well. This requires strength competition. Each fault is a void in one or (substance) and finesse (quality). more of the class specifications. However, The excellent performer has the strength a minor fault may not be elimination and it to work with delicacy and refinement in may not even allow a superior individual to their execution for as long as it takes to lose a class amongst a weak field of conduct the class. competitors. The best horses in a particular western USEF has a Western Equipment Manual on pleasure class on a particular day should line. This is a helpful resource for identifying always win, even if those horses fall far the legality of a bit. DO double check the rule short of being excellent individuals. book though, in case the manual has not been Good judging depends upon correct updated to reflect the most current rules. observance of the fine points and the Remember: AR144 rules govern equipment, selection of the best western pleasure not the Western (WS) rule chapter. horses in that class. https://www.usef.org/forms- pubs/pEljSmr3BAU/western-equipment- booklet
Western Pleasure effective 12/1/19 9