Rabu, 29 Mei 2013

What You Need To Know About Western Pleasure Show Horses

By Rena Hudson


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.

Entrants will be asked to show their horses in three gaits. These are the walk, jog and lope. Rein backs are also required. The horse should not be excessively slow nor should the gaits be uneven or choppy. A loose rein must be used for the entire class. Transitions between the paces must be smooth with the rider sitting still in the saddle with both horse and rider maintaining the same position throughout.

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.

A level topline is the ideal with the head in line with the withers. Excessive deviation from a natural position will cause resistance in the horse. The horse must bring the hind legs well under the body when he is moving and this is difficult if the head is carried too low. Careful training is needed to develop the correct muscling in the hindquarters. Rhythmic, cadenced paces are very important. Any unevenness in the gait will be penalised.

The rider wears western clothing. Jeans or dress pants, a fitted shirt, chaps and belt are standard as are cowboy boots and a hat. Waistcoats are popular. Anything that distracts from a smooth outline should be avoided. This includes bouncing ponytails, frills or puffy sleeves. A judge wants a clear view of the rider's position which should be as still as possible. Outfit styles change continually. Careful observation will tell you what is popular at any given time. Choose colors that harmonize with the color 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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