WESTERN PLEASURE
AQHA Rules - EC & HCBC rules follow AQHA Western rules
SHW402. WESTERN PLEASURE.
A good western pleasure horse has a free-flowing stride of reasonable length in keeping with his conformation. He should cover a reasonable amount of ground with little effort. Ideally, he should have a balanced, flowing motion, while exhibiting correct gaits that are of the proper cadence. The quality of the movement and the consistency of the gaits is a major consideration. He should carry his head and neck in a relaxed, natural position, with his poll level with or slightly above the level of the withers. He should not carry his head behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance. His head should be level, with his nose slightly in front of the vertical, having a bright expression with his ears alert. He should be shown on a reasonably loose rein. He should be responsive, yet smooth, in transitions when called for. When asked to extend, he should move out with the same flowing motion. Maximum credit should be given to the flowing, balanced and willing horse that gives the appearance of being fit and a pleasure to ride. This class will be judged on the performance, condition and conformation of the horse.
SHW.403. A show may have up to three western pleasure classes. If three western pleasure classes are to be held, they shall be (1) senior western pleasure shown with a bit; (2) junior western pleasure shown with either a bit, hackamore or snaffle bit; (3) two-year-old western pleasure shown with hackamore or snaffle which will not be approved prior to July 1 of the year for which approval is requested.
SHW403.1. If two western pleasure classes are to be held, they shall be (1) senior western pleasure shown with a bit; (2) junior western pleasure shown with either bit, hackamore or snaffle bit. SHW403.2 If only one western pleasure class is to be held, it is to be for all ages. SHW404. Horses 6 years old and older must be shown on a curb bit.
SHW405. Horses 5 years old and younger may be shown in either curb bit, hackamore or snaffle bit. S
HW406. No horse may be entered in both junior western plea-sure and 2-year-old western pleasure at the same show.
SHW407. Entries in the 2-year-old class may be shown with one or both hands on reins. If riding with two hands, reins must be crossed with the tails of the reins on the opposite side of the neck. The rider’s hands should be carried near the pommel and not fur-ther than four inches (10 cm) out on either side of the saddle horn. Rider’s hands must be steady with very limited movement. SHW408. Horses must work both ways of the ring at all three gaits to demonstrate their ability with different leads. At the option of the judge, horses may be asked to lengthen their stride at the walk or lope, one or both ways of the ring. It is mandatory that a moderate extension of the jog be asked for in at least one direction with the exception of Level 1 classes, the youth 11 and under, the youth 13 and under, select western pleasure and 2-year-old west-ern pleasure. However, the moderate extension of the jog remains optional in the above classes. A moderated extension of the jog is a definite two-beat lengthening of stride, covering more ground. Cadenced and balanced with smoothness is more essential than speed. Riders should sit at the moderated extension of the jog. Horses are required to back easily and stand quietly. Passing is permissible and should not be penalized as long as the horse maintains a proper and even cadence and rhythm.
SHW409. Horses are to be reversed to the inside (away from the rail). They may be required to reverse at the walk or jog at the dis-cretion of the judge, but shall not be asked to reverse at the lope. S
HW410. Judge may ask for additional work of the same nature from any horse. S
HW411. Rider shall not be required to dismount except in the event the judge wishes to check equipment.
SHW412. Horses to be shown at a walk, jog and lope on a rea-sonably loose rein or light contact without undue restraint.
SHW413. Faults to be scored according to severity:
*Excessive speed (any gait)
*Being on the wrong lead
*Breaking gait (including not walking when called for)
*Excessive slowness in any gait
*loss of forward momentum (resulting in an animated and/or artificial gait at the lope)
*Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for (during transitions, excessive delay will be penalized)
*Touching horse or saddle with free hand
*Head carried too high
*Head carried too low (tip of ear below the withers)
*Over flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical *Excessive nosing out Excessive movement of the topline at the lope
*Opening mouth excessively
*Stumbling
*Use of spurs forward of the cinch
*Horse appears sullen, dull, lethargic, emaciated, drawn or overly tired
*Quick, choppy or pony-strided
*Overly canted at the lope (when the outside hind foot is fur-ther to the inside of the arena than the inside front foot).
SHW414. Faults that will be cause for disqualification, except in Level 1 amateur or Level 1 youth classes, which shall be faults scored according to severity:
*Head carried too low and/or clearly behind the vertical excessively and consistently while the horse is in motion, or otherwise showing the appearance of intimidation
A good western pleasure horse has a free-flowing stride of reasonable length in keeping with his conformation. He should cover a reasonable amount of ground with little effort. Ideally, he should have a balanced, flowing motion, while exhibiting correct gaits that are of the proper cadence. The quality of the movement and the consistency of the gaits is a major consideration. He should carry his head and neck in a relaxed, natural position, with his poll level with or slightly above the level of the withers. He should not carry his head behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance. His head should be level, with his nose slightly in front of the vertical, having a bright expression with his ears alert. He should be shown on a reasonably loose rein. He should be responsive, yet smooth, in transitions when called for. When asked to extend, he should move out with the same flowing motion. Maximum credit should be given to the flowing, balanced and willing horse that gives the appearance of being fit and a pleasure to ride. This class will be judged on the performance, condition and conformation of the horse.
SHW.403. A show may have up to three western pleasure classes. If three western pleasure classes are to be held, they shall be (1) senior western pleasure shown with a bit; (2) junior western pleasure shown with either a bit, hackamore or snaffle bit; (3) two-year-old western pleasure shown with hackamore or snaffle which will not be approved prior to July 1 of the year for which approval is requested.
SHW403.1. If two western pleasure classes are to be held, they shall be (1) senior western pleasure shown with a bit; (2) junior western pleasure shown with either bit, hackamore or snaffle bit. SHW403.2 If only one western pleasure class is to be held, it is to be for all ages. SHW404. Horses 6 years old and older must be shown on a curb bit.
SHW405. Horses 5 years old and younger may be shown in either curb bit, hackamore or snaffle bit. S
HW406. No horse may be entered in both junior western plea-sure and 2-year-old western pleasure at the same show.
SHW407. Entries in the 2-year-old class may be shown with one or both hands on reins. If riding with two hands, reins must be crossed with the tails of the reins on the opposite side of the neck. The rider’s hands should be carried near the pommel and not fur-ther than four inches (10 cm) out on either side of the saddle horn. Rider’s hands must be steady with very limited movement. SHW408. Horses must work both ways of the ring at all three gaits to demonstrate their ability with different leads. At the option of the judge, horses may be asked to lengthen their stride at the walk or lope, one or both ways of the ring. It is mandatory that a moderate extension of the jog be asked for in at least one direction with the exception of Level 1 classes, the youth 11 and under, the youth 13 and under, select western pleasure and 2-year-old west-ern pleasure. However, the moderate extension of the jog remains optional in the above classes. A moderated extension of the jog is a definite two-beat lengthening of stride, covering more ground. Cadenced and balanced with smoothness is more essential than speed. Riders should sit at the moderated extension of the jog. Horses are required to back easily and stand quietly. Passing is permissible and should not be penalized as long as the horse maintains a proper and even cadence and rhythm.
SHW409. Horses are to be reversed to the inside (away from the rail). They may be required to reverse at the walk or jog at the dis-cretion of the judge, but shall not be asked to reverse at the lope. S
HW410. Judge may ask for additional work of the same nature from any horse. S
HW411. Rider shall not be required to dismount except in the event the judge wishes to check equipment.
SHW412. Horses to be shown at a walk, jog and lope on a rea-sonably loose rein or light contact without undue restraint.
SHW413. Faults to be scored according to severity:
*Excessive speed (any gait)
*Being on the wrong lead
*Breaking gait (including not walking when called for)
*Excessive slowness in any gait
*loss of forward momentum (resulting in an animated and/or artificial gait at the lope)
*Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for (during transitions, excessive delay will be penalized)
*Touching horse or saddle with free hand
*Head carried too high
*Head carried too low (tip of ear below the withers)
*Over flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical *Excessive nosing out Excessive movement of the topline at the lope
*Opening mouth excessively
*Stumbling
*Use of spurs forward of the cinch
*Horse appears sullen, dull, lethargic, emaciated, drawn or overly tired
*Quick, choppy or pony-strided
*Overly canted at the lope (when the outside hind foot is fur-ther to the inside of the arena than the inside front foot).
SHW414. Faults that will be cause for disqualification, except in Level 1 amateur or Level 1 youth classes, which shall be faults scored according to severity:
*Head carried too low and/or clearly behind the vertical excessively and consistently while the horse is in motion, or otherwise showing the appearance of intimidation