The first step in successfully training a western pleasure horse is selecting the appropriate horse. Although training can enhance any horse, to have a competitive pleasure horse, it is necessary to start with the right raw material. The primary requirement is a horse that moves in an attractive manner. While this notion varies among individuals, in western pleasure, it means that the horse has a naturally collected motion, with smooth and flat strides, the hind legs consistently positioned underneath, and the neck and head level. Although a less-refined horse can be improved, it will never transform into a top-notch pleasure horse. The ideal western pleasure prospect should be an aesthetically pleasing and well-sized horse that moves gracefully and captures attention. Considering that numerous horses are present in the arena simultaneously, the initial objective is to garner notice from and positively impress the judge. It is a known fact that a smaller horse does not make as significant an impression as a larger one, so size is a crucial factor. During training, the ultimate aim is to instill in the horse a disinclination for speed, ensuring that it patiently awaits commands without rushing, all while maintaining a collected posture. The objective is for the horse to accomplish this while the reins remain loose and it maintains a consistent frame, regardless of the gait being performed.
Once your horse has acquired the fundamentals such as understanding the commands for walking, trotting, and loping, being able to correctly pick up the appropriate lead when instructed, and being able to easily slow down or come to a stop, your primary task is to encourage relaxation and discourage any sense of haste. It should be noted that a sluggish horse, despite popular belief, does not make for a desirable candidate for pleasurable activities. A horse that constantly requires urging to move forward is unlikely to provide an enjoyable experience for observers (or riders). Instead, you need a horse that willingly and energetically moves forward, maintaining a brisk pace, while still maintaining composure and avoiding any pushiness.
The most common errors that we observe individuals committing, potentially leading to a lack of progress, are the actions that you could incorrectly perform.
| – not pulling him soon enough. You have to tell when he is accelerating and nip it in the bud, instead of letting him get definitely too fast and then correct him; otherwise he might not understand because he’s not connecting the pull with what he did wrong. – not being consistent. This is the hardest for most people, who tend to be lenient. If you allow him to go faster at one time or another and then correct him at other times, he can’t understand you., and he will not learn. – not using strictly one rein. Most people are so used to having both hands on the reins, they find it hard to consistently use only one. Carry your reins with plenty of slack in one hand (the inside hand), and keep it still. We recommend grabbing the saddle horn, thus keeping that hand and the reins fixed at all times. If you don’t do it that way, you might find yourself using both reins before you know it. When you need to correct the horse, reach down with your free (outside) hand, grab the rein, take a “cushion feel” for a split second, then pull toward the wall. As soon as the horse responded and slowed down, let go of that rein! – not immediately letting go of the rein they pulled on. – not pulling adequately. You need to pull hard enough so it’s going to be an unpleasant experience for the horse, one he’d rather try to avoid in the future! Adequately also means not pulling overly hard – you want to get to where all you need to do, should he speed up slightly, is touching that outside rein as a reminder and he will immediately slow down to his original, comfortable speed. – to jerk on the rein, i.e. to not first take a “cushion feel” of the horse’s mouth before pulling. If one jerks on the rein, if one hits the rein suddenly, the horse will become afraid of the rider’s hand and nervous, raise his head, get rattled. If you first feel out his mouth, then pull, you can pull even hard enough to completely turn him around, if that is necessary to make your point, without him getting scared. He will accept that pull. With jerking, however, he will get scared and try to save himself – you’ll have created a problem. |
Once the horse has learned and become proficient at the jog, which typically takes a few days depending on the horse, we move on to teaching the lope. Teaching the lope is more challenging, which is why it is important to have a strong foundation at the jog. This ensures that the horse understands the basic concept and has lost its initial desire to go fast. The process for teaching the lope is similar, but it usually takes longer for the horse to start loping at a slow pace. Once the horse starts to relax at the lope and doesn’t require constant correction, you can gradually work on getting them to engage their hind end more, resulting in a slower and more collected lope. There is no need to hold onto the reins tightly because the horse no longer wants to go faster. When using the reins, squeeze lightly to maintain the horse’s form and encourage them to stay in the bridle. Once they respond, give them slack as a reward. The rest of the training involves transitions. Going from a walk to a jog is usually straightforward, but teaching the horse to pick up a lead smoothly without raising their head or tensing up takes more time and practice. However, with consistent and gentle cues, patience, and enough saddle time, you will succeed. The more you work your horse on dressage principles, the better your results will be. While the positioning for two-tracking and lead departures is similar, it should not be exaggerated in a show setting, and you should not position the horse close to the fence as judges frown upon that. When showing, you should slightly bend the horse, so their neck is slightly to the inside of the arena. Transitioning from a jog to a walk is relatively easy, but transitioning from a lope to a walk can be more challenging, and transitioning from a lope to the jog that the judge likes can be even harder. This is where feel comes into play, but it is something that cannot be explained or taught. It is a form of communication with your horse that is developed through practice and experience. If your cues are too abrupt, the horse may stop instead of transitioning downward, and you will need to push them into the walk or jog again, which is not pleasing to watch. If your cues are not precise enough, or the horse does not respect them, they may break into a trot and then a walk, which will not impress the judge. This is an aspect that needs to be practiced repeatedly until the communication between rider and horse is perfected. Lastly, there is the backup. In larger classes, judges no longer ask for a line-up but instead call for a stop and allow riders to back up along the rail wherever they happen to be. To the horse, it is the same. The horse should be trained to back up when the rider squeezes with their legs and makes minimal contact with their mouth to indicate that they should not move forward. This will result in a relaxed backup on a reasonably loose rein.
To ensure readiness during a judge’s line-up and individual backing assessment, it is important to observe the judge’s position and determine how many riders are left before it’s your turn. If the judge is two or three riders away from you, begin preparations. Apply gentle pressure to your horse and maintain soft contact with their mouth, encouraging them to almost back up. Then, when the judge is in front of you, provide a final bit of leg pressure to prompt the backward movement. Avoid picking up your reins when the judge is already in front of you to prevent the horse from raising their head before bridling up properly. By being prepared in advance, the judge will only see a horse that backs up skillfully and willingly without any noticeable cues. Western pleasure horses are not meant to be showy, but they should provide a pleasant riding and viewing experience. In the pleasure class, it is not about which horse can go the slowest, but it is important to have a horse that is not in a rush or tense. Exhibit control over your horse by demonstrating that you don’t need to check them. If your horse maintains a happy pace with a slack rein and doesn’t speed up in all three gaits, that is the primary requirement. Additionally, correctly picking up leads, executing smooth transitions, and efficiently backing up will increase your chances of winning.
From a Western Pleasure lover: Let them move
Western pleasure has been criticized for many years due to the inhumane practices introduced by the peanut rollers in the 1980s, including the use of bleeding and tying up horses’ heads to achieve a lethargic appearance. In response, AQHA implemented guidelines in the 1990s to ensure that a horse’s poll would not be below its withers and promoted the substitution of draped reins with light contact. However, it is unclear what became of these requirements, possibly due to the increasing popularity of the spur stop causing a change in AQHA’s stance. Nowadays, judges frequently request a “moderate extension of the jog” as a regular gait in classes. However, there is often little noticeable difference in the horses’ gaits, suggesting that this may be AQHA’s way of acknowledging their instruction to move faster without much effect.
There is ongoing debate among AQHA members regarding the class, as the horses appear to be slowing down progressively. One viewpoint argues that the horses are bred to move in this manner, which is partly true. Foals with level toplines can be observed loping alongside their mothers in the arenas, showcasing the deep hocks and flat front legs that will contribute to their success in the show pen. However, as western pleasure becomes increasingly competitive, the lope becomes more artificial. Western pleasure horses are essentially a gaited breed, and it is necessary to have a trainer to assist in maintaining this gait. Nowadays, it is the norm for horses to have overly-canted hindquarters, where the hind end is moved towards the center of the circle in order to achieve maximum collection and maintain a slow pace. In the past, emphasis was placed on straightness instead.
Observing the warm-up pens and the horses being worked at shows has evolved into an uncomfortable experience, even for individuals who possess knowledge regarding the purpose of draw reins and the application of pressure on the horse’s mouth. Moreover, a considerable number of horsemen, previously participants in the class and supporters of western pleasure, are now unable to tolerate the current state of the class. Hence, if the general public were to stumble upon one of our warm-up pens, it is unlikely that they would be attracted or motivated to partake in western pleasure riding. Who would desire to ride horses that are frequently described as “sad” and “unwell”?
What actions need to be taken?
Firstly, it is important for judges to make a definitive decision. As long as the behavior yields success, people will continue engaging in it. I am unconcerned about the identity of the individual in control; if progress is sluggish, it should be expedited, even if it leads to no remaining participants.
Consider the western riding horses as the second step. (Refer to the video below.) Their speed when performing their patterns is not a fast gallop around the arena, but it is definitely more sensible. The horses often appear attentive and amiable. Their manner of movement is more organic, with the back still level and the motion still enjoyable to observe. Even though it is a minor adjustment, it has the potential to bring about a remarkable transformation.
