Trainer Missy Jo Hollingsworth of Saddle Lake Equestrian Center, Camp Springs, Ky., emphasized the importance of understanding the class and the judges’ expectations if you want to participate in western pleasure with your horse.
In a western pleasure class, there are no complicated maneuvers involved and there are no obstacles to go over or around. Your main tasks are to walk, jog, and lope in both directions along with a group of fellow riders within the show pen. The announcer will give instructions on which gait to use and when to change direction. Once the class is complete, you will be requested to line up with the other riders in the center of the arena. Under the judge’s observation, you may be asked to individually back up.
If the judge does not feel inclined to ride your horse and canter around the show arena, it is unlikely that you will be awarded a ribbon in a western pleasure class.
As stated in the showing rulebook of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), a good pleasure horse exhibits a stride that flows freely and effortlessly covers a reasonable distance. The horse should possess good balance and display consistent gaits with smooth, rhythmic strides. This entails maintaining the same appearance in the walk, jog, and lope throughout the entirety of the show pen, without any instances of acceleration or deceleration.
To be successful in western pleasure, it is important for your horse to display calmness and good manners during the competition. If your horse appears irritable or fatigued, your chances of winning may diminish. Additionally, throughout the judging process, it is crucial for your horse to maintain a relaxed posture with his head positioned level to his withers, avoiding both a raised or lowered stance.
Here are 10 tips to help you become a pro at western pleasure classes.
1. Perfect Position
Missy advises to maintain an upright position in the saddle by ensuring that there is a straight alignment from the shoulder, through the hip, to the heel. It is important not to curve the back, and the legs should be extended with a gentle flexion in the knee.
Ensure that your lower legs are neither excessively forward nor excessively backward.
To ensure you are in the correct position, imagine that even if your horse were to disappear, you would still be able to land on your feet. If you are holding the reins with your left hand, extend your left arm forward and keep your right arm near your side.
2 Rein Contact
If your reins are either too tight or too loose, you will receive a deduction in points during the show. It is important to maintain a gentle contact with your horse. Avoid having loose reins that allow your horse to lower its head to sniff the ground, as well as tight reins that hinder its smooth and forward movement. Ideally, your horse should be able to carry itself without relying on your assistance to hold its head in the correct position.
3 Practice at Home
To train your horse at home, gradually increase the difficulty level by working on different gaits such as walk, jog, and lope. Additionally, focus on perfecting your horse’s backing skills and its ability to ride in a straight path as well as in circles.
4 Condition
In a western pleasure class, the judge takes into account not only the horse’s performance but also its conformation and condition. Your horse’s conformation is something you cannot change, so if he moves well, most judges will overlook any cow hocks.
If your horse has gained some weight, it is recommended to put him on a diet and exercise routine in order to help him lose weight. In the show pen, judges prefer to see horses that are in good physical shape.
5 Ready to Show
Before entering the show pen, position yourself approximately 20 feet in advance.
Missy says that there is a strict prohibition on fidgeting in the class and emphasizes the importance of not making any changes after entering through the gate.
From the moment you step into the arena, you must be aware that you are being evaluated.
6 Keep the Rhythm
Missy suggests singing the song “London Bridge is Falling Down” to yourself while jogging and loping to maintain your horse’s steady rhythm. According to Missy, singing a song will help you gauge whether your horse is slowing down or speeding up.
7 Stick to the Rail
When riding on the rail, make sure to remain on the rail and not deviate from it. It is important to keep a safe distance from the other horses, ideally about two to three horse lengths. In the event that you need to pass a horse, do so on the inside and promptly return to the rail.
8 Get the Gait
In order to avoid losing a ribbon, it is important for you to ask your horse to jog immediately when the announcer calls for it. Taking a few extra steps in walk instead of jogging can result in losing the ribbon.
Missy advises not to prolong the transition and instead give the cues promptly and with assurance.
9 Backing Up
In the event that you are asked to line up, the judge might request you to reverse. Prompt your horse to reverse promptly and continue doing so until he acknowledges with the phrase “thank you.”
10. Look Ahead
When thinking sequentially, rephrase the following passage without changing the meaning. Avoid adding new information and make sure not to remove any information. Avoid attempting to establish visual contact with the judge, as his focus is on your horse, rather than you. Continuously direct your gaze upwards and straight down the rail.
TRAINING THE WESTERN PLEASURE HORSE
To successfully train a western pleasure horse, the first step is to choose the right horse. Although any horse can be improved through training, starting with the right raw material is crucial for developing a competitive pleasure horse. The primary requirement for this horse is that it is a graceful mover. The definition of “pretty” may vary among individuals, but in western pleasure, it means a horse that naturally moves with collected and fluent strides, with its hind legs positioned well beneath it, and its neck and head held level. While a less refined horse can be enhanced, it will never reach the level of a skilled pleasure horse. Ideally, our western pleasure prospect should be an eye-catching horse of sufficient size, preferably with a flashy appearance, that moves gracefully. It is essential to make a strong impression on the judge, considering that numerous horses are present in the arena simultaneously. Therefore, the first objective is to catch the judge’s attention and leave a positive impression. Additionally, size plays a role in creating an impact, as a relatively small horse may not make as significant an impression as a larger one. During the actual training process, the aim is to teach the horse to never desire speed, remain patient for cues without rushing, and stay collected. This should be accomplished while maintaining a loose rein and a consistent “frame” regardless of the gait being executed.
Once your horse has obtained the fundamentals, understanding the concepts of walk, trot, and lope, responding to lead commands, and effortlessly slowing down or stopping, your primary objective is to encourage relaxation and discourage any sense of urgency. It should be noted that a lethargic horse is not a suitable option for pleasurable experiences, despite certain misconceptions. A horse that consistently requires encouragement to move forward is unlikely to provide an enjoyable experience for observation or riding. You require a horse that willingly and energetically moves forward, but without displaying impatience or assertiveness.
The most common mistakes we observe people making, which could lead to a lack of progress, are what one could do wrong.
| – 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. |
