The jokes and ridicule surrounding western pleasure horses are well-known to all. They have been derogatorily referred to as peanut rollers, zombies, and creepers. Some argue that the only way to truly determine if they are moving is through time-lapse photography, while others claim that observing paint dry is more thrilling than watching a western pleasure class. Due to the warranted criticism it has received, western pleasure has developed one of the lengthiest negative public perceptions among all showing disciplines.
Why exactly is western pleasure problematic? Those involved in the discipline, such as trainers, exhibitors, breeders, and stock horse breed associations, are aware that the way the class is evaluated has been an issue. However, the broader public, who are fond of horses, simply perceive it as horses moving incredibly slowly with their heads drooping too low and swaying lazily close to their knees.
Associations like the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), and the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) have changed the class by altering the way it is judged, resulting in an obvious solution to the problem.
All About Western Pleasure
Western pleasure horse showing is a time-honored equestrian discipline that first originated in the American West. It is widely enjoyed at horse shows and competitions as participants demonstrate a sequence of movements and patterns, highlighting the horse’s polished, graceful gaits and refined behavior.
The early origins of western pleasure horse showing can be linked to the time when American cowboys and the wild, untamed horses they rode were prevalent. During the era of the Old West, cowboys required horses that were nimble, powerful, and able to endure the rough circumstances of living on the open land. They preferred horses that had a naturally smooth gait and a peaceful, docile temperament, which made them ideal for the strenuous task of cattle herding.
As modern ranching took over, the demand for horses with these qualities decreased as the West became more settled. Nonetheless, the practice of breeding and training horses for western pleasure horse showing persevered, and it transformed into a well-liked event at horse shows.
Western pleasure horse showing has evolved into a highly competitive and esteemed event today, with dedicated organizations and competitions taking place nationwide. During a typical western pleasure horse showing, riders and their horses execute various movements, including a walk, jog, and lope, which is a slow and relaxed 3-beat gait. The evaluation of the horses focuses on their degree of training and the excellence of their movements, prioritizing smoothness and control.
The popularity of western pleasure horse shows has experienced substantial growth over time, and remains a cherished and emblematic aspect of American equestrian culture. Whether you are an experienced participant or a leisurely observer, attending a western pleasure horse show offers a distinctive and thrilling opportunity to witness the elegance, poise, and essence of the American West.
The Beginning of the Bad Rap
Bill Englund, a former AQHA President from Cashion, Ariz., has been evaluating American Paints and Quarter Horses in the capacity of a judge for a span of 35 years. He possesses the knowledge to trace the root causes of western pleasure’s issues back for over two decades.
Bill remembers that in the 1970s, the horses had abundant natural movement. Their gaits were accurate, they trotted at a quicker pace, their heads were slightly raised about an inch or two above level, and they appeared more vibrant.
The origin of the trouble, as per Bill, occurred when trainers and exhibitors began to slow down their horses in an attempt to secure victory.
In the 1980s, a trend emerged where slower horses were achieving victory, prompting everyone to urge their horses to slow down as well, according to Bill. Consequently, the horses’ heads began to lower and their movements became artificial. Eventually, the horses were moving so slowly that they lost their ability to move correctly.
The trend did not occur suddenly but rather gained popularity due to the winners. If the top horse in the category happened to be moving at a slow pace, it caught the attention of others who then began to slow down their own horses. This gradual process resulted in everyone progressively becoming slower. It is comparable to a situation where someone wearing a big bow in their hair enters the show-ring and wins the class, despite the judges disliking the bow but considering that person to have the best horse. This influences other participants who then start wearing big bows in their own hair. Each time a judge awards a horse that is moving improperly, they are reinforcing the trend.
Judges used to include conformation and condition in the horse’s overall score, accounting for 20 percent of it before this time. For approximately 10 years, this aspect of the competition was removed, resulting in a decline of western pleasure as the horses started to appear underweight and intimidated upon entering the ring.
According to Bill, the trainers withheld horses’ feed to prevent them from having enough energy to go fast. Additionally, they would keep the horses tied up in their stalls for long periods of time, causing them to become too tired to hold their heads up on their own. The AQHA initially took action to address this issue by reinstating the rule that considered a horse’s condition and conformation when determining its total score. They also started organizing judging seminars to educate judges on western pleasure standards and promote more consistent judging. However, despite these efforts, the problem persisted into the early 1990s. As a result, the association implemented a rule disqualifying horses with excessively low heads.
“It was inconsistent,” Bill says, explaining that the judges disqualified horses while others did not, resulting in the failure of the approach.
Bill has been a judge at AQHA shows for 50 years, starting in 1971, and at APHA shows for 47 years, starting in 1974. In addition, he is a recognized judge with the NSBA, the National Reining Horse Association, and the Appaloosa Horse Club. On an annual basis, Bill typically judges around 20 shows. Notably, he has had the honor of judging the prestigious AQHA World Championship Show on five occasions and the APHA’s World Championship Show 11 times. Furthermore, Bill has presided over western pleasure classes across various locations worldwide. While sharing his experiences, Bill acknowledges that disqualifying a horse can pose a challenge for him at times.
He suggests that instead of disqualifying people who have traveled long distances, paid their entry fees, and desire to be judged, he would either not give them a rank or lower their position to the lowest in the group.
Just as it appeared that the class had reached its limit of problems, a new one emerged. Regardless of the associations’ attempts, the judging remained inconsistent with the class standards and rules. Furthermore, a different trend started to gain popularity.
According to Bill, horses began traveling with a cant towards the rail. This means that their heads were facing the rail while their hips were directed towards the center of the arena, resulting in them not moving straight along the rail. The purpose of this technique, adopted by trainers, was to further slow down the horses. By doing so, it creates an illusion that the horse is extending its hind legs further underneath itself, giving the impression of improved movement despite the actual performance.
The Turning Point
The AQHA introduced a judge monitoring program in 1993, which involved placing field representatives at shows to observe judges’ decisions in class placement. These representatives also offered assistance at the show, such as helping the show manager, conducting registration inspections, and addressing exhibitors’ queries about rules and the association. Following suit, the APHA implemented a similar program in 2005.
A video demonstrating the characteristics of the perfect western pleasure horse was created three years ago by Alex Ross, AQHA’s Executive Director of Judges, and Dale Livingston, who conducts several of AQHA’s judging seminars. The AQHA’s executive committee, consisting of five members, sent the video and a letter to all of its judges.
According to Alex, the tape and the letter were intended to address the desired improvements for the class as desired by the executive committee. Specifically, the executive committee emphasized two main concerns: the absence of self-carriage in horses and the insufficient forward motion during both the jog and the lope.
The letter made it clear that the only gait recognized as a lope in AQHA-approved competition would be the one described as slightly increasing forward motion, effective immediately. Additionally, the letter emphasized that it was mandatory to extend the jog in at least one direction, describing it as a definite two-beat lengthening of stride with an increase in pace. The letter, along with the accompanying video, strongly emphasized this point.
The Educated Judge
Regular judging seminars and academies are currently organized by AQHA, APHA, and NSBA, enabling their judges to stay updated. Trainers and exhibitors can also partake in these seminars to gain an understanding of the class standards and the associations’ desired judging criteria for horses.
Alex explains that before each class at the [AQHA] World Shows, the judges convene to review tapes and discuss the rules specific to that particular class. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that the judges are well-informed about the rules and able to approach the judging process in a fair and positive manner. The APHA judges also adhere to a comparable protocol.
The regulations for western pleasure classes in all three associations have developed to the extent that they now explicitly outline the criteria for judging the class and the faults that will result in penalties. In 2005, the APHA’s Show and Contest Committee assigned a task force to propose a revised rule that will provide an even more detailed description. If accepted, the implementation of the new rule will commence in 2007.
Tina Anderson, the APHA Director of Shows, states that exhibitors will demonstrate their horses according to the judges’ preferences. According to Alex Ross, exhibitors have the mindset of “Inform me about the judgment criteria, and I will adapt my performance accordingly.”
Western Pleasure Popularity
Western pleasure is the most popular class at both American Paint and Quarter Horse shows in terms of the number of entries. The world’s largest single-breed horse show is the Quarter Horse Congress, which is held annually in Columbus, Ohio. It offers a total of 22 western pleasure classes in divisions such as Youth, Amateur, Novice, Open, Team Tournament, Futurity, and Maturity.
Connie Lechleitner of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, the organizer of the show, explains that the western pleasure classes have historically been the Congress’ largest classes for several years. Each division typically receives entries ranging from over 100 to 300.
Tina Anderson also mentions that the APHA combines entry statistics of western pleasure and hunter under saddle, which account for twenty-nine percent of all our show entries. Additionally, she points out that the percentage is even higher in the novice and open divisions.
As chairman of the judges committee for the AQHA in 2003, Alex Ross kept track of the number of entries in western pleasure classes at AQHA shows over five-year periods from 1985 to 2000. According to him, the numbers were decreasing until last year when they saw an increase. He believes that this is due to the rule changes and the way horses are currently exhibited, making the class more appealing to a larger audience. He commends the judges for successfully altering the standards, which has led exhibitors to adapt their methods of showcasing their horses.
The popularity of the western pleasure class is attributed to its role as a foundation for all other western classes, including western riding, horsemanship, and trail. Additionally, winning a world championship in this class is highly esteemed due to its widespread popularity.
Bill Englund emphasizes the significance of the World Shows in establishing the benchmarks for the entire year. He explains that spectators take note of the horse that emerges as the World Champion and subsequently strive to imitate its success. Consequently, Englund stresses the vital role played by the judges in ensuring a competent assessment at the World Shows.
