When it comes to South Africa, western pleasure is primarily practiced by children. However, the situation is quite contrasting in the United States. Dr. Mac had a conversation with Greg Wheat, an esteemed trainer from Louisiana, to discuss this disparity.
In South Africa, SA National Equestrian Schools’ Association western shows generally involve children participating in the discipline known as ‘western pleasure’.
First, the riders enter the arena. After entering, they proceed to walk, jog (collected trot), and lope (collected canter) while maintaining a loose rein, all in the same direction. Then, they turn around and repeat the same gaits in the opposite direction. To conclude, the riders form a line and demonstrate their horses’ ability to back up. Typically, Arabians, Nooitgedachts, Boerperde, Appaloosas, Paint or Quarter horses are selected for this activity.
Well-trained pleasure horses that are sought-after in the US are expected to react instantly while moving slowly in a balanced frame on a completely loose rein.
Training these horses is just as challenging as working with international-level dressage animals.
Greg Wheat, who breeds and trains top western pleasure horses, is both a judge for the National Snaffle Bit Association and an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Professional Horseman.
Coming from a Mississippi farming family who bred Santa Gertrudis cattle, he was viewed horses as working animals. Thus, his family was surprised when he decided to pursue training and showing horses.
Greg became the head trainer at Robert’s Quarter Horses in 1996, and during that time, he had the important task of managing around 500 high-quality show horses. Presently, he resides in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he engages in the breeding and training of his own horses. I had the opportunity to visit him there.
With a calm temperament, his primary emphasis lies on western pleasure, western horsemanship, and western trail. These disciplines require horses to possess good temperaments and move with a slow, comfortable gait.
Greg chooses horses with a supple neck that move naturally without relying on the bit. He begins training all of his horses with a snaffle and also utilizes a bosal, which is a noseband made of braided material.
Greg trains horses using a progressive and repetitive method to gradually teach them the desired frame and speed. The horse needs to position its hocks under its body and arch its back like a dressage horse, all while being guided by a loose rein.
Riders must employ their legs, following the dressage approach, to exert pressure on the horse towards the bit, without pulling on the bit at any point.
In the initial stages of training, speed is regulated by the horse making circular movements either to the left or right. As training progresses, should the horse exhibit excessive speed, it will be halted, made to move backwards, and subsequently encouraged to proceed at a slower tempo.
The training process is both thorough and systematic. It is necessary for a horse to build up its muscles sufficiently before it can be trained to perform advanced, collected paces in western pleasure.
A western pleasure horse that is well-broke can be trained to do trail easily, as it is willing to walk, lope, and jog over obstacles.
The horse can also be easily trained in western horsemanship, which is an advanced discipline that involves riding a pattern at the lope while changing leads with every change of direction.
Western Pleasure Tips
Trainer Missy Jo Hollingsworth of Saddle Lake Equestrian Center, Camp Springs, Ky. offers 10 tips to aid you in becoming skilled at western pleasure classes. In order to successfully exhibit your horse in western pleasure, it is vital to comprehend the class and the criteria sought by the judges.
Missy advises, “Maintain a proper posture in the saddle by sitting up straight. Your shoulder, hip, and heel should form a straight line, and make sure not to arch your back. Keep your legs extended, with a subtle bend in the knee.”
Ensure that your lower legs are not excessively positioned in either a forward or backward direction.
To ensure you are in the right position, imagine that in case your horse vanished, you would still land on your feet. If you grip the reins with your left hand, extend your left arm forward and keep your right arm near your side.
Maintain a light rein contact to avoid losing points in the show pen. Having reins that are either too tight or too loose will negatively affect your performance. Avoid having loose reins that allow your horse to sniff the ground or tight reins that restrict his fluid, forward movement. It is important that your horse exhibits self-carriage by holding his head in the correct position without needing assistance from you.
Practice at home by working your horse at the walk, jog, and lope. Additionally, focus on practicing backing and riding in straight lines and circles.
In a western pleasure class, the judge considers not only the horse’s performance but also its conformation and condition. If your horse has good movement, most judges will not penalize it for having cow hocks.
If your horse is carrying excess weight, establish a diet and exercise routine to help him shed the pounds. Show judges prefer horses that are in good physical condition.
Prepare yourself to enter the show pen by moving into your show position approximately 20 feet prior to entering.
According to Missy, once you enter the class, fidgeting is strictly prohibited, as any changes should be avoided once you pass through the gate.
From the moment you step into the arena, keep in mind that you are being evaluated.
To ensure that your horse maintains a consistent rhythm, it is important for them to move forward in smooth and rhythmic strides. To assist with this, Missy suggests singing the song “London Bridge is Falling Down” to yourself while jogging and loping. “By singing a song, you can easily discern if your horse is slowing down or speeding up,” explains Missy.
Make sure to stay on the rail while riding, without deviating from it. It is important to keep a safe distance from the other horses, preferably two to three horse lengths. If you need to overtake a horse, do so on the inside and promptly return to the rail.
Ensure that as soon as the announcer instructs for the jog, promptly request your horse to jog. Failing to do so and taking additional steps in a walk when the jog is required may result in losing a ribbon.
Missy advises not to prolong the transition and to provide the cues rapidly and assuredly.
When lining up, the judge might request for you to back up. Promptly ask your horse to back up and continue backing until he acknowledges with “thank you.”
When taking into account every step, rephrase the following text while preserving its original meaning: 10. Consider the following steps: Avoid attempting to establish eye contact with the judge as his attention is directed towards your horse, not towards you. Instead, consistently keep your gaze focused ahead and aligned with the rail.
