Western Pleasure Arena

The rider is not judged but is important of course for posture, cueing and steering. The class is judged on manners and performance of the horse. The Western pleasure horse regardless of breed performs with a lower head than a natural one, relaxed gaits, slow jog, slow lope and smooth loose or light rein. The head and neck should be carried appropriately for a relaxed performance in accordance to the horses's breed type and conformation. A National Show Horse for example would carry it's muzzle above the point of it's shoulder, while a Morgan will be lower and an Arabian lower still but with it's poll well above the withers. Stock breeds carry a flat or level neck and in all cases the horse's face is vertical or near vertical. Over bridling and over extension of any horse (nose before the vertical) is undersirable. Non stock horses will tend to demonstrate greater contact on the bit, in keeping with a more elevated head set. Morgans are ridden western in a "California" style, which better suits an upheaded horse. The California style horse is more on the bit and on a fairly loose rein but not the slack rein seen in the stock breeds. Gaits are a true four beat walk, straight and relaxed; a slow easy jog, and a relaxed easy lope. Some divisions call for a hand gallop. Gaited horses such as Tennessee Walkers, Missouri Fox Trotters, Rocky Mountain Horses, etc perform their gait instead of the jog. The degree of action in either the trot or whatever pacing gait of the breed, should be consistant with a relaxed performance and the horse's individual conformation.

For additional helpful hints for Western Pleasure or other disciplines please check out Susan Hargove's site at: Oh Joy Farms

You Score Western Pleasure Gaits on the following basis:
The Walk:
(1) Poor walk - uneven pace and no cadence. Has no flow and may appear intimidated or appear to march.
(2) Average walk - has a four-beat gait, level top-line and is relaxed.
(3) Good walk - has a flowing four-beat gait, level topline, relaxed and is bright and attentive.

The Jog:
(1) Extremely poor jog - cannot perform a two-beat gait and has no flow or balance in the motion.
(2) Very poor jog - hesitates in the motion. Does not keep an even and balanced motion or a level top-line. May appear to shuffle.
(3) Poor jog - average motion but has negative characteristics such as; walking with the hind legs, dragging the rear toes or taking an uneven length of stride with the front and rear legs.
(4) Correct or average jog - has a two-beat gait, a level top-line and a relaxed appearance.
(5) Good jog - has an average motion with positive characteristics such as balance and self-carriage while taking the same length of stride with the front and rear legs.
(6) Very good jog - is comfortable to ride while having a consistent two-beat gait. The horse guides well, appears relaxed and has a level top-line.
(7) Excellent jog - effortless and very efficient motion. Swings the legs yet touches the ground softly. Confident, yet soft with its motion while being balanced and under control. Moves flat with the knee and hock and has some cushion in the pastern. Has a bright and alert expression and exhibits more lift and self-carriage than the “very good jog”.

Moderate Extended Jog:
(1) Poor extended jog - never lengthens the stride and may appear rough to ride.
(2) Average extended jog - moves up in its pace and appears smooth to ride.
(3) Good extended jog - has an obvious lengthening of stride with a slight increase in pace while exerting less effort and appears smooth to ride.

The Lope
(1) Extremely poor lope - does not have a three-beat gait. Has no flow, rhythm or balance. Uncomfortable to ride.
(2) Very poor lope - appears to have a three-beat lope but has no lift or self-carriage. The horse shuffles, has no flow and bobs his head, giving the appearance of exerting a great deal of effort to perform the gait. Also may appear uncomfortable to ride.
(3) Poor lope - has an average motion but exhibits negative characteristics like head bobbing, not completing the stride with the front leg and leaving the outside hock well behind the horse’s buttocks.
(4) Average lope - has a true three-beat gait with a level top-line and very little head and neck motion. He is relatively straight (not over-canted), guides well and has a relaxed appearance.
(5) Good lope - has an average motion but exhibits positive characteristics in his performance like self-carriage, a steady topline, relaxed appearance and is responsive to the rider’s aids.
(6) Very good lope - has more lift and flow than the average horse. He has a strong but smooth drive from behind. He may bend his knee slightly yet still has a level top-line while exhibiting self-carriage with a relaxed appearance. Appears comfortable to ride.
(7) Excellent lope - has a round back with an effortless strong, deep stride with the rear legs and a flat swing with the front legs. He keeps a level top-line, a relaxed yet alert and confident appearance and is correct but soft. A special horse with a great degree of lift and self-carriage.

The Back-Up:
(1) Poor back-up - is resistant and heavy in front. May gap the mouth and throw his head or back crooked.
(2) Average back-up - backs straight and quietly with light contact and without hesitation.
(3) Good back-up - displays balanced and smooth flowing movements. Backs straight with self-carriage without gapping the mouth with light contact and without hesitation.

	Photo Credit: Western Pleasure Arena Stock Breed Entry On A Whim, a BHR Loping Horse mare painted/customized by Sheri Rhodes. Owned and shown by Susan Hargrove. Note rider is using a correct hand hold on split reins and horse as a correct head set on the bit for a stock breed.
Photo Credit: Western Pleasure Arabian Breed Entry Carringal DA Muhammed shown by Rosemary Simeon and using split reins (which are legal in Arabian Rules). Note higher flexion at the poll but horse is still on the bit. Meaning nose is not sticking straight outward but down on the bit.
	Photo Credit: Western Pleasure Arena TB/WB or Sporthorse Breed Entry OJF Cirrus, shown as an Appaloosa Sporthorse, SR PS TB Nimbus (Done by H&H)owned and shown by Susan Hargrove.
Photo Credit: Western Pleasure Other Breed Entry Lucresha McEvail shown by Cynthia Jameson. A spotted walking horse and using a single rein that snaps back to the bit. One or two hands may be used on the reins.

Hold the Reins Correctly:

	Photo Credit: Romal Reins by Susan Hargrove Romal reins enter the hand by the "little" finger lay across the palm of the hand and exit the hand on top over the thumb. The hand holds the reins and not the loop and knot that form the junction of the reins and the romal whip.
Photo Credit: Split Reins by Susan Hargrove Split reins can be held in the right or left hand. The excess rein hang over untouched on the same side of the horse. So if right hand hold the rein then the excess rein lies on the right side of the horse. If left hand holds the rein then the excess rein lies on the left side of the horse. Split reins enter the hand via coming straight into the hand over the index finger and they exit by the little finger.
	Photo Credit: Snaffle Reins by Susan Hargrove The snaffle rein crosses over the horse's neck with the bight extending down ward on the opposite side of the horse's neck. Both hands are used on the reins by picking the rein and the bight up with the palms of the hands facing down.
Photo Credit: Hackamore Mecate Reins by Susan Hargrove The hackamore mecate rein is a solid single loop rein with the bight tied from the bosal to either the saddle horn or coiled and tied to the front piggin string (or swell string) of the saddle. Both hands are used on the rein by picking the rein with the palms of the hands facing down.