| Western Pleasure classes are included in most breed | | | | Riders are judged in horsemanship and equitation |
| and open circuit horse shows. Horse owners looking | | | | classes. |
| for ways to have more fun with their horses often | | | | Here are a number of questions a judge asks |
| pick the pleasure class as the first attempt in their new | | | | regarding each horse's trip through the pleasure class. |
| show career. Because the class routine itself is not | | | | If you don't understand what one of these questions |
| very complicated new exhibitors are frequently | | | | mean then the likelihood that your horse is performing |
| confused and disappointed by their lack of early | | | | correctly is not great. Research that particular topic or |
| success. Here are the basics of Western Pleasure | | | | ask someone to explain it to you. |
| competition and the qualities the judge looks for in a | | | | What The Judge Looks For in a Winner |
| winner. | | | | Are the horse's gaits true? Is the horse exhibiting 'lift' in |
| Western Pleasure Is Not As Simple As Many Think | | | | its shoulders? Is the performance consistent, each |
| Horsemanship is similar to other sports like dancing and | | | | stride the same as the one before and the one after? |
| gymnastics. Unless you have dedicated a considerable | | | | Does the horse move in an easy, collected manner? |
| amount of time and study to them, you won't have a | | | | Does the horse appear to present a pleasant picture, |
| clue about how to evaluate differences among | | | | with a consistent frame and natural head carriage, not |
| couples on the dance floor or gymnasts performing | | | | too high or too low? Is the horse slow-legged and |
| their floor exercises. Judging a 'simple' class like | | | | natural or do the gaits appear to be manufactured? |
| Western Pleasure is really quite complicated. | | | | It is easier to judge a class of great exhibitors than a |
| In a Western Pleasure competition, each horse and | | | | class without any real winner. How would you judge |
| rider team performs three gaits going one way in the | | | | between a horse that doesn't perform all three |
| arena, then reverse and do the same three gaits the | | | | required gaits and one that tries to buck or run off with |
| other way. At some point they will also be required to | | | | its rider? Which one should place over the other? |
| back up. The three gaits are walk, jog and lope. How | | | | Sometimes manners make all the difference between |
| difficult could that be to score? | | | | earning a fourth place ribbon or first place trophy. |
| Western Pleasure is actually quite technical regardless | | | | Knowing the rules is important, but it isn't enough to |
| of how simple it seems. Many riders compete in | | | | produce a win. Have fun. Go to a few practice shows; |
| Western Pleasure and never truly understand what | | | | offer to be a ring steward for a judge at a local open |
| the judge looks for when selecting the winners and | | | | show. Every world champion started at the beginning. |
| placing the riders from first to last. In a pleasure class | | | | Good luck and enjoy! |
| only the horse's performance is judged, not the rider's. | | | | |