The Western Riding Ideal

The Western Riding class once became a highlyleads, response to the rider, manners, disposition and
competitive class with the competitors all but racingintelligence. The horse should also complete the pattern
neck and neck through the class. The class wasat a reasonable speed for both the horse and rider in
designed to show a horse's quality of lead changes,a sensible and easy flowing pace. Credit is given to
not how fast you could work the pattern. Today, therethose horses that emphasize ease and smoothness.
is a greater emphasis on working the pattern correctlyThey should also have well-cadenced gaits and
rather than quickly. The Western Riding horse shouldprecise lead changes. The horse must change
have quality lead changes, quality movement andprecisely in both the front and hind end. The lead
mannerisms.change should occur precisely between the two
The scoring system for your breed's Western Ridingmarkers. Points will be eliminated if the horse changes
class will be outlined in your rulebook. For most classes,before the center or after the center of the markers.
the class is a performance of a horse that is sensible,The horse's head carriage should be relaxed and
well mannered, free and easy. The horses complete aresponsive. There will be moderate flexion at the poll
pattern individually that is prescribed by the judge ofand the horse will respond to the hands of the rider
the show. Incomplete or incorrect lead changes arewillingly. The horse may be ridden with light contact or
highly penalized in the class. The individual maneuverson a loose rein. The horse should also cross the log at
within the pattern are scored either on a positive orboth the jog and the lope without breaking gait or
negative scale.changing stride length radically.
The horse is judged on quality of gaits, changes of