Western Pleasure Horse

WESTERN PLEASURE

A Western Pleasure horse should be what the name says, mainly
a pleasure to ride. Your horse should exhibit a free flowing stride with
self carriage, smooth gaits and transitions.

A pleasure horse should be a happy horse and a natural
horse. Emphasis in the show pen will be placed on good movers, manners,
and attitude, as reflected in the horse’s ears, mouth, tail and way
of going.

Your horse might be a good mover but if you enter the show pen and  -his/her ears are pinned back in anger or distress and or the tail is swishing with displeasure these traits  could be counted against you.

Following is a video of an American Quarter Horse Mare by One Hot Krymsun at the 2008 Reichart Celebration.

Green Western Pleasure Horse

According to AQHA, APHA, and NSBA a Green Western Pleasure Horse is one who has not won any more than $1,000 nor has more than 10 points in any western pleasure class in that breed as of January 1 of the current show year.

These western pleasure classes can be any of the following:

Green Western Pleasure
Open Western Pleasure
Amateur Western Pleasure
Youth Western Pleasure
Select Western Pleasure

All points from all divisions are cumulative in determining the horses eligibility as a green horse. Novice Points do not count.

Finals SENIOR WESTERN PLEASURE. 2008 AQHA WORLD SHOW
1. POTENTIAL DIVA / RUSTY GREEN
2. AMBLIN IMPULSION / JAMIE R PAIT
3. HOPE BY INVITATION / E H PAIT JR
4. MY BODYS SHEIK / J COLE BAKER
5. RL SUDDENLY FAMOUS / VALERIE KEARNS
6. COOL MOVIN LADY / CHRIS JONES
7. INVITE MOONLIGHT / STEVE MEADOWS
8. SHOW DIVA / ANDY COCHRAN
9. I LIKE ITIN THE DARK / TY M HORNICK
10. DIMENSIONALLY ROSITA / DANA HOKANA

2008 Classic Amateur SR Western Pleasure APHA World Show
Jessica Frater & She Just Did It
9th Place finals ride at the 2008 American Paint Horse World Championship Show in the Classic Amateur Senior Western Pleasure 19-44

AQHA SELECT WORLD SHOW WESTERN PLEASURE 2008

Winning Run ONA GOOD IMPULSE

Western Pleasure according to AQHA Rule book is as follows:

WESTERN PLEASURE

(a) A good pleasure horse has a free-flowing stride of reasonable
length in keeping with his conformation. He should cover a reasonable
amount of ground with little effort.

Ideally, he should have a balanced, flowing motion, while exhibiting correct gaits that are of the proper cadence. The quality of the movement and the consistency of the gaits is a major consideration. He should carry his head and neck in a relaxed, natural position, with his poll level with or slightly above the level of the withers.

He should not carry his head behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance. His head should be level with his nose slightly in front of the vertical, having a bright expression with his ears alert. He should be shown on a reasonably loose rein, but with light contact and control. He should be responsive, yet smooth, in transitions when called for.

When asked to extend, he should move out with the same flowing motion. Maximum credit should be given to the flowing, balanced and willing horse that gives the appearance of being fit and a pleasure to ride.

(b) A show may have up to three western pleasure classes.

(1) If three western pleasure classes are to be held, they
shall be the following:

(A) Senior western pleasure shown with a bit.
(B) Junior western pleasure shown with either a bit, hackamore or snaffle bit.
(C) 2-year-old western pleasure shown with hackamore or snaffle. This class will not be approved prior to July 1 of the year for which approval is requested.

(2) If two western pleasure classes are to be held, they shall be the following:

(A) Senior western pleasure shown with a bit.
(B) Junior western pleasure shown with either bit,
hackamore or snaffle bit.

(3) If only one western pleasure class is to be held, it is to be for all ages.

(A) Horses 6 years old and older must be shown on a bit.

(B) Horses 5 years old and younger may be shown in either bit, hackamore or snaffle bit.

(c) No horse may be entered in both junior western pleasure
and 2-year-old western pleasure at the same show.

(d) Entries in the 2-year-old class may be shown with one or
both hands on reins. If riding with two hands reins must be crossed
with the tails of the reins on the opposite side of the neck. The rider’s
hands should be carried near the pommel and not further than four
inches (10 cm) out on either side of the saddle horn. Rider’s hands
must be steady with very limited movement.

(e) This class will be judged on the performance, condition and conformation of the horse.

(f) Horses must work both ways of the ring at all three gaits to demonstrate their ability with different leads. At the option of the
judge, horses may be asked to extend the walk, one or both ways of
the ring.

It is mandatory that a moderate extension of the jog be
asked for in at least one direction with the exception of novice classes,
the youth 11 and under, the youth 13 and under, select western
pleasure and 2-year-old western pleasure.

However, the moderate extension of the jog remains optional in the above classes. A moderated extension of the jog is a definite two-beat lengthening of stride, covering more ground. Cadenced and balanced with smoothness is more essential than speed. Riders should sit at the moderated extension of the jog.

Horses are required to back easily and stand quietly.

Passing is permissible and should not be penalized as long as the
horse maintains a proper and even cadence and rhythm.

(g) Horses are to be reversed to the inside (away from the rail).
They may be required to reverse at the walk or jog at the discretion
of the judge, but shall not be asked to reverse at the lope.

(h) Judge may ask for additional work of the same nature from
any horse. He/she is not to ask for work other than that listed above.

(i) Rider shall not be required to dismount except in the event
the judge wishes to check equipment.

(j) Horses to be shown at a walk, jog and lope on a reasonably
loose rein or light contact without undue restraint.

(k) Faults to be scored according to severity:

(1) Excessive speed (any gait)
(2) Being on the wrong lead
(3) Breaking gait (including not walking when called for)
(4) Excessive slowness in any gait, loss of forward momentum
(resulting in an animated and/or artificial gait at the lope)
(5) Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for
(during transitions, excessive delay will be penalized)
(6) Touching horse or saddle with free hand
(7) Head carried too high
(8) Head carried too low (tip of ear below the withers)
(9) Overflexing or straining neck in head carriage so the
nose is carried behind the vertical
(10) Excessive nosing out
(11) Opening mouth excessively
(12) Stumbling
(13) Use of spurs forward of the cinch
(14) If a horse appears sullen, dull, lethargic, emaciated,
drawn or overly tired
(15) Quick, choppy or pony-strided
(16) If reins are draped to the point that light contact is
not maintained.
(17) Overly canted at the lope. (when the outside hind
foot is further to the inside of the arena than the inside front foot)

(l) Faults that will be cause for disqualification, except in
novice amateur or novice youth classes, which shall be faults scored
according to severity:

(1) Head carried too low (tip of ear below the withers consistently)
(2) Overflexing or straining neck in head carriage so the
nose is carried behind the vertical consistently.

GREEN WESTERN PLEASURE

(a) The purpose of green western pleasure is to allow a horse
to compete on an entry-level field with horses of the same level of
experience. The green western pleasure is a stepping -stone to the
more advanced level of competition with seasoned horses. This class
should be judged according to the purpose of its intent.

(b) Horses regardless of their age, may be ridden with one
hand and a standard western bit as approved by AQHA equipment
rules or with two hands and a snaffle bit or bosal as described under
AQHA equipment rules.

(c) With the exception of eligibility and equipment requirements,
the same rules apply in green western pleasure as apply in
western pleasure.

(d) Horses eligible to compete:

(1) Horses in their first year of showing in AQHAapproved
shows in western pleasure
(2) Horses that have shown during previous years in
AQHA-approved green western pleasure, open western pleasure,
amateur western pleasure or youth western pleasure, but have not
won more than 10 points or won more than $1,000 in these classes
as of January 1 of the current show year. Points from all divisions
will count and are cumulative in determining eligibility. Novice
points will not count.

(e) Green western pleasure will not be held as a World Show
class.