Western Riding

WESTERN RIDING

Lope On In in the finals of the 2008 Amateur Western Riding 4th place

The American Quarter Horse Association states that Western Riding is an event where the horse is judged on quality of gaits, lead changes at the lope, response to the rider, manners and disposition. The horse should perform with reasonable speed, and be sensible, well-mannered, free and easy moving.
Credit will be given for and emphasis placed on smoothness, even cadence of gaits (i.e., starting and finishing pattern with the same cadence), and the horse’s ability to change leads precisely, easily and simultaneously both hind and front at the center point between markers.

In order to have balance, with quality lead changes, the horse’s head and neck should be 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.The horse should have a relaxed head carriage showing response to the rider’s hands, with a moderate flexion at the poll.

Horses may be ridden with light contact or on a reasonably loose rein. The horse should cross the log both at the jog and the lope without breaking gait or radically changing stride.

In AQHA classes, the judge will select one of the eight patterns to be performed and is responsible for the pattern being correctly set.

On the pattern:

(1) The eight small circles represent pylon markers which are recommended. These should be separated by a uniform measured distance of not less than 30 feet (9 meters) nor more than 50 feet (15 meters) on the sides with 5 markers (see diagram).

In pattern 1, the three markers on the opposite side should be set adjacent to the appropriate markers. It is recommended that markers be set a minimum of 15 feet (4 1/2 meters) from the fence and with 50 to 80 foot (15 to 24 meters) width in the pattern, as the arena permits.

(2) A solid log or pole should be used and be a minimum of 8 feet (2.5 meters) in length.

(3) The long serpentine line indicates the direction of travel and gaits at which the horse is to move. The shaded area represents the lead changing area between the markers. The dotted line (…)
indicates walk, the dash line (- – -) jog, and the solid line ( – ) lope.

(4) A cone shall be placed along the wall or rail of the arena to designate where the exhibitor should initiate the walk. On pattern 1, the cone should be placed a minimum of 15 feet before the first pylon. On patterns 2,3,4 and 5, the cone should be placed even with the first pylon. The on-deck exhibitor should not go to the
start-cone until the contestant on pattern has cleared the working area by the start-cone for the final time.

(e) Scoring will be on a basis of 0-100 with 70 denoting an average performance.

(1) Scoring guidelines: points will be added or subtracted from the maneuvers on the following basis, ranging from plus 1.5 to minus 1.5: -1.5 extremely poor, -1 very poor, -.5 poor, 0 average, +.5 good, +1 very good, +1.5 excellent. Maneuver scores are to be determined independently of penalty points.

(f) A contestant shall be penalized each time the following occur:

One-half (1/2) point
•tick or light touch of log
•hind legs skipping or coming together during lead change
•non-simultaneous lead change (Front to hind or hind to front)

One (1) point
•hitting or rolling log
•out of lead more than one stride either side of the center point and between the markers
•splitting the log (log between the two front or two hind feet) at the lope
•break of gait at the walk or jog up to two strides

Three (3) points
•not performing the specific gait (jog or lope) or not stopping when called for in the pattern, within 10 feet (3 meters) of the designated area
•simple change of leads
•out of lead at or before the marker prior to the designated change area or out of lead at or after the marker after the designated change area
•additional lead changes anywhere in pattern (except when correcting an extra change or incorrect lead)
•in pattern one and three failure to start the lope within 30 feet (9 meters) after crossing the log at the jog
•break of gait at walk or jog for more than two strides
•break of gait at the lope

Five (5) points
•out of lead beyond the next designated change area (note: failures to change, including cross-cantering. Two consecutive failures to change would result in two five point penalties).
•blatant disobedience including kicking out, biting, bucking and rearing

Horses will be Disqualified  with a 0 score for the following:

•illegal equipment
•willful abuse
•off course
•knocking over markers
•completely missing log
•major refusal – stop and back more than 2 strides or 4 steps with front legs
•major disobedience or schooling
•failure to start lope prior to end cone in patterns #1 and #3
•four or more simple lead changes and/or failures to change leads (Except for Novice classes)
•overturn of more than 1/4 turn
•faults, which will be cause for disqualification, except in novice amateur or novice youth classes, which shall be faults scored according to severity:
-head carried too low (tip of ear below withers consistently)
-over flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical consistently.

Credit shall be given for the following:

•changes of leads, hind and front simultaneously
•change of lead near the center point of the lead change area
•accurate and smooth pattern
•even pace throughout
•easy to guide and control with rein and leg
•manners and disposition
•conformation and fitness

The following characteristics are considered faults and should be judged accordingly in maneuver scores:

•opening mouth excessively
•anticipating signals
•stumbling
•head carried too high
•head carried too low (tip of ear below the withers)
•over-flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical
•excessive nosing out

GREEN WESTERN RIDING
The purpose is to create an entry level division in the western
riding discipline that places emphasis on movement and quality
of lead change while allowing for leniency in assistance from the
exhibitor, while still rewarding softness and willingness. Credit will
be placed on smoothness, even cadence of gaits and the horse’s ability
to change leads precisely, easily and simultaneously, both front
and hind.

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

With the exception of eligibility and equipment requirements,
the same rules apply in green western riding as apply in western
riding.

The pattern will be selected from either the five regular
patterns or the three green patterns.

Horses eligible to compete:

(1) Horses in their first year of showing in AQHA approved
shows in western riding.

(2) Horses that have shown during previous years in
AQHA-approved green western riding, open western riding, amateur
western riding or youth western riding, but have not won more
than 10 points or more than $1,000 in these events 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.

Green western riding will not be held as an AQHA World Show class.