The western horsemanship class is designed to evaluate the rider's ability to execute, in concert with their horse, a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence, and maintaining a balanced, functional and fundamentally correct body position. The ideal horsemanship pattern is extremely precise with the rider and horse in complete unison, executing each maneuver with subtle aids and cues. The horse's head and neck should be carried in a relaxed, natural position, with the poll level with or slightly above the withers. The head should not be carried behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be exclusively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance.
(Rider is being judged.)
Tack and Attire
- Refer to Western tack and attire requirements on pages 17-26.
- The saddle should fit the rider, and the horse should be suited to the rider's ability and size.
- There should be no discrimination against any equipment permitted as outlined in general regulations under saddle.
Prohibited: Mechanical hackamore, draw reins, tie downs, any type of martingale, cavesson noseband, protective boots, leg wraps, crop, bat, or whip.
Hands, Seat and Performance
Results as shown by performance of the horse are not to be considered more important than the method used by the rider in obtaining them. Good hands are paramount.
Hands. Arms are in a straight line with body, the one holding reins bent at elbow. Only one hand is to be used for reining and hands shall not be changed. Hand to be around reins. Fingers are not permitted between reins when using a romal. When using split reins, one finger between reins will be permitted, and rein should fall on the same side as the rein hand. Reins to be above pommel and as near to it as possible. Bracing against horn or swell will be penalized. The rider should keep their arms in close to their body. Refer to page 19 for proper hand positions when using both hands with a snaffle bit or bosal.
The position of the rider's free hand is optional, but should be held in a relaxed, comfortable, neat manner. When using a romal, the rider's off hand may hold the romal to keep it from swinging and to adjust the position of the rein, provided it is held at least 16 inches from the reining hand.
Reins should be gathered so that light contact in the horse's mouth is maintained.
Basic position. The exhibitor should appear natural in the seat and ride with a balanced, functional, and correct position regardless of the maneuver or gait being performed. During the rail work and pattern the exhibitor should have strong, secure, and proper position. Exhibitors should sit and maintain an upright position with the upper body at all gaits. The rider should sit in the center of the saddle and the horse's back with the legs hanging to form a straight line from the ear, through the center of the shoulder and hip, touching the back of the heel or through the ankle. The heels should be lower than the toes, with a slight bend in the knee and the lower leg should be directly under the knee. The rider's back should be flat, relaxed, and supple. An overly stiff and/or overly arched lower back will be penalized. The rider's base of support should maintain secure contact with the saddle from the seat to the inner thigh. Light contact should be maintained with the saddle and horse from the knee to the mid-calf. The knee should point forward and remain closed with no space between the exhibitor's knee and saddle. The exhibitor will be penalized for positioning the legs excessively behind or forward of the vertical position. Regardless of type of stirrup, the feet may be placed home in the stirrup, with the boot heel touching the stirrup, or may be placed with the ball of the foot in the center of the stirrup. The rider's toe should be pointing straight ahead or slightly turned out with the ankles straight or slightly broken in. Riding with toes only in stirrup will be penalized. Those exhibitors that can maintain the proper position throughout all maneuvers should receive more credit. When riding without stirrups, the exhibitor should maintain the same position as previously described.
Presentation of Horse. The horse's body condition and overall health and fitness should be assessed. The horse should appear fit and carry weight appropriate for the body size. A horse which appears sullen, dull, lethargic, emaciated, drawn or overly tired should be penalized according to severity.
Performance. The exhibitor should perform the work accurately, precisely, smoothly, and with a reasonable amount of promptness. Increasing speed of the maneuvers performed increases the degree of difficulty; however, accuracy and precision should not be sacrificed for speed. Exhibitors that perform the pattern sluggishly and allow their horse to move without adequate impulsion, collection or cadence will be penalized.
The horse should perform all maneuvers in the pattern willingly, briskly and readily with minimal visible or audible cueing. Severe disobedience will not result in a disqualification, but should be severely penalized, and the exhibitor should not place above an exhibitor that completes the pattern correctly. Failure to follow the prescribed pattern, knocking over or working on the wrong side of the cones, excessive schooling or training, or willful abuse by the exhibitor is cause for disqualification.
The horse should track straight, freely and at the proper cadence for the prescribed gait. Transitions should be smooth and prompt in the pattern and on the rail, and should be performed when called for on the rail. The horse's head and neck should be straight and in line with their body while performing straight lines and slightly arched to the inside on curved lines or circles. Circles should be round and performed at the appropriate speed, size and location as requested in the pattern. The counter-canter should be performed smoothly with no change in cadence or stride unless specified in the pattern.
The stop should be straight, square, prompt, smooth and responsive with the horse maintaining a straight body position throughout the maneuver. The back should be smooth and responsive.
Turns should be smooth and continuous. When performing a turn on the haunches, the horse should pivot on the inside hind leg and step across with the front legs. A rollback is a stop and 180 degree turn over the hocks with no hesitation. Backing during turns will be penalized severely.
The horse should step across with the front and hind legs when performing the sidepass, leg-yield and two-track. The sidepass should be performed with the horse keeping the body straight while moving directly lateral in the specified direction. When performing a leg- yield, the horse should move forward and lateral in a diagonal direction with the horse's body arced opposite to the direction that the horse is moving. In the two-track, the horse should move forward and lateral in a diagonal direction with the horse's body held straight or bent in the direction the horse is moving.
A simple or flying change of lead should be executed precisely in the specified number of strides and/or at the designated location. A simple change of lead is performed by breaking to a walk or trot for one to three strides. Flying changes should be simultaneous front and rear. All changes should be smooth and timely.
Position of the exhibitor and performance of the horse and rider on the rail must be considered in the final placing.
Mounting and Dismounting. Control the horse by taking up reins in the left hand and adjusting reins evenly with enough tension to feel the bit and hold the horse steady. Ends of the reins hang on the near side while mounting. To mount, take up reins in left hand and place hand on horse's neck in front of the withers and with romal or end of the reins on the near side. Grasp stirrup with right hand, place left foot in stirrup, then grasp saddle horn with right hand and spring up with right leg, keeping body close to the horse, and settle easily into the saddle. With this mounting procedure, the rider starts on the ground in an area rather close to the horse's left shoulder point and generally turns the left stirrup slightly to the front for easier placement of left foot in stirrups.
However, the tall rider may start the mount more from the side and complete a good mount if they can reach the left stirrup with their foot without holding the stirrup with the right hand.
Most good riders would check the bit and curb as well as the snugness and safety of both cinches before mounting. Excessive and unnecessary safety checks are unwarranted and time consuming.
After mounting, the end of split reins should fall on the same side as the rein hand. If a romal is used, it should be moved to the off side of the horse after mounting. If rider uses right hand on reins, the romal should remain on the near side at all times.
To dismount, reverse above procedure and step down, facing the horse's head. In dismounting and mounting with split reins, it is optional whether the right rein be left up or taken down while rider is on the ground. Horse should stand while mounting until the signal to move out.
Possible Class Routines
A. Group Routine
- Pattern Work: The judge may ask each horse to work a pattern individually at the start of the class (rail work to follow). These individual patterns shall be any of the maneuvers normally required in a stock horse class, as listed below. Horses shall be required to back in a straight line in this class. It must be remembered that, above all, a stock horse is one that responds instantly and smoothly to all aids. Riders 14 years and older (by January 1 of the current year) may be asked to dismount and mount. Riders who have not reached their 14th birthday should not be required to dismount and mount. If a pattern is used, it should be posted at least one hour prior to the beginning of the class. The pattern should be one that can be completed within about 30 seconds.
- Following pattern work, horses are to be worked in at least one direction on the rail at a walk, jog, and lope. The judge may choose to work riders in one or both directions of the rail.
- In large classes, at the judge's discretion, only finalists may be chosen to do rail work.
- Rail Work: Horses are to enter the ring at a walk or jog and be judged at a walk, jog, and lope. They may be worked both ways of the ring and shall always be on the correct lead. The reverse is to be executed away from the rail. The horse should be in perfect balance at all times, working entirely off the haunches, neck and head in direct line with the body, mouth closed, and head at normal height. After horses have been worked in a group they will be lined up in the center of the ring. The judge may ask each horse to back and further judge hands and seat in line. The judge may ask for additional individual work from selected riders. In large classes, only selected riders (determined from pattern work) may be asked to work on rail.
Tests from Which Judges Must Choose
Tests may be performed either collectively or individually, but no other tests may be used.
- Individual performance on the rail.
- Dismount and mount.
- Ride without stirrups.
- Walk, jog, extended jog, lope in a straight line, curve or circle or any combination of these gaits and patterns.
- Lope on prescribed lead from a standstill, walk, or jog.
- Figure eight at the jog.
- Figure eight at lope on correct lead, demonstrating a flying or simple change of lead (A simple change is whereby the horse is brought back into a walk or jog and restarted into a lope on the opposite lead.). Figures commence in center of two circles so that one lead change is shown.
- Change leads down center of ring demonstrating simple changes of leads or flying lead change.
- Lope on the counter lead.
- 180-degree turn on forehand or haunches.
- Execute 360-degree turns/pivots (spins).
- Sidepass.
- Back in a straight line, "L" shape, in a circle or figure eight.
Scoring Procedure
Exhibitors are to be scored from 0 to infinity, with 70 denoting an average performance. Patterns will be divided into 6 to 10 maneuvers, as specified by the judge, and each maneuver will be scored from +3 to -3 with ½ point increments acceptable that will be added or subtracted from 70. Maneuver scores should be determined independent of penalties, and should reflect equal consideration of both performance of the exhibitor's pattern and the horsemanship/equitation form and effectiveness of the exhibitor to result in the following scores: +3 Excellent, +2 Very Good, +1 Good, 0 Average or Correct, -1 Poor, -2 Very Poor, -3 Extremely Poor. Exhibitors overall horsemanship/equitation form and effectiveness should also be scored from 0 to 5 with 0 to 2 Average, 3 Good, 4 Very Good, 5 Excellent. Exhibitors should also be judged on the rail, and their pattern score and/or ranking may be adjusted as appropriate.
Penalties: Maneuver evaluations and penalty applications are determined independently. The follow penalties will be applied for each occurrence and will be deducted from the final score:
Three (3) Points
- Break of gait at the walk or jog up to 2 strides
- Over or under turn from 1/8 to ¼ turn
- Tick or hit of cone
- Obviously looking down to check leads
Five (5) Points
- Not performing the specific gait or not stopping within 10 feet (3 meters) of designated location
- Incorrect lead or break of gait at the lope (except when correcting an incorrect lead)
- Break of gait at a walk or jog for more than 2 strides
- Loss of stirrup
- Bottom of boot not touching pad of stirrup at all gaits including backup
- Head carried too low and/or clearly behind the vertical while the horse is in motion, showing the appearance of intimidation
Ten (10) Points
- Loss of rein
- Use of either hand to instill fear or praise while on pattern or during rail work
- Hold saddle with either hand
- Cueing with the end of the romal
- Blatant disobedience including kicking, pawing, bucking, and rearing
- Spurring in front of the cinch
Disqualifications (should receive the lowest ribbon placing — generally white)
- Failure to display correct number
- Abuse of horse or schooling
- Fall by horse or exhibitor
- Illegal equipment or illegal use of hands on reins
- Use of prohibited equipment
- Off pattern, including: knocking over or on wrong side of cone, never performing specified gait, or lead or overturning more than ¼ turn than designated, shall not be disqualified, but must always place below exhibitors not incurring a disqualifying fault.