AQHA Magazine January / February 2019 AQHA March / April 2019 | Page 14

inches beneath him, where he could
easily catch a foot. Adjust the back
cinch evenly on either side of your
saddle so that the centre of it aligns
with the centre of your horse’s belly.
The back-cinch connector strap, or
hobble, is a good indicator of prop-
er adjustment. It should connect
straight from the back cinch to the
rear front-cinch dee. Tighten the
connecting hobble so that the cinch
aligns slightly forward of vertical,
where there’s no risk of it sliding
back to your horse’s flanks.
Chaps/Chinks – you don’t have to
wear them, its entirely rider’s choice.
Holding the Saddle Horn – you
will not be penalised for doing this, it
is most commonly seen in the Ranch
Pleasure Class at the extended trot
and sometimes at the extended lope.
Done properly it looks great, but you
must commit to it. Don’t let go of the
saddle horn half way through the
maneuver or pick up half way. If you
push up into the extended trot and
hold the saddle horn, keep a hold of it
right though the extended trot, until
you start the next part.
Trotting – sit, stand or post? It’s
your choice – if you choose to stand
be sure to have practiced and have
good strong legs and a steady hand
and back. Nothing is more distracting
than a rider bobbling about on top of
the horse, or pushing up into a great
extended trot, pushing their hand up
the neck, standing in the stirrups,
really giving it a go and then – oops –
can’t hold it - have to rise or sit.
It’s okay to carry a rope or hobbles
provided they are secured to your
saddle. Other than the discussion
above, attire, tack and equipment
are as per the rulebook for western
events.
You can see with all of the options
above why people are so excited
about competing in these events.
THE DIFFERENCES
Ranch Pleasure to Western Pleas-
ure – quite a different ball game. The
Ranch Pleasure horse should cover
more ground, giving the impression
that he can easily get across the
ranch to check the fences, check the
water or go and check on the cattle.
Judges do not want to see horses
running off or showing excessive
speed, after all, this is our work
horse, he must be under control and
obedient at all times and be comfort-
able and smooth to ride. His head
carriage should look natural – not too
high or too low and not over bridled.
In this class you will be required to
ride a pattern that will showcase
your horse’s talents at the walk, trot,
lope, reverse, stop and back. You will
also be asked to extend the trot and
the lope. The class can be held in an
arena or outside of an arena.
LETS HAVE SOME FUN
Ranch Trail – this can be a ton
of fun. It’s preferred to use natural
obstacles and to hold this event out-
doors, provided the terrain and ob-
stacles are safe. You will be required
to navigate a course that will have
between six and nine obstacles, and
you will walk, jog and lope
somewhere throughout the course.
There are mandatory obstacles
such as a bridge, a gate, walk, trot
or lope over logs, back up, side-pass
and the one you really want to
practice before you come to the show
is to drag an object. Youth Classes
do not drag. There is a myriad of
optional obstacles (such as ground
tie, lead at the trot, cross ditches,
small jump), all of which can be
found in the AQHA Handbook as well
as the list of prohibited obstacles.
Ranch Reining – although scored
the same as Reining, judges are
looking for a little different way of
going in the horse. Some maneuvres,
like the big sliding stops you see
in reining patterns, don’t hold as
much value in ranch reining because
they’re not practical for a real ranch
horse. It would actually be very
dangerous to do a rundown to a
stop and then slide 30 feet out in a
paddock.
BRING ON THE COWS
Ranch Cutting – In this class
the judge is assessing the ability of
the horse to work a cow by separat-
ing it from the herd and holding it. A
single cow is cut from the herd and
the horse must demonstrate its
ability to work the cow.
Open and Amateur riders are given
two minutes and must work two cows;
Youth have 90 seconds and may work
one or two cows. This is done with the
assistance of two turn-back riders and
two herd holders.
Ranch Cow Work – this section
has similarities to Working Cow
Horse, with the addition of roping
or circling, quite a workout even for
a versatile ranch horse. There are
three parts to the class – boxing
the cow, fence work and either
roping or circling the cow. Boxing the
cow? Sounds a bit strange?
You will be at the end of the arena
and a cow will be released to you
at that end. You can then show the
judge how well you horse can hold
the cow before working it.
14 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • March • April• 2019
Competitors in the Open Division
must rope, whereas Amateur and
Youth have the option of circling
the cow in the centre of the arena
or roping if they choose. In all three
divisions, riders are given three min-
utes to complete their work. Even if
you don’t catch when roping you will
still receive a score.
Limited Ranch Cow Work –
a little bit like the Ranch Cow Work,
but as the name implies – limited.
With only one minute 45 to complete
your run – in which you will box
the cow, set it up and run down the
fence to the other end and then box it
again. No need for circling or roping
in this event.
Ranch Conformation – may the
best balanced, most correct exam-
ple of the breed win – provided they
have competed in at least one of the
performance events that day.
What is the difference from our reg-
ular halter class? In this class, stal-
lions, mares and geldings are all in
together – one class all ages together.
And of course in the three divisions
– Open, Amateur and Youth. The
Ranch Conformation Class is the last
class of the day – not the first, whip
the saddle off, wipe down, put your
halter on, take your spurs off and
in you come. Your horse can wear a
leather, rope or nylon halter and will
still perform the regular halter work-
out and be expected to stand quietly
and squarely for the judge to do an
evaluation of your horse.
All of the classes, with the exception
of Ranch Conformation are scored
events, with credit where due and
penalties applied for specific errors.
The classes are designed to encour-
age participation with fewer disqual-
ifications than in their sister events.
You can even go off pattern in some
and still receive a score. It pays to
check your scores at each show,
look where your strong points are,
find your weak points and penalties
and learn to improve on them.
Now go out and get ranchy!
1. Opening the gate
2. Side-passing the
pole
3. Joggin around an
obstacle
4. Jogging over poles
5. The log drag