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2025 Judging Assignments

September 27

Arabian Ranch Riding ATR #1 Practice Class

When you have completed the ranch riding assignment, send me an email.

Discipline Highlight: Ranch Riding

About the Class:

Ranch Riding evaluates the horse’s ability to be a pleasure to ride while performing ranch tasks. The horse should reflect the versatility and movement of a working ranch horse, both relaxed and responsive. A good ranch riding horse exhibits soft cadenced gaits with a natural head carriage and a smooth, forward-moving stride. Transitions should be timely and seamless, with an emphasis on responsiveness, quality movement, and forward momentum. Ranch Riding horses simulate the movement of a working ranch horse, showing versatility and attitude.

Requirements of the Class

Individual or Ring: Individual

Pattern: Yes

Gaits Shown: Walk, Trot, Extended Trot, Lope, Extended Lope

Tack & Equipment: Western Bridle and Saddle, and boots

Maneuver Considerations: Smooth transitions, relaxed cadence, and forward movement

Helpful Tools:

AHA Ranch Riding Guide

https://www.arabianhorses.org/.../JS_NB_Ranch_Horse...

Ranch Riding #1 Scoresheet

Ranch Riding Pattern 1

Arabian Ranch Riding ATR

Before you view the Ranch Riding class below, review the information on Ranch Riding here. Read Guidelines here.
At the end of reading the Ranch Riding information, review the slide show to review note taking and organizing reasons.
View the class below. (Refer to pattern 1 shown above)
Take notes on the class
Place the class 1___2___3___4___
Prepare a set of written reasons. Submit your notes, your nine box organization and your finished reasons to email: emeraldempireahc@gamail.com
Prepare a set of oral reasons to present at our next in person practice. Record your reasons and upload them to YouTube. Send us the link.

Ranch Riding

In ranch riding, the horse is judged on its ability to work at a forward, working speed while performing required and optional maneuvers. The ranch riding horse should simulate a horse riding outside the confines of an arena and reflect the versatility, attitude and movement of a working horse.

Watch these videos about Ranch Riding from a judges perspective before viewing and judging your ranch riding class.

Ranch Riding ATR

Ranch-Riding_Disciplines.pdf

Sample Ranch Riding Introductory Statement for your reasons.

_____ presented the best blend of versatility, attitude and movement of a working horse. _____ manifested the best ability to work at a forward, working speed while performing maneuvers

efficiently executing the requested pattern with the most promptness, smoothness and precision in the class.

If you have time the video at the left is an excellent video that covers both ranch riding and ranch rail classes used in the AHA Judges Seminars.

Review Note Taking Options

Examples of how to set up your notes for organizing your reasons.

Remember when taking notes to first divide your page into 4's horizontally as shown in the center below. As the horses enter the arena mark their number and any distinguishing descriptions such as color of horse, size, etc. Note your first impression. Be sure to label the class at the top of the page before they enter the arena. Leave a place for placing. For each horse quickly note positive and negative points from front, both sides, rear & close inspection. Be sure to note how they travel from front, rear and side.

Western Horsemanship

Before you view the Western Horsemanship class below, review the information on Western Horsemanship here. Read Guidelines here.
At the end of reading the Western Horsemanship information, review the slide show to review note taking and organizing reasons.
View the class below. (Refer to pattern 1 shown above)
Take notes on the class
Place the class 1___2___3___4___
Prepare a set of written reasons. Submit your notes, your nine box organization and your finished reasons to email: emeraldempireahc@gamail.com
Prepare a set of oral reasons to present at our next in person practice. Record your reasons and upload them to YouTube. Send us the link.

Watch this video about Western Horsemanship from a judge's perspective before viewing and judging your western horsemanship class.

Sample Western Horsemanship Introductory Statement for your reasons.

_____ was a more efficient and balanced rider, with a nicer combination of hands,seat, and legs. _____ rode with more confidence and skill, and the horse performed correctly at all gaits with a minimum of perceived aids, and responded well to those aids. _____ sat deeper in the saddle and had firmer contact down through the leg., with a more correct ankle position. _____ sat erect, was relaxed, and looked out over the horse. _____ rode with a looser rein, and had a more correct arm and hand position.

This ends this lesson.

Purebred Arabian Geldings

Watch the video
Take notes on the class
Place the class
Prepare a set of oral reasons to present at our practice on Wednesday.

Sample Arabian Gelding Halter Introductory Statement.

_____ exhibited the nicest combination of structural correctness, type, quality, presence. _____ was shorter in the back, more comparatively horizontal over the croup, longer in the underline, and more prominent about the withers. _____ had more scope through the neck to the poll, had a longer, more graceful neck, and was cleaner through the mitbah. _____ was more classic about the head, and more pronounced through the jibbah, stood on straighter legs (column of bone) of cleaner, flatter bone, and therefore moved with a light, airy stride. In addition, _____ more brilliant on the move and had a higher, more natural tail carriage.

Purebred Hunter Pleasure

Watch the video
Take notes on the class
Place the class
Prepare a set of oral reasons to present at our practice.

Sample Hunter Pleasure introduction

I placed _____ at the top of this class as _____ showed the nicest combination of movement and manners. _____ accepted the bit and went on light contact with a relaxed head carriage. Most importantly, _____ moved with a longer, lower stride at the walk, had a free, sweeping, efficient trot, and was balanced and cadenced at the canter. _____ lengthened stride, increased speed, and remained under control at the hand gallop. In addition, _____ was a horizontal mover that moved with energy and direct purpose. Furthermore, _____ executed the rider’s commands with precision and positive attitude, therefore, requiring less aid from the rider.

Chart_HunterPleasure.pdf

Hunter-Pleasure_Disciplines.pdf

Half-Arabian Reining

Watch the video
Take notes on the class
Place the class
Prepare a set of oral reasons to present at our practice.

Sample Reining Introduction

I marked _____ at the top of the class because _____ had the nicest combination of calmness, speed, ease, and dispatch. _____ ran harder, stopped squarer, and backed straighter. _____ was more precise and accurate, cut a neater pattern, required less rein and was more fluid in lead changes. Furthermore, _____ had more distinction in the size and speed through circles, rolled back harder over the hocks, and was sharper about the spins.

(NOTE: vary terms per pattern)

Half-Arabian Reining Pattern #5

Reining_Disciplines.pdf

Horses may walk or jog to the center of arena. Horses must walk or stop prior to starting pattern. Beginning at the center of the arena facing the left wall or fence.

1. Beginning on the left lead, complete three circles to the left: the first two circles large and fast; the third circle small and slow. Stop at the center of the arena. Hesitate.
2. Complete four spins to the left. Hesitate.
3. Beginning on the right lead, complete three circles to the right: the first two circles large and fast; the third circle small and slow. Stop at the center of the arena. Hesitate.
4. Complete four spins to the right. Hesitate.
5. Beginning on the left lead, run a large fast circle to the left, change leads at the center of the arena, run a large fast circle to the right, and change leads at the center of the arena. (Figure 8)
6. Continue around previous circle to the left but do not close this circle. Run up the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a right rollback at least twenty feet (six meters) from the wall or fence—no hesitation. 7. Continue around previous circle but do not close this circle. Run up the left side of the arena past the center marker and do a left rollback at least twenty feet (six meters) from the wall or fence—no hesitation.
8. Continue back around previous circle but do not close this circle. Run up the right side of the arena past the center marker and do a sliding stop at least twenty feet (six meters) from the wall or fence. Back up at least ten feet (three meters). Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern.

Horse Judging Sample Reasons Introductions.pdf

Stallion Halter Practice #1

Judging practice Arabian stallions 1.pdf

Breeding-In-Hand_Disciplines.pdf

Arabian Stallions #1

Before you view the Arabian stallion class on the left, review the information on Arabian Stallion halter classes below.
At the end of reading the Arabian Stallion information, start the slide show to review note taking and organizing reasons.
View the class to the left.
Take notes on the class
Place the class 1___2___3___4___
Prepare a set of written reasons. Submit your notes, your nine box organization and your finished reasons to email: emeraldempireahc@gamail.com
Prepare a set of oral reasons to present at our next in person practice. Record your reasons and upload them to YouTube. Send us the link.

Sample Arabian Halter Introductory Statement.

_____ exhibited the nicest combination of type, quality, presence, and structural correctness. _____ was shorter in the back, more comparatively horizontal over the croup, longer in the underline, and more prominent about the withers. _____ had more scope through the neck to the poll, had a longer, more graceful neck, and was cleaner through the mitbah. _____ was more classic about the head, and more pronounced through the jibbah, stood on straighter legs (column of bone) of cleaner, flatter bone, and therefore moved with a light, airy stride. In addition, _____ more brilliant on the move and had a higher, more natural tail carriage.

Half-Arabian Gelding Halter Practice #1

Sample Half-Arabian Halter Introductory Statement.

_____ exhibited the nicest blend of structural correctness (conformation), quality, substance, Arabian type. _____ was shorter in the back, more comparatively horizontal over the croup, longer in the underline, and more prominent about the withers. _____ had more scope through the neck to the poll, had a longer, more graceful neck, and was cleaner through the throat. _____ stood on straighter legs (column of bone) of cleaner, flatter bone, and therefore moved with a light, airy stride. In addition, _____ was more brilliant on the move and had a more natural tail carriage.

Judging practice HalfArabGeldingsSH 1.pdf

Half-Arabian Geldings #1

Before you view the Half-Arabian gelding class on the left, review the information on Judging Half-Arabians on page review your conformation judging points on pages 33-37 in your Judging manual.
At the end of reading the conformation information, start the slide show to review note taking and organizing reasons if you need to.
View the class to the left.
Take notes on the class
Place the class 1___2___3___4___
Prepare a set of written reasons. Submit your notes, your nine box organization and your finished reasons to email: emeraldempireahc@gamail.com
Prepare a set of oral reasons to present at our next in person practice. Record your reasons and upload them to YouTube. Send us the link.