• Western Info Document

• Western Certification Test

• Western Certified Players List

Breed Restrictions

The only breeds allowed to compete in barrel racing are: AQH, APH, Appaloosas, Appendixes, Thoroughbreds, and Mustangs

Tack Restrictions

Crops or whips are allowed

Martingales, and bonnets or ear hoods are NOT allowed.

Horses' manes can be braided, banded, or fully down.

Bridle: Western bridles are the only bridles allowed. The color should be black or brown. Horses are allowed to show in a hackamore or bit.

Breast collar: Breast collars are allowed and should only be a western breast collar. The color should be black or brown. Fringe is allowed.

Saddle: Western saddles are the only saddles allowed. The color should be black or brown.

Girth: You should have a western girth and back cinch. The color should be black or brown.

Saddlepad: You should have a western saddlepad in any color.

Boots: Polo wraps, sport boots, and bell boots are allowed and can be any color.

Rider Attire

Head: Western hats or helmets are allowed- black or brown is preferred. Neon / bright colors are not allowed.

Shirt: Show shirts should be a long sleeve and can be any color. Fringe and bling is allowed.

Jeans: Jeans can be blue or black

Boots: Western boots can be black or brown

Penalties & Eliminations

Penalties

1. Hitting/Knocking down a barrel: +5 second penalty

Eliminations

1. Off pattern

2. Rider falls off

Breed Restrictions

The only breeds allowed to compete in barrel racing are: AQH, APH, Appaloosas, Appendixes, Thoroughbreds, and Mustangs

Tack Restrictions

Crops or whips are allowed

Martingales, and bonnets or ear hoods are NOT allowed.

Horses' manes can be braided, banded, or fully down.

Bridle: Western bridles are the only bridles allowed. The color should be black or brown. Horses are allowed to show in a hackamore or bit.

Breast collar: Breast collars are allowed and should only be a western breast collar. The color should be black or brown. Fringe is allowed.

Saddle: Western saddles are the only saddles allowed. The color should be black or brown.

Girth: You should have a western girth and back cinch. The color should be black or brown.

Saddlepad: You should have a western saddlepad in any color.

Boots: Polo wraps, sport boots, and bell boots are allowed and can be any color.

Rider Attire

Head: Western hats or helmets are allowed- black or brown is preferred. Neon / bright colors are not allowed.

Shirt: Show shirts should be a long sleeve and can be any color. Fringe and bling is allowed.

Jeans: Jeans can be blue or black

Boots: Western boots can be black or brown

Penalties & Eliminations

Penalties

1. Hitting/Knocking down a barrel: +5 second penalty

Eliminations

1. Off pattern

2. Rider falls off

Breed Restrictions

ALL breeds are allowed to compete in in-hand classes.

Tack Restrictions

Horses should not be wearing any tack. They must wear a halter with a lead (any color).

Horses' manes can be banded, braided, or fully down.

Rider Attire

Head: Western hats or helmets are allowed- black or brown is preferred. Neon / bright colors are not allowed.

Shirt: Show shirts should be a long sleeve and can be any color. Fringe and bling is allowed.

Jeans: Jeans can be blue or black

Boots: Western boots can be black or brown

Maneuvers

In this class, participants have to follow a set pattern on the ground. This pattern can include: Trotting, walking, stopping, backing, pivots, and setting up for inspection. Horses are expected to willingly follow the person, not straying too far behind and not being too far ahead.

Scoring

Every in-hand pattern begins with a score of 70 and judges must use the below score sheet to judge their classes:

• -1 1/2 for extremely poor execution

• -1 for very poor execution

• -1/2 for poor execution

• 0 for correct but with no degree of difficulty

• +1/2 for good execution

• +1 for very good

• +1 1/2 for excellent
  
  

Penalties & Eliminations

Penalties

1. Breaking of gait for less than 1 second: -1 point penalty

2. Breaking of gait for more than 1 second: -3 point penalty

Eliminations

1. Off pattern

2. Use of any prohibited equipment

Breed Restrictions

The only breeds allowed to compete in barrel racing are: AQH, APH, Appaloosas, Appendixes, Thoroughbreds, and Mustangs

Tack Restrictions

Crops or whips are allowed

Martingales, and bonnets or ear hoods are NOT allowed.

Horses' manes can be braided, banded, or fully down.

Bridle: Western bridles are the only bridles allowed. The color should be black or brown. Horses are allowed to show in a hackamore or bit.

Breast collar: Breast collars are allowed and should only be a western breast collar. The color should be black or brown. Fringe is allowed.

Saddle: Western saddles are the only saddles allowed. The color should be black or brown.

Girth: You should have a western girth and back cinch. The color should be black or brown.

Saddlepad: You should have a western saddlepad in any color.

Boots: Polo wraps, sport boots, and bell boots are allowed and can be any color.

Rider Attire

Head: Western hats or helmets are allowed- black or brown is preferred. Neon / bright colors are not allowed.

Shirt: Show shirts should be a long sleeve and can be any color. Fringe and bling is allowed.

Jeans: Jeans can be blue or black

Boots: Western boots can be black or brown

Penalties & Eliminations

Eliminations

1. Off pattern

2. Rider falls off

3. Stepping out of marked line

Breed Restrictions

The only breeds allowed to compete in barrel racing are: AQH, APH, Appaloosas, Appendixes, Thoroughbreds, and Mustangs

Tack Restrictions

Crops or whips are allowed

Martingales, and bonnets or ear hoods are NOT allowed.

Horses' manes can be braided, banded, or fully down.

Bridle: Western bridles are the only bridles allowed. The color should be black or brown. Horses are allowed to show in a hackamore or bit.

Breast collar: Breast collars are allowed and should only be a western breast collar. The color should be black or brown. Fringe is allowed.

Saddle: Western saddles are the only saddles allowed. The color should be black or brown.

Girth: You should have a western girth and back cinch. The color should be black or brown.

Saddlepad: You should have a western saddlepad in any color.

Boots: Polo wraps, sport boots, and bell boots are allowed and can be any color.

Rider Attire

Head: Western hats or helmets are allowed- black or brown is preferred. Neon / bright colors are not allowed.

Shirt: Show shirts should be a long sleeve and can be any color. Fringe and bling is allowed.

Jeans: Jeans can be blue or black

Boots: Western boots can be black or brown

Penalties & Eliminations

Penalties

1. Hitting/Knocking down a pole: +5 second penalty

Eliminations

1. Off pattern

2. Rider falls off

Breed Restrictions

The only breeds allowed to compete in reining are: AQH, APH, Appaloosas, Appendixes, Thoroughbreds, and Mustangs

Tack Restrictions

Whips/crops, martingales, and bonnets or ear hoods are NOT allowed.

Horses' manes can be braided, banded, or fully down.

Bridle: Western bridles are the only bridles allowed. The color should be black or brown. Horses are allowed to show in a hackamore or bit.

Breast collar: Breast collars are allowed and should only be a western breast collar. The color should be black or brown. Fringe is allowed.

Saddle: Western saddles are the only saddles allowed. The color should be black or brown.

Girth: You should have a western girth and back cinch. The color should be black or brown.

Saddlepad: You should have a western saddlepad in any color.

Boots: Polo wraps, sport boots, and bell boots are allowed and can be any color.

Rider Attire

Head: Western hats or helmets are allowed- black or brown is preferred. Neon / bright colors are not allowed.

Shirt: Show shirts should be a long sleeve and can be any color. Fringe and bling is allowed.

Jeans: Jeans can be blue or black

Boots: Western boots can be black or brown

Maneuvers

A reining pattern consists of circles, lead changes, sliding stops, backing, and spins. The order in which these are executed are chosen by the judge and vary pattern to pattern. Judges look for calm and collected horses that allow for excellent speed control and willingly let their rider guide them.

Scoring

Every reining pattern begins with a score of 70 and judges must use the below score sheet to judge their classes:

• -1 1/2 for extremely poor execution

• -1 for very poor execution

• -1/2 for poor execution

• 0 for correct but with no degree of difficulty

• +1/2 for good execution

• +1 for very good

• +1 1/2 for excellent
  
  

Penalties & Eliminations

Penalties

1. Blatant disobedience (rearing, bucking, etc): -5 point penalty

2. Breaking of gait (whether it's upward or downward): -2 point penalty

3. Failure to run past stop marker: -2 point penalty

4. Over/under spinning: Depending on severity, a 0 to a -1 1/2 point penalty

Eliminations

1. Off patern

2. Use of any prohibited equipment

3. Rider falls off

Breed Restrictions

The only breeds allowed to compete in western pleasure are: AQH, APH, Appaloosas, Appendixes, Thoroughbreds, and Mustangs

Tack Restrictions

Whips/crops, martingales/breast collars, bonnets or ear hoods, and wraps/boots are NOT allowed.

Horses' manes can be braided, banded, or fully down.

Bridle: Western bridles are the only bridles allowed. The color should be black or brown. Horses are allowed to show in a hackamore or bit.

Breast collar: Breast collars and martingales are not allowed.

Saddle: Western saddles are the only saddles allowed. The color should be black or brown.

Girth: You should have a western girth and back cinch. The color should be black or brown.

Saddlepad: You should have a western saddlepad in any color.

Boots: Polo wraps, sport boots, and bell boots are not allowed.

Rider Attire

Head: Western hats or helmets are allowed- black or brown is preferred. Neon / bright colors are not allowed.

Shirt: Show shirts should be a long sleeve and can be any color. Fringe and bling is allowed.

Jeans: Jeans can be blue or black

Boots: Western boots can be black or brown

Maneuvers

Western Pleasure is a rail class. Participants will be asked to walk, jog, lope, reverse at a walk or a jog, stop, and back up. Some judges prefer members to walk into a line up for class placements are announced, while some judges allow you to exit the arena. Judges look for a smooth and collective moment, one that would be “pleasurable” to ride.

Scoring

Judges look for smooth and soft gaits, with willingness to speed up and slow down. Horses that act up and are blatantly disobedient shall not place above well-behaved horses.

Every in-hand pattern begins with a score of 70 and judges must use the below score sheet to judge their classes:

• -1 1/2 for extremely poor execution

• -1 for very poor execution

• -1/2 for poor execution

• 0 for correct but with no degree of difficulty

• +1/2 for good execution

• +1 for very good

• +1 1/2 for excellent
  
  

Eliminations

1. Use of any prohibited equipment

2. Rider falls off