You’ve been practicing your maneuvers and getting your horse ready to show off his moves in western classes. But now you need the best western show outfit. You want your clothes to be appropriate for each class without distracting from your performance. Your choice of clothing will vary, depending on if you’re showing at a local open show or the American Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA) World Championship show.

“Exhibitors should always look their best and present themselves as though they are the winner each and every time they enter the arena,” says all-around trainer Chad Christensen of Pilot Point, Texas.

We’ve put together some examples of blue ribbon-worthy outfits for three events, with options for showing at different levels of competition to help you suit up in style. Tammy Dyer of D. Designs created these pieces (next page), and she offers her advice along with Christensen.

Showmanship

Top: A well-fitting showmanship jacket should be long enough to cover the top of your hips; it can go down to mid-hip. You want your sleeves to hit 1 inch past your wrist bone with your arm bent. Underneath, most riders wear a camisole as well.

Pants: Your pants should complement your jacket. Aim a for tailored and well-fitting pant without any adornment or embellishment. The hem should hit just above the ground; avoid pants that are too short.

Boots: Chad says square-toed boots are in style right now for all classes. Avoid a round or pointed toe; they are outdated styles for these events. And stick to a “walking heel” versus a riding heel.

Hat: Your hat style is subject to preference. Many trainers have a particular shape they prefer for clients, but you can ask a hat shaper to shape your hat in the current style for the breed you are showing. Avoid a stampede string for any class outside of speed events. You can wear the same hat for any of these events mentioned, as long as it coordinates with your outfit.

Accessories: Tammy says small earrings that accent your outfit are nice, but to avoid oversized earrings. A small ribbon tied in neatly done-up hair is a good finishing touch. Your hair should be in a bun if possible and very neat and tight, without loose pieces or flyaways.

Entry Level Look: Your attire can be slightly more relaxed, but still respectful of the horse show atmosphere.

Upgrade: As you move up to bigger shows, Tammy says your clothing should become more elegant.

Boys: You’ll want to wear a well-tailored suit. Your jacket and pants should always match, and you should wear a nice tie. Finish with square-toed boots for the best western show outfit for showmanship.

Horsemanship/Western pleasure

Top: Tammy recommends a snug-fitting top that tucks into your pants, preferably one that zips up the back, although it can also zip up the front. The key is a perfect fit with square shoulders. For western pleasure, you’ll want to wear a nice jacket that complements the color of your horse. This jacket will be shorter than a showmanship jacket to avoid sitting on it when riding.

Pants/Chaps: Chad says to choose fringed chaps that fit you well and extend 2 inches past your boot heel in the saddle. You want a single covered button in the back for horsemanship.

Accessories: Horsemanship requires a snug bun, but in western pleasure, you can wear a ponytail pulled back tightly.

Upgrade: Wear an embellished jacket for extra sparkle.

Entry Level Look: Chad says a tailored button-down shirt with a scarf can be worn for both of these classes.

Boys: Wear a tailored shirt, chaps over jeans, and square-toe boots. Add a neck scarf for horsemanship.

Trail/Western Riding/Reining

Top: Wear a tailored and collared long-sleeve button-down shirt tucked smoothly into your pants. It does not have to be as form-fitting as horsemanship.

Pants/Chaps: You can wear showmanship pants or jeans under your chaps for these classes. Your chaps can have a two-tone yoke and/or a silver concho on the back.

Upgrade: To dress up your look, add a fitted and embellished vest.

Accessories: Your hair can be pulled back in a snug ponytail. A scarf is optional.

Boys: The same attire as for western pleasure is acceptable. Scarf is optional.

This article about creating the best western show outfit appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Dress to Impress in Your Next Western Show Class appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The sidepass is a maneuver that shows up in most trail courses and some horsemanship patterns. Knowing how to move your western horse laterally in a sidepass (sideways) can help you with lead changes, opening gates and most of all, better communication between you and your horse.

Bruce Walquist is an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Professional Horseman and judge located in Cleburne, Texas. He specializes in training, sales and lessons for AQHA all-around horses.

He says in a sidepass, the horse should move sideways with his head and body straight—not moving forward or backward—and with the horse’s legs crossing over each other.

“Going to the left, you’d like the left legs to move sideways, then the right legs to cross over,” he says. “When the horse is finished and really broke, you want both sets of legs to be crossing over at the same time.”

Before You and Your Western Horse Begin Sidepass

Before you start asking your horse to sidepass, make sure he knows how to move away from pressure. This can be on the ground, asking him to move away from your touch on his shoulder or hip. If you have trouble sidepassing, get back on the ground and work on this concept.

Bruce recommends visualizing your horse broken up into three sections: the front end, the middle, and the hind end. Moving each of these parts requires a different cue.

“Using your leg by the cinch will move the shoulders, pressing with your leg at the middle of the ribcage moves the horse laterally, and closer to the flank moves the hip,” says Bruce. “You want to be able to move each part to make adjustments while you are asking for a sidepass.”

To practice moving your horse’s front end, you’ll practice a pivot. Your horse’s hind end stays stationary while you cue your horse to move his front end around it. To go right, cue with your left leg at the girth, while placing your left rein against your horse’s neck. Pick up your reins if he walks forward, but then release.

To practice moving his hind end around, you’ll do a turn on the forehand. Keep your horse’s front end stationary while his back end rotates around. To move his hind end to the right, hold your rein hand steady to keep your horse from walking forward then slide your left leg back to press close to your horse’s flank until he moves his hind end. Here are a couple of ways to practice your sidepassing skills.

Western Horse Sidepass by a Fence

This is the great way to start when you’re learning to sidepass. Stand your horse in front of a fence, so he can’t walk forward. Cue for a sidepass. If you’re going to the right, open up your right leg away from your horse, then press with your left at the horse’s rib cage. you can also lay your left rein against your horse’s neck, but not enough to cause your horse to bend to the right. If you need to move his front or back end to keep him straight, move your leg up to the cinch area or back toward his flank.

“The fence is a barrier that helps you have more control, which can make it easier to sidepass when you’re learning,” says Bruce.

Once you can sidepass your horse in front of a fence, try the same maneuver in the middle of the arena. To go right, press with your left leg at the ribs and open up your right leg. You’ll need to check your horse with the reins if he starts walking forward, then release, or he’ll back up.

Sidepass Over a Pole

Walk your horse beside a pole on the ground until his front feet are in front of the pole and back feet are behind it (the pole should be lined up with your heel). If you’re sidepassing right, open your right leg and press with your left leg.

Don’t rush your horse—if you need to adjust by moving his front or hind end, do it one step at a time until he’s straight again, then press at his ribs to move his whole body laterally.

These next two are more advanced. Don’t be intimidated—take it slow, and have fun learning to work with your horse!

Sidepass Between Two Poles

Walk your horse up beside two poles set just over one horse length apart, then stop. Ask him to move sideways by cueing at his ribcage. If he walks forward, stop him with your reins. If he moves backward, bring your reins forward and gently squeeze with your legs.

The goal is both front and back legs moving sideways at the same time, but you can always move one end or the other to straighten up.

Sidepass Over an “L”

Bruce says this is a fun challenge for horses and riders. Walk your horse up beside the pole, then ask him to move sideways. When you get to the corner, ask his front end to move around by cueing near the cinch. Take care to give him room to step around. Once he’s turned the corner, ask him to move laterally with your leg at his ribcage.

Special thanks to Trinity Bell aboard A Certain Faith for demonstrating these exercises!

This article about how to teach your western horse to sidepass originally appeared in the November/December 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Western Lesson: Slide Your Horse into Sidepass appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Split Reins

What they are: Although typically made from two strips of leather, split reins can also be made of braided cotton rope. Widths vary. Metcalf prefers a width of 3/4-inch for most riding and 5/8-inch with a snaffle bit.

Used for: The current trend sees split reins used in most western events, particularly western pleasure, horsemanship, reining and cutting.

Pros: Split reins allow you to make tiny adjustments to one rein or the other, direct your horse with one rein, apply a neck rein and/or a number of other cues using one or both hands with the option to hold the reins in several different positions. This is the most versatile type of reins.

Cons: Adjusting your rein length in one hand can be more challenging than other types of reins. It’s also easy to drop one while riding, which is a safety hazard. And Metcalf says sometimes riders sneak extra cues in that can hamper good training in the long run.

“You need to be aware of your rein length, and practice so you’re using them correctly,” she says.

Selection tip: Look for good-quality leather, a substantial thickness and no stretch. Make sure the attachments to the bit are in good working order. Metcalf avoids snaps or Chicago screws in favor of leather ties for safety.

“I always check the leather every time I use a pair of reins,” she says. “I’ve had snaps come open or screws come unscrewed, and leather can wear out. I replace those leathers if there’s any sign of wear.”

Romal Reins

What they are: Derived from the traditional Spanish vaquero methods, romal reins are comprised of two parts: the reins and the romal, which is one piece connected to the reins. The romal usually has a strip of leather on the end, called a popper. Today they’re usually made out of rawhide.

Used for: Particularly on the West Coast, many bridled reined cow horses (versus one in a hackamore) are ridden in competition using a romal. Some riders use a romal in trail and other all-around events, but the romal is useful for a variety of disciplines. Metcalf says they’re also helpful for training a horse.

“When I start putting my 3-year-old horses in the bridle, I’ll ride them in split reins,” she says. “But when I go to one hand, 98 percent of the time within a few weeks I’m using romal reins to polish up the steering.”

Pros: You’ll hold the reins in one hand and the tail in the other. When held correctly, it’s easier to keep your reins even and at the correct length versus split reins. They are helpful for keeping your horse upright and between your reins. Romal reins are also a great way to find out how trained your horse is to rein cues, says Metcalf.

“You can’t slip a finger or hand in the reins to steer with romal reins like you can with split reins,” she says.

Cons: Holding and using a romal incorrectly can get points deducted from your score in the show pen. Check your association’s rule book for specifics. They’re not to be used with a bit without a shank, like an O-ring snaffle.

Selection tip: Metcalf says a good rawhide set of romal reins is not cheap. Inexpensive reins may wear out quickly. Look for quality materials and workmanship.

Roping Reins

What they are: Roping reins are attached to the bit in a loop around the horse’s neck and are made from a single length of leather, braided nylon or cotton. There is usually a snap on one end.

Used for: These western reins are used for roping and speed events, such as barrel racing.

Pros: Metcalf says roping reins are easy to manage for a beginner or a rider using one hand-like a roper-or if the rider needs to grab the saddle horn with the other hand.

Cons: If your reins are too short, you’ll be limited on the maneuvers you can ask of your horse. They are considered illegal equipment in some classes, like western pleasure, so check your association rule book before using them.

Selection tip: Make sure that your reins are the right length for you, the snaps are in good working order and the rein material is good quality.

Mecate Reins

What they are: Mecate reins are typically used with a bosal, also known as a hackamore. Made of horse mane or tail hair, mohair, or nylon in several thickness options, mecate reins include one length of rope attached to the bosal to make a loop around the horse’s neck, with the remainder used as a lead rope that is tied around the saddle horn. The bosal and mecate are another derivative of Spanish vaquero training.

Used for: Horses are usually outfitted with a bosal and mecate during the early days of training; they can be shown in this tack as long as they’re under the designated age limit. Check your rule book for specifics. They’re suitable for most events except horsemanship and speed events. You’ll usually ride with a rein in each hand.

Pros: Metcalf says that a bosal can be a helpful tool in the course of training a horse, and the mecate reins are designed to facilitate that training. They can deliver subtle cues thanks to the rough texture and weight of the rein.

Cons: If your horse doesn’t know how to work in a bosal, or you’re inexperienced with this piece of equipment, you may not be able to properly cue and control your horse.

Selection tip: Metcalf prefers mane hair instead of tail hair, which tends to be too stiff, or mohair, which tends to be too smooth. She recommends looking for a quality bosal and mecate set over one that is inexpensive.

“Mane hair won’t tear your hands up,” Metcalf says. “I feel like my horses respect a mane hair hackamore rein more than mohair.”

This article on western reins originally appeared in the January 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Take the Reins: The Ins and Outs of 4 Common Types of Western Reins appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The 2019 U.S. Equestrian Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded to Ellen Di Bella. She will be honored at the 2020 U.S. Equestrian Annual Meeting at the Hilton West Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Fla. during the Pegasus Awards presented by Adequan on Friday, January 10, 2020, along with other prestigious U.S. Equestrian award winners.

Di Bella of Parker, Colo., is the founding president of the Western Dressage Association of America (WDAA) and is now its director emeritus. WDAA has been key to the rise of western dressage in the U.S. She has devoted her life to inspiring others, creating opportunities for equestrians and their horses, and working for every horse to be valued and cherished. She also served on the U.S. Equestrian board for a decade and is currently on five U.S. Equestrian committees.

In addition to her work for the WDAA, Di Bella has been a stalwart supporter of Morgan horses, serving on the boards of both the American Morgan Horse Association and the American Morgan Horse Institute. She’s a lifelong competitor, too, and has showed her Morgan horses in western pleasure for 38 years before discovering western dressage.

She has worked on show committees at all levels, including every year for the WDAA World Championship Show and seven years for the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Show, and she served on the board of the Colorado Horse Park. Apart from her work for horses and equestrians, she helped found the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center Foundation, which provides financial assistance to cancer patients and their families in meeting living expenses while fighting cancer.

To learn more about the U.S. Equestrian Lifetime Achievement Award, U.S. Equestrian’s 2020 Annual Meeting and registration, how to purchase tickets to the 2019 Pegasus Awards presented by Adequan, as well access to a full schedule, visit www.usef.org/annual-meeting.

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The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) hosted the 2019 World Championship Appaloosa Show at Will Rogers Memorial Center, where nearly 600 of the best horses in the breed were in attendance. This marked 30 consecutive years that the prestigious event has been held in Fort Worth, Texas. France and Italy, two Canadian provinces and 43 U.S. states were represented at this year’s show.

The ApHC was established in 1938 with a mission of preserving, promoting and enhancing the Appaloosa breed and has since registered more than 700,000 Appaloosas, which are known for their distinctive color, intelligence and their even temperament. True to their reputation as an extremely versatile breed, Appaloosas can be found in nearly every discipline, including racing and endurance riding, and they make reliable family horses. The international breed registry is headquartered in Moscow, Idaho, the heart of the Palouse region, the Appaloosa breed’s namesake and point of origin.

The nine-day event consisted of 85 non-pro and 97 open classes, as well as 37 specialty classes hosted by the Appaloosa Cutting Horse Association (ApCHA), Appaloosa Reining Horse Association (ApRHA), Appaloosa Halter Futurity (AHF), Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association (ApPHA) and the Appaloosa Game Horse Association (AGHA). Participants who took part in these classes showcased the skills and abilities of their horses while also receiving cash and prizes. Throughout the course of the show, 2,200 entries were shown. Classes with the most entries included non-pro ranch riding and senior trail, with 31 and 33 entries, respectively.

A highlight of the show included the Open Most Colorful at Halter class, sponsored by Flying W Appaloosa Ranch in memory of Jim Wild where the first-, second- and third-place winners received memorial awards totaling $1,500. Like the impressive coat patterns of Appaloosas in Most Colorful, another class that catches the attention of spectators each year is Freestyle Reining, where exhibitors perform original choreographed patterns to music. This year’s title was claimed by NU Circle N Sign, ridden by Jane Cairo to the tune of Marie Laveau by Bobby Bare.

The Progressive Social is always a special evening during the show and a great way to mix and mingle with other show attendees. This year it was held Sunday, October 27, with courses sponsored by Sue Scobee, Maestas Show Horses, Carol Jones–American Acres, and John and Debby Letham. Attendees not only enjoyed delicious food, they also entered for the chance to win prizes donated by sponsors, vendors, members and local businesses.

The Appaloosa Horse Club was thankful to the members, exhibitors, and sponsors who make the World Championship Appaloosa Show possible. A passion for the Appaloosa brings people together each year for this memorable event.

The ApHC is now beginning preparations for the 73rd National Championship Appaloosa Show & 2020 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, June 26–July 4, 2020. Visit www.appaloosa.com for the most up-to-date information regarding this upcoming event.

For additional coverage of the 2019 World Championship Appaloosa Show, pick up your copy of the January 2020 issue of Appaloosa Journal.

To learn more about the Appaloosa Horse Club and its events, please visit www.appaloosa.com or call ApHC at 208-882-5578.

2019 World Championship Appaloosa Show Award Standings

– World’s Best Appaloosa: Mr Shining Gun, owned by Jim Jirkovsky of Whitesboro, TX, bred by Dennis M. Herman of Maiden, N.C.
– Reserve World’s Best Appaloosa: Shes Sleepin Single, owned by Taylor Wiemers of Ruthven, Iowa and Debra K. Gerber of Bixby, Okla., bred by Margaret Ann Jentz of South Bend, Ind.
– World Show Leading Breeder: Char-O-Lot Ranch of Myakka City, Fla.
– Open Overall High-Point Exhibitor: Cody Wayne Crow of Johnstown, Colo.
– All-Around Non-Pro: DeeAnna McBride of Costa Mesa, Calif., on A Spotless Blue Boy
– Champion Cattle Horse: Mr Shining Gun, owned by Jim Jirkovsky of Whitesboro, Texas, bred by Dennis M. Herman of Maiden, N.C.
– Champion Western Horse: Shes Sleepin Single, owned by Taylor Wiemers of Ruthven, Iowa, and Debra K. Gerber of Bixby, Okla., bred by Margaret Ann Jentz of South Bend, Ind.
– Champion English Horse: William Grant, owned by Michael Shepherd of Aubrey, Texas, and Holly Janak of Shiner, Texas, bred by Nancy Magnussen of College Station, Texas
– Reserve Champion English Horse: CQ Royal Blue, owned and bred by Kathleen Byrd of Natchitoches, La.
– Champion Games Horse: Sold As Iz, owned by Amy Hudson of Finleyville, Penn., bred by Becky Johnson of Coal City, Ill.
– Champion Ranch Horse: NU Circle N Sign, owned by Jane Cairo and Rene Cairo of Live Oak, Fla., bred by Jim Dobler and Heather McLevin of Delburne, Alberta, Canada
– Open High-Point Over Fences Horse: Downtothelastdetail, owned by The Hulcher Family of Pilot Point, Texas, bred by Jennifer Marcom of Whitesboro, Texas
– Open High-Point Over Fences Horse: William Grant, owned by Michael Shepherd of Aubrey, Texas, and Holly Janak of Shiner, Texas, bred by Nancy Magnussen of College Station, Texas
– Non-Pro High-Point Over Fences Horse: Hez So Irresistible, owned by Janet Murray of Hampstead, N.H. and Amanda Soffron of Dedham, Mass., bred by Sheree L. Koehler of Roberts, Wisc.
– High-Point Non-Pro: Richard Schlough of Reedsburg, Wisc.
– High-Point 35 & Over Non-Pro: Kelley Sweeney of Broad Brook, Conn.
– High-Point Masters Non-Pro: Dr. Ted Zajak III of Coopersburg, Penn.
– High-Point Novice Non-Pro: Katelyne Tiffany of Belchertown, Mass.
– High-Point Walk/Trot Non-Pro: Stephanie Troup Sonnenberg of Lambertville, Mich.
– Champion Non-Pro Games Horse: LM Red Hot Special, owned by Heather Faeth and Lynn A. Faeth of Fort Madison, Iowa, bred by Larry Meadows and Diane Meadows of Mize, Miss.
– Champion Non-Pro Cattle Horse: Taris Lucky Draw, owned by Richard Schlough of Reedsburg, Wisc., bred by Jody Rafel and Jorlyce Rafel of Hillsboro, Wisc.
– Champion Non-Pro Ranch Horse: Highly Spotageous, owned by Teresa Job of Sonora, Calif., bred by Gillian Baxter Galligan of Petaluma, Calif.
– Champion Non-Pro Halter Exhibitor: Abigail Beck of Stockton, Calif.
– Champion Non-Pro Western Exhibitor: Ty Wilkerson of Slippery Rock, Penn.
– Champion Non-Pro Showmanship/Equitation Exhibitor: DeeAnna McBride of Costa Mesa, Calif.
– Champion Non-Pro English Exhibitor: Amanda Soffron of Dedham, Mass.
– Non-Pro Sportsmanship Award: Tina Jackson of Canton, Kan.
– Elite Custom Saddles Open Sportsmanship Award: Jamie Phillips of Ninnekah, Okla.

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The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) welcomed nearly 1,000 Morgan horses to the 2019 Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show. Held at the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., October 12-19, the best of the breed competed in a wide range of disciplines and classes running in four rings concurrently. Horses were shown in divisions including pleasure driving, English pleasure, hunter pleasure, in-hand, park, western pleasure, jumping, trail and more.

Complete results at the Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show are available online.

Excellence in equitation is valued by the AMHA and is recognized through the AMHA Medal classes, held at local and regional Morgan and all-breed shows throughout the competition year. AMHA is pleased to announce the following riders as the 2019 Gold Medal recipients in their respective seats.

• Catriona Kozijn (Alberta, Canada)
• Alayna LoCascio (Dayton, Ohio)
• Sydney LoCascio (Dayton, Ohio)
• Nick Madsen (Cave Creek, Ariz.)
• Olivia Mauldin (Choctaw, Okla.)
• Moira Taber (Shoshone, Idaho)

Read more about the AMHA Gold Medal program.

Nineteen promising young Morgan exhibitors also competed in the AMHA Youth of the Year competition. Taylor Hudson of Fairview, Pa., took home the win as Youth of the Year and Clea Cloutier of Derry, N.H., was named reserve champion. Read more about the AMHA Youth of the Year program and results.

Megan Gallagher of Grass Valley, Calif., was awarded the $1,500 AMHA Young Adult Alliance Judging School Scholarship for her interest in earning her Morgan R judging card and strengthening the breed with other amateurs and professionals. Read more about the scholarship.

Follow AMHA and US Equestrian

The American Morgan Horse Association is a recognized affiliate of U.S. Equestrian. Keep up with future news of the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show® on Facebook and with the Morgan horse all year long by following AMHA on Facebook and Twitter.

Read More About the Morgan Horse:

• Morgan Horse
• The Morgan Horse
• Morgans for Everyone
• Driven to Succeed: Morgan

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American Paint Horse exhibitors pocketed a record $1 million-plus in cash and prizes at the 2019 American Paint Horse Association World Championship Show (APHA World Show), which was held September 16-29 at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

More than 1,030 horses were on display with more than 15,600 entries. The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) named 211 world champions over the course of 14 days and held a total of 268 classes. Fifty U.S. states were represented as well as Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Mexico, Paraguay and Sweden.

The show saw an increase in several key areas over the 2018 Open/Amateur World Show including Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Halter (up 16%), Solid Paint-Bred Halter (up 16%), Solid Paint-Bred Performance (up 9%), Breeders’ Futurity classes (up 15%) and added-money classes (up 2%).

The Breeders’ Trust Pleasure Stakes classes saw an impressive total payout of $84,250. The Breeders’ Trust 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes alone paid over $39,000, with the winner taking home more than $10,000. The Breeders’ Trust Pleasure Stakes consist of western pleasure and hunter under saddle classes in two age categories each: 2-year-olds and non-pro 3- and 4-year-olds.

APHA welcomed ranch work competitors of all breeds to the Ranch Work Championships. The event drew 80 entries, and exhibitors competed in three classes—ranch course, ranch penning and ranch roping—for $6,900 in prize money.

This marked the first year mounted shooting world championships took place at the APHA World Show (previously held at external competitions), and it proved to be a good move. Entries more than tripled over last year. Exhibitors took home a combined $7,300 in this exciting competition.

Halter competition took a surge at the 2019 World Show. APHA once again partnered with the World Conformation Horse Association (WCHA) to offer big money to halter enthusiasts through two premier halter events: the APHA World Championship Show and the (all-breed) WCHA Breeder’s Championship and Big Money Futurities. All in all, more than $640,000 was up for grabs for halter horses—that included more than $165,000 in APHA Platinum Breeders’ Futurity classes (29% increase over 2018), over $47,000 in Gold Breeders’ Futurity payouts (34% increase over 2018), $20,000 in the Breeders Halter Futurity bonus payouts, $10,500 from the Lynn Simons Memorial Halter Futurity, and $400,377 in the WCHA Breeder’s Championship and Big Money Futurities (22% increase over 2018). The WCHA events alone drew 862 entries.

All in all, APHA show entries totaled 14,660 (2,932 x five judges) bringing the total entries for all combined events to 15,602.

APHA World Show Youth Competition

In addition, the knowledge and skills of young judges were put to the test September 19, during the APHA Horse IQ World Championship Judging Contest, held in conjunction with the APHA World Show. Featuring both collegiate and youth (18 & under) divisions, the contest presented both team and individual awards in halter, performance, reasons and overall. Kansas State University took home the top spot in collegiate teams overall while Chouteau FFA captured the overall top youth team victory. The collegiate overall high-point individual was Ariana Horton of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College; the youth overall high-point individual went to J’Cee Petty of Team COA.

APHA World Show Amateur Competition

With the help of some dedicated APHA partners, two lucky amateur competitors walked away with incredible prizes at the 2019 APHA World Championship Show, just by entering amateur classes at the event. Through a random drawing of entrants in all amateur classes, Tammy Burch of Craig, Colo., won a John Deere Gator courtesy of APHA Xtras partner John Deere. In addition, every entry into all amateur classes qualified exhibitors for a random drawing for a custom Platinum Trailer. The trailer was provided by Platinum Trailers in conjunction with APHA corporate partner Cowboy Trailer Sales. Wendy Hull of Corvallis, Ore., was the lucky winner.

Marked for Greatness

The American Paint Horse Foundation (APHF) also held the Marked For Greatness Celebration on September 23 in conjunction with the World Show. The event—held at Whiskey Ranch just 15 minutes from the show grounds—drew over 100 attendees ranging from World Show exhibitors to business partners, and offered food, fun and spirits while educating guests on the association’s upcoming move to the world-famous Fort Worth Stockyards. Silent and live auctions featured unique, one-of-a-kind items. Proceeds, which totaled nearly $60,000, will benefit APHF’s youth scholarship program, as well as APHA’s upcoming move.

“This year’s show was one for the books,” said APHA Executive Director Billy Smith. “Being able to award over $1 million in cash and prizes to our hard-working exhibitors is a great feeling. A huge thanks goes out to all our exhibitors, staff and sponsors for making this year’s event such a success.”

Watch for more World Show wrap-up information in the November/December 2019 issue of APHA’s official publication, the Paint Horse Journal.

About APHA and the Open/Amateur World Championship Show

The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded in 1962. Its mission is to promote, preserve and provide meaningful experiences with Paint Horses. For more information about the American Paint Horse Association, visit www.apha.com or connect with Paint Horse fans globally at facebook.com/americanpainthorse or on Twitter @APHANews.

The World Championship Paint Horse Show features the finest gathering of Paint Horses from around the globe. APHA hosts two annual world-class competitions to showcase the talents of American Paint Horses and their owners. The second in the series, the Open/Amateur World Championship Show takes place at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth’s cultural district.

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Few things mark you as a greenhorn versus a pro like the shape, style and fit of your hat. Properly outfitted, your hat is your crowning glory. Poorly shaped, your hat will brand you as sloppy, inexperienced or worse.

Discover your perfect hat style and shape with these tips from custom hat designer Barbara Maitia and American Paint Horse Association all-around trainer Tim Gillespie.

First Impressions

Ask just about any western judge what they first notice about a competitor, and they’ll probably tell you it’s their hat. Often seen wearing a crisply shaped western hat himself, Gillespie has decades of experience with all-around competition, and he is adamant about the fit, style and shape of his clients’ hats.
“So many judges I’ve talked to over the years have told me that if you are going to invest in anything to make sure you look good when you walk into the pen, you need to invest in your hat,” Gillespie says.

He says it’s noticeable to a judge—and others—when your hat is poor quality, ill-fitting or badly shaped. Even if your hat was once properly shaped to your face, if you’ve left it out in the sun or stored it in a hatbox in a hot trailer for two years, the hat won’t look the same. “The hat shows if somebody really takes pride in their appearance,” Gillespie says.

To purchase a western hat, enlist the help of a professional. Gillespie looks to hatters with booths at horse shows for their expertise, including Barbara Maitia of Barbara’s Custom Hats in Fort Worth, Texas. For over 10 years, she has been pairing riders with the right hats, as well as shaping hats to fit riders.

Sized Right

Even the sharpest-looking hat is no good if it doesn’t fit. “A properly fitted hat not only looks professional, it’s essential for comfort, and most importantly, it won’t fly off while competing,” Maitia says.

Gillespie adds that it should also sit level on your head without tipping forward or backward.

Finding this balance is the job of a hat professional. Maitia says a hat should fit snug initially, but not too tight, resting about a finger above the top of your ears. It should not want to “pop off” when you try it on, and it should be comfortable.

Not all hats fit all people, especially if you have a round head. “Most hats are made long-oval, and not everyone has a long-oval head size,” Maitia says. “If your head is very round, most of the off-the-shelf hats will not fit properly, and adjustments have to be made for them to fit. Typically, you would go up a size and then pad the front and back. In the reverse situation, someone with a very long-oval head will have large gaps by the temples. You would need to custom-pad the hat to fit comfortably and stay on while you ride.”

A properly fitted black hat is always classy and stylish.

Style Profile

The style of your hat, crown size and brim length will depend on several factors. These include the events you’re competing in, that season’s trends and your face shape.

Style: Your best resource will be a good hatter, who will know what’s “in” for each discipline. But no matter what, the shape should complement your face.

“Each discipline has a typical look, but not every trending fashion look is suitable for everyone’s facial structure,” says Maitia.

Crown Size: “The crown size—how tall the hat is—is very important,” says Gillespie. “It should be proportional to your face structure. I prefer the crown to be brought down a little bit lower for a smaller person. And I prefer to narrow the top of the crown to match your face.”

Brim: The most important part of the hat’s shape, in Gillespie’s opinion, is the sharp corners at the front of the brim. “I like a nice, flat front brim with really tight, squared corners at the sides of your face,” he says. The corners should be in line with your cheekbones.

“If a person’s face is a little wider, I like a little wider crease in front,” says Gillespie. “If the hat is going on a child or someone with a narrower face, I like the crease to be a little bit more narrow. But it’s very important to have a nice pleasure crease.” The western pleasure crease refers to sharp corners on the front of the brim.

Gillespie says some riders prefer the side brims to be more upright than others, but that can be left up to your personal taste, as long as the back of the brim has a nice rounded shape.

Back to Basics

Styles change all the time, notes Maitia. Things that are falling out of favor in the show pen include tall and pointed crown heights and small, 3 ¾-inch brims. While popular in the rodeo arena and casual western wear, flat brims, extremely pulled-down brims, 5-inch brims, big and chunky hat bands, and stampede strings are all unpopular in all-around events.

Both Maitia and Gillespie recommend a good quality black hat.

“Start with a traditional hat, and then when you can afford different, fun hats, go for it,” Gillespie says. “But above all, make sure it’s shaped well. You can get away with wearing a simple black shirt in pleasure or horsemanship if you have on a really good hat. You’re going to look like you know what you’re doing. Invest in the hat before your buy the fancy jacket.”

Maitia feels that your hat completes your look, and the style makes a personal statement about you.

“If in doubt, choose the more traditional, classy look—it’s always a winner,” Maitia says. “It’s OK to be different and trendy, but it’s always best to be tasteful and respectful for the discipline you are showing.”

Buy the best quality hat you can afford. Higher quality hats hold their shape better.

All my Xs

Hat quality is expressed in X’s. You should choose the highest number of X’s you can afford. Gillespie recommends at least 20X. Maitia says a 100X hat is 100 percent fur, typically beaver. A 2X, 3X or 4X hat is made of a felt/wool or fur blend.

“It’s much harder to maintain the crisp shape of a lesser-quality hat,” says Maitia. “They’re typically not designed for the long haul. These blends need to be shaped more often and are sensitive to the extreme showing elements, such as dust, rain, heat and humidity. Spending a little money on a better-quality hat up front will save money and time.”

Related:
The Latest Looks for Western All-Around

Abigail Boatwright is a freelance writer and photographer based in Texas.

This article originally appeared in the May 2016 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Selecting a Hat for the Western Show Pen appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Q: How do I get my western pleasure horse to slow his lope without four-beating?

A: Repair your horse’s lope over the span of two to four weeks, beginning with the extended jog and long-trot. They are excellent tools because they increase range of motion, enhance suppleness, and build stamina.

Work him in a steady rhythm while riding both straight lines as well as circles and turns. Pay attention to the alignment of his spine from poll to tail. The contour of his body needs to reflect the shape of the path he’s following to ensure he’s traveling in a balanced frame with his hind legs stepping evenly and on the same track as his forelegs.

Further develop his hind end strength and flexibility with lateral work. Begin at the walk, moving on to the extended jog when you’re both confident.

Your goal is to ask him to step his inside hind leg forward and toward the middle of his belly by taking a half-step sideways as he moves forward. Cue him by removing your outside leg and sliding it up toward the cinch while applying pulses of pressure with your inside calf in the middle of his ribcage.

Time your leg cue with the step of his inside hind leg. Start with one or two steps at a time, gradually building up to several forward/sideways steps.

The next step is to work on the lope itself. Start by riding a large- to medium-sized circle, keeping a bend in your horse’s body. Support with the outside rein and wiggle your fingers on the inside rein to flex his head slightly at the poll.

At the same time, nudge him with your inside leg behind the cinch to encourage a deep and energetic step from his inside hind leg. If you feel the four-beat, sit deep in the saddle and push him forward with your legs into soft rein contact. Add straighter and slower to your routine as his lope improves.

DALE RUDIN is a CHA-certified riding instructor and clinician with a mindful and balanced approach to horsemanship and riding. www.un-naturalhorsemanship.com

This article originally appeared in the July 2015 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Slowing the Lope appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Western riding often looks effortless, but it’s hard work and good horsemanship that creates that impression. Whether you have a trainer or are trying the DIY approach, here are a few pointers to better western riding from American Quarter Horse Association professional horsewoman Dana Panella and Australian-born Mustang trainer TJ Clibborn.

Eyes Up

You’ve heard, “Look where you want your horse to go,” but how often do you actually do that? Though it might seem like overused advice, there’s a great deal of substance behind it. Panella, a trainer and judge from Mukwonago, Wis., says the simple act of looking down can be throwing off your ride.

“Keep your eyes up,” says Panella. “Not only does it help to look where you’re going, but it also helps your balance, which helps your horse’s balance. The more correct you are, the more correctly your horse is going to travel.”

She points out that riders most often look down at the horse’s shoulder when asking for a lead or when making a turn.

Exercise: To help counteract leaning, Panella suggests putting a little extra weight in the outside stirrup and keeping your eyes up. You know your horse is underneath you, so feel what he is doing instead of looking.

Ride with Your Legs

Clibborn, a natural horsemanship trainer from Milton, Wis., says many riders he works with resort to their hands to pull and control the horse instead of guiding them with leg pressure.

“Horses move away from pressure, but riders seem to want to balance their horses off their hands and drive straight from the bit,” says Clibborn. “There are a lot of horses that are real heavy in their front end because they can’t get off their own shoulders.”

Exercise: When you correct your horsemanship, you should see a change in your horse’s way of going.

Try these exercises to teach yourself to use more leg and less hand:

Clibborn sets four or five barrels (you can use cones if you don’t have barrels) at 15-foot intervals and asks his riders to cue their horses to weave through from a leg-yield. Leg-yield to the right, allow your horse three or four steps straight past the barrel, then leg-yield left. This exercise will teach the horse to move off your leg instead of leaning into the bit and dropping his shoulder.

Do pivots at the walk to isolate the shoulder. Start at a walk along the rail, and then ask for a 90-degree turn using your leg. Return to a place down the rail and repeat. Once your horse is consistently moving off your leg for the 90-degree turn, try 180-degree turns. After several lessons, ask for a 270 and then 360.

“You have to slow down to get it,” says Clibborn. “People want the results now, but the horse says, ‘You have to teach me.’ The horse knows how to do anything you want, but you have to learn to communicate it.”

Take a Seat

If your muscles are strained, your calves are tired or your back is sore, chances are you are forcing your seat or you’re out of balance. Horsemanship riders often sit very upright with arched backs. Not only does this position look uncomfortable for the rider, but the stiffness is also irritating to the horse.

“Think about sitting on your pants pockets so you’re sitting really nice and deep into the horse,” says Panella. “But you don’t want to go back so far that you’re sitting on the cantle.”

Some riders also tend to brace against the stirrups. Sit deep, pull your stomach back, have some bend in your knee and keep your heels down. If your stirrups are too long and you’re dropping your toes, your leg is ineffective. If your stirrups are too short, you will be standing up in the saddle.

Exercise: Whether you’re guilty of arching your back or you just need to improve your balance, Panella recommends two English-riding techniques: riding in a two-point position and posting at the trot.

A two-point is a more forward jumping position where your seat is elevated out of the saddle with your weight in your heels. This exercise is a little challenging, but really works on the rider’s balance. You should focus on creating a straight line from your ear to your shoulder, through your hip and down to the back of your heel. Let gravity pull your heels down.

While trotting, posting is when the rider rises in the saddle in time with the horse’s stride. In western disciplines, riders often like to post during training to teach their horses to move out. But Panella has her students post to practice timing and balance and to teach the rider to feel the horse’s legs moving underneath them.

Another helpful exercise to correct your seat is to ride without stirrups. Instead of letting your legs hang loose, though, focus on that alignment from ear to heel. Sit down on your pockets, have a slight bend in the knees and relax your thighs. Avoid leaning forward and gripping with your knees.

Ride Relaxed

We’ve all been told that horses feed off of our energy, so why ride when we’re tense? Clibborn says the easiest way to have a bad ride is to get on when you’re stressed. “You should be able to ride your horse like you’re sitting in your armchair,” he says. “You should be that relaxed when riding. Most people are tense. If you’re tense, your horse will feel it.”

When you come out to the barn to ride, give yourself plenty of time. “You can’t be around horses and be in a rush,” says Clibborn.

Your tension might be causing you to grip the horse with your legs instead of hugging him with them. You have to let off the pressure in order to give effective cues. Also, your stressed-out temperament could be the reason behind your horse’s increasing speed.

“I have a client with a high-tension job,” says Clibborn. “Her mind is racing. When she’s doing a rising trot, she’s 10 times faster than the horse. If you want your horse to slow down, you’ve got to slow down. If you want your horse to speed up, you speed up. It’s that simple.”

To remedy a racing mind and a speedy horse, Clibborn suggests riders practice four speeds at the walk, three speeds at the trot and two speeds at the canter by simply thinking slow and slowing your body. Practice those things so you can slow your horse to a crawl or pick him up to a fast pace.

Exercise: Set up ground poles to ride over to encourage you and your horse to think. If you’re going too fast, set the poles closer and think “slower.”

Forget the Fads

Fads are often more about style than substance. Panella says a recurring trend is to ride with open fingers, only passing the reins through the fingertips, to show how lightly the horse can be ridden. Not only is this unsafe if you’re not a professional in an enclosed space, it’s not an effective tool of communication to your horse.

Ride Your Horse

Be a rider every time you get on your horse. Even if you’re just out on the trail, pay attention to your surroundings and to your mount. Horses are flight animals, so their first reaction to a tree branch snapping is to take off. Being constantly engaged will make you a better rider and will keep your horse focused on the task at hand.

“There are a lot of trail riding mistakes that people can make,” says Clibborn. “They don’t think that they’ve actually got to ride their horse down the trail. It’s too late once the deer jumps to wake up. Be prepared for anything out there and you’ll stay safe on your horse.”

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Mix it Up

Are you on the fence about leaving the rail? Working on the rail can make your horse very one-sided. Panella says you can easily sour a horse to the rail if you don’t give him a change of scenery or mix up his exercise routine.

“It’s a complete safety net for a lot of people, and they really get trapped into that,” she says.

When you leave the fence, you must work to control both sides of the horse, whether you’re in the arena or out on a trail. Panella suggests working in an open field or coming into the center of the arena to work on transitions, patterns and poles. Give your horse a job.

Exercise: When using poles, start at a walk. Aim for the center of the pole and look past it. Feel the horse lifting his body and stepping over the pole. This helps you work on balance and teaches your horse to use his body and pick himself up. Avoid using PVC ground poles, though; they can shatter when stepped on by a horse.

A change of scenery is also good for you and your horse. Instead of sticking to a rail, ride over and through obstacles. Get out of the arena and allow your horse to work on different terrain.

Have an Extra Set of Eyes

Even if you’re DIYing your rides, you can still use an extra set of eyes. Set up a video camera and record your equitation. Look at your leg position. Can you draw a straight line from your ear through your shoulder, hip and heel? Are you leaning when asking for a lead or coming around a corner? How are your hands and your seat? Give yourself an honest evaluation.

Have a Checklist

Even on a casual ride, you should have something to work on. The more you practice your communication with your horse, the more effectively you’ll work together. Panella says what works best for her and her students is to put together a checklist.

“In your checklist, ask yourself, ‘How am I riding?’” says Panella. “‘Am I looking ahead? Is my foot underneath me? Am I breathing?’ Have some fun with it and relax.”

Put it Together

“All these little things you do really add up to the whole picture of good riding,” says Panella. “A good rider is not just a pretty rider. Correct position is going to help you be a more effective rider, and that’s what you should be striving for.”

A freelance writer from Woodstock, Ill., LISA KUCHARSKI enjoys recreational trail riding and competing in open pleasure shows.

This article originally appeared in the March 2015 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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