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Western Riding

Horse Illustrated covers anything you can think of related to western riding, including how-tos, tips from experts, discipline specifics, and more. Disciplines included are: western pleasure, western dressage, reining, speed events like barrel racing, and cattle events like cutting and team penning. Many riders start out riding in this style, especially in the Western states, and then progress into one of the disciplines above. Some of the topics covered include introducing your horse to cattle, how to ride the rollback, how to cue the lope, how to go bitless, selecting a hat for the show pen, showmanship, and much more.

Antsy Horse? Here’s How to Avoid Anticipation in Pattern Classes

Whether it’s showmanship, horsemanship, trail, western riding or ranch classes, pattern competition helps show a judge the skills you and…

2 months ago

The Difference in Reining and Cow Horse Stops

A fast-stopping horse sliding into a cloud of dust is an icon for western riding. Horses in reining classes stop…

3 months ago

Perfect Your Reining and Working Cow Horse Turns

To compete in reining or working cow horse competitions, your horse will need to turn quickly in response to your…

4 months ago

Training Your Horse to Cross Water

Crossing water is one of those things that’s either fun to do with your horse, or it’s exasperating—there doesn’t seem…

6 months ago

Using Horsemanship Skills in Barrel Racing

Barrel racing isn’t only about going fast. To round the three barrels in a barrel racing pattern with precision as…

7 months ago

Perfect Your Western Lead Change

In reining or working cow horse competitions, you’ll need to show that your horse can change leads on command while…

8 months ago

Teach Your Horse to Stand Still While Mounting

Just because many horses move off when their riders try to mount, it doesn’t mean that the issue isn’t a…

9 months ago

Master the Long Trot for Ranch Riding

"The extended trot, or the long trot, is the signature move of ranch riding,” says trainer and showman Aaron Ralston.…

11 months ago

Mastering Split Reins

Split reins are by far the most versatile type of reins used in western riding, but they can be a…

1 year ago

Ace Your Western Riding Pattern

Marked by fluid lead changes around a cone-marked course, western riding is a challenging class for all-around competitors. But with…

1 year ago