Western pleasure horses

Melissa Wilkes and VS Code Me Lucky are golden in Select western pleasure.

Christine Harrison and her AQHA gelding "Good For The Ladys" (Red) in Escondido, California. Chris and Red show under the guidance of Tonya Brown Quarter Horses.

I remember doing this... Shows always got me so scared!

One of the hardest maneuvers to master in a horsemanship or equitation pattern is, ironically, one of the most simple concepts known to mankind: a circle. In the show pen we have seen them come out like eggs, squares, and footballs. We have also seen those exhibitors who seem to nail their circles every time. […]

It's time western pleasure riders get the respect they deserve! Every time I post something about western pleasure it sparks a debate. Whether you love it

It’s extremely important to preserve space for your horse on the rail during a Western pleasure classes. The goal is to get your horse shown as best you can. But if you’re bottled up in a jumble of horses, that’s not possible. You must be able to maneuver your horse through tight spots, out into the open of the arena, and back to the rail without sacrificing your horse’s performance.

The Western Pleasure class is often the largest performance class at any horse show, be it real or model. This is a basic rail class with the horses competing in a group, at three different gaits and in both directions of the arena. The ideal pleasure horse should exhibit smooth, relaxed gaits and perfect manners. In other words, he should be a pleasure to ride! All of today's photos were taken at the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association's Youth and Amateur Show held last month at the…