What is a ranch riding class?
A ranch riding class is a riding class at a horse show wherein a rider performs various ranch tasks while the horse maintains and exhibits the versatility, attitude, and movement of a horse outside the arena in a ranch-like setting.
What is the Purpose of Ranch Riding
Ranch riding classes consist of a pattern where the horse and rider perform tasks such as lengthening of stride, relaxed gaits, smooth and timely transitions, purposeful direction, spins, lead changes (simple or flying), and more.
Ranch riding classes are considered pattern classes, wherein a rider follows a predetermined pattern that includes a variety of maneuvers. Your show circuit may post the pattern a few days before the show online or post them by the entry office the day of the show.
While the AQHA has 15 approved ranch riding classes, classes can be created by your local show circuit to include a variety of maneuvers.
AQHA also offers ranch riding in the Versatility Ranch Horse competitions. These ranch riding classes are combined with five other classes - ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch reining, ranch cow work, ranch cutting, and ranch confirmation, and classes count toward the AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championships in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Some AQHA shows offer AQHA Ranch Riding or VRHA Ranch Riding. You may want to enter one or both classes, depending on your goals for yourself and your horse. You will want to talk to your trainer or friends who understand your specific circuit awards to make this decision. Other things to consider include if you want to show at the VRH World Championships or the AQHA World Show.
What is the difference between ranch riding and western riding classes?
While traditional horses in western pleasure, trail, and western riding classes exhibit the utmost control and collection on a draped rein, horses in ranch riding classes travel with more forward movement and a light rein contact or relatively loose rein.
Horses that place well in the ranch riding will show a related, quiet, soft, and cadenced stride, much like their other western counterparts, but may travel more natural tail and headset. Horses that place well in ranch riding will not have that “bridled up” look.
To clarify what “forward” means, many judges have stated that the movement must look like the horse and rider combination could ride for hours on the ranch at this pace, so avoiding rushed or uncomfortably fast paces should be avoided. Some judges may call this a working speed under control. This will vary by horse’s size, stride, and carriage, so have a friend help you find your horse's most forward yet natural and confident movement.
It is important to note that if you are showing at an AQHA show, no horse shown in a western pleasure class can be shown in a ranch riding class, regardless of division (youth, amateur, select, or open). If you are showing at another show circuit, consider consulting with your show office about this.
Other classes you may be interested in riding in if you like Ranch Riding may include Ranch Rail classes or Ranch Trail classes.
Ranch Riding Patterns
All ranch riding patterns will include a stop, back and a walk, a trot, and a lope in both directions. Patterns will also include an extended trot and lope in at least one direction.
Additional optional maneuvers include a side pass, 360-degree turns, a change of lead (simple of flying), walk/trot/lope over pole (s), and other maneuvers reasonable for a ranch horse.
Important things to note about each maneuver:
Walk - A walk should be a forward walk, without being an extended walk.
Tip: Have a horse with a less forward walk? Try lightly bumping your horse with your legs in cadence with their walk to move a horse into a bit more lively walk. If you have a horse that is funny about bumping with your legs, you may want to try smootching with your voice and slightly moving your seat to encourage your horse.
Extended Walk - A walk that would get the horse and rider pair through the pasture in a timely manner. This walk needs to feel like there is a good swing from side to side; you could almost describe it as a shimmy to one side or another. This gait has a very succinct feel once it is found and will result in your horses tail swinging back and fourth in a pretty cool rhythm.
Trot - A trot should have good forward movement and should be sat by the rider. While sat, this gait is cadenced and covers ground. It shows the judge that the horse can carry itself in a pleasant and collected way.
Extended Trot - A good extended trot should not make the horse look uncomfortable or irritated. The horse should look like it can keep the pace all day comfortably. The rider can post the trot or stand in the saddle.
Tip: If you are considering doing cow classes, it’s always good to get comfortable posting the trot. A posting trot will keep you more centered and lower in your saddle. Long trotting and standing up looks cool, but it may not be the best choice when trotting toward a group of cattle in case something turns back.
Lope - A good lope should be smooth, relaxed, and rhythmic. The ideal lope should be slow and controlled but with enough impulsion to maintain a consistent pace throughout the pattern.
Extended Lope - An extended lope is a slightly more forward variation of the regular lope, where the horse covers more ground while maintaining the similar balance. This gait is not an uncontrolled run. It is a slight increase momentum that shows control at all gaits, athleticism and power.
360 - A good ranch riding 360 should be smooth, balanced, and show the horse's agility and responsiveness. Ideally, this movement would be a snappier gate but a smooth controlled movement will place above a faster movement with less precision.
Lead Change - A good ranch riding lead change should be smooth and controlled, with the horse maintaining a consistent cadence throughout the maneuver. Simple lead changes are acceptable and can place well if done with willingness and cadence.
Walking Over Poles - Poles should be walked over in a cadenced pace, without stepping on or bumping the poles. You can also give your horse a little extra rein to put their head down and inspect the poles. Each horse is different and some horses may need a more collected rein to stay focused. Work with your trainer or a trusted friend to determine what works best for you.
How are ranch riding classes judged?
Ranch riding classes at horse shows are scored from 0-100, with an average score being 70. That means that each horse starts with 70 points, and a judge will add or subtract points for maneuvers or penalties to a final score recorded for each horse.
Above is a picture of what a judges score card looks like.
If scores are in the 2-300’s, make sure to consider the multiple judges. Many times, scores will be totaled by all judges. For example, if you have three judges, and they each give you a score of 71. The scores will be added together (71+71+71) for a total score of 213.
This video from UNL Horse Judging does a great job of explaining how ranch riding is judged.
Manuever points in ranch riding classes range between -1 ½ to +1 ½ , with -1 1/2 being extremely poor, -1 being very poor, -1/2 being poor, 0 being correct, +1/2 being good, + 1 being very good, + 1 1/2 being excellent.
All penalty points in a ranch riding class are subtracted from the overall score. Penalties in ranch riding classes can occur because:
-1 Penalty Points
gaits are too slow (per manuever)
horses are over bridled (per maneuver)
Break of gait at walk or trot for two strides or less
-3 Penalty Points
Break of gait at walk or trot for more than two strides Break of gait at a lope, except when correcting an incorrect lead Wrong lead or out of the lead
Draped reins (per maneuver) Out of lead or cross-cantering more than two strides when changing leads
Trotting more than three strides when making a simple lead change Severe disturbance of any obstacle
-5 Penalty Points
Blatant disobedience (kick, bite, buck, rear, etc.) for each refusal
-10 Penalty Points
Unnatural ranch horse appearance (Horse’s tail is obvious and consistently carried in an unnatural manner in every maneuver)
Horses and riders can also receive an OP for eliminating or adding a maneuver, making an incomplete maneuver, or repeated blatant disobedience by the horse.
After showing in your class, you can go to the show office to see the judge’s score card sheet. This will give you insight into how your score was totaled and help you work on maneuvers at home or at the trainers.
