Ranch Riding

Ranch Riding is judged on the overall quality of movement, consistency of gaits, smooth transitions, and the appearance of a willing, functional ranch horse. Judges evaluate the horse’s ability to perform a prescribed pattern with correctness, balance, and cadence while maintaining a natural working ranch pace.

Desired qualities include forward motion without rushing, straight lines, accurate circles, prompt yet smooth transitions, correct leads, and a relaxed, attentive expression. The horse should appear suitable for long days of practical ranch work rather than a collected or exaggerated show style.

Faults such as loss of rhythm, inconsistent gait speed, inaccurate pattern placement, excessive cueing, resistance, head carriage outside the ideal ranch frame, or breaks of gait will lower scores.

Ranch Riding is scored using AQHA-based maneuver scoring, beginning with a base score of 70. Higher scores are earned through clean execution, consistent rhythm, minimal visible cueing, and confident first attempts. Degree of difficulty is rewarded only when performed correctly.

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The ideal Ranch Riding horse moves forward with a ground-covering, natural stride, maintaining consistent cadence at the walk, trot, and lope. Transitions should be prompt yet fluid, with no abrupt changes in balance or frame. Circles should be round and appropriately sized, straight lines truly straight, and lead changes smooth and controlled.

Overall, the ride should reflect a horse that is practical, efficient, and pleasant to ride, capable of performing real ranch work with ease and reliability.

SHW560.3 CREDITS AND PENALTIES.

Part of the evaluation of this class is on smoothness of transitions. A horse may be collected from the extended trot as the horse moves into the lope. The transition from the extended lope down to the trot is a transition to the seated trot not the extended trot. Therefore, an extra cue to achieve this gait is expected. Horses that complete this total transition within three strides calmly and obediently should be rewarded. Horses that attempt to stop or do stop prior to trotting will be penalized. Judges expect to see horses that have been trained to respond to cues. To see these cues applied discretely and the horse responding correctly could be a credit-earning situation. Maneuver evaluations and penalty applications are to be determined independently.

The following penalties will be applied to each occurrence and be deducted from the final score:

- 1 Point: Over-bridled (per maneuver); out of frame (per maneuver); too slow; break of gait at walk or trot for two (2) strides or less; wrong lead or out of lead for two (2) strides or less.

- 3 Point: Wrong lead or out of lead for more than two (2) strides; draped reins; break of gait at lope, except when correcting an incorrect lead; break of gait at walk or trot for more than two (2) strides; out of lead or cross-cantering more than two strides when changing leads; trotting more than three strides when making a simple lead change; trotting for more than three (3) strides in lope departures or when exiting a rollback.

- 5 Point: Spurring in front of cinch; blatant disobedience; use of either hand to instill fear.

- Off-Pattern (OP): Repeated blatant disobedience; breaking pattern; incomplete maneuver; eliminating or adding maneuvers; use of two hands (except junior and Level 1 horses shown in a snaffle bit/hackamore); more than one finger between split reins or any fingers between romal reins (except in the two-rein). Exhibitors cannot place above others who complete pattern correctly.

- Disqualification (DQ): Lameness; abuse; illegal equipment; disrespect or misconduct; leaving working area before pattern is complete; improper western attire; fall of horse/rider; out of control, dangerous, or excessive schooling.