Checking Out Western Riding Activities in VS .NET

Maker QR Code in VS .NET Checking Out Western Riding Activities

Western riding lends itself to a wide array of activities, and I describe a few of the most popular ones in the following sections This comfortable and secure discipline is a popular choice for beginning riders, who tend to find it easier to pick up than English This situation isn t surprising, because basic Western requires less physical stamina than English riding After all, the Western discipline was designed to be easy on the rider

Trail riding is probably the most popular use for the Western discipline The design of the Western saddle and the ease of the Western riding style lend themselves to long hours on horseback through the wilderness With longer stirrups that make the position easier on the knees and fenders that move freely with the rider s legs as the horse goes up and down hills, Western is a natural way of riding for those people who want to explore the countryside See Figure 6-2 for a photo of a rider enjoying the trail in a Western saddle Western trail riders typically wear helmets, like the one on the rider in the photo, or cowboy hats 21 has full details on trail riding

Shows are a popular activity among serious Western riders, who participate in a variety of events designed specifically for their discipline The breeds you see most often in Western shows are the Quarter Horse, Paint, and Appaloosa, although many Western events are open to all breeds Morgans, Arabians, and several other breeds have Western classes within their own single-breed shows Western classes at horse shows consist of events in which you can show off the Western horse at her best Take a look: Western pleasure classes: These classes illustrate the slow, smooth gaits and short strides of the Western horse (See Figure 6-3 for a photo of a Western pleasure horse and rider) Horse-and-rider teams that participate in Western pleasure are judged on the horse s smooth way of going and head carriage Horsemanship classes: Here, your Western horse illustrates her precision and obedience to nearly invisible cues from the rider Western equitation classes: These classes emphasize the rider s abilities

You don t have to ride to show Western Entrants in showmanship and halter classes handle their horses from the ground, showing them off to the judges: Showmanship: The handler is judged on how well he or she presents the horse to the judge This presentation involves moving the horse at the judge s direction Halter classes: In these classes, the horse is judged on how well she s physically put together The horse is compared to a breed standard, which is essentially a blueprint of the ideal horse of that breed Even though you don t use a Western saddle in showmanship and halter classes because no one rides the horses, Western-style show halters adorn the heads of horses in these classes and handlers dress in Western apparel Some shows also reveal the speed and heart of the Western horse Gymkhana, a general term for classes in which the horse is timed against a clock, consists of having horses race around poles or barrels Reining is another popular event with Western riders; it shows off the obedience and athletic ability of the Western horse Reiners perform a pattern in a show arena at a lope, illustrating such complicated maneuvers as sliding stops

(the horse keeps her back legs still as she slides to a stop), lead changes (the horse switches from leading with one front leg to another while loping), and rollbacks (the horse pivots on her hind end to change direction) For more information on shows, see 22