Speed Pleasure

Speed Pleasure
I have a few questions about western pleasure!?

Are you aloud to use voice commands?
Do you have to cut your horses tail and mane?
Hoe should you have your hair done?
Does presentation count?
It there a minimum speed you have to go?
Is is ok if your horse calls out in an event?
What are the main things you need to know for western pleasure?
How do you get judged?

Are you aloud to use voice commands?
Since it’s a rail class, no one will be able to hear you unless you’re shouting at your horse, so yes, go ahead. The problem I’ve had with voice commands in pleasure classes is that anyone riding near you (passing you, etc.) may use them, too, and it can confuse your horse–so be aware of that.

Do you have to cut your horses tail and mane?
it’s traditional for your horse to have a shortened mane (just a few inches), which should be banded at nicer shows. At bigger shows, most people will use a fake tail (assuming you’re showing a stock type horse) and the end is blunt cut (straight across), but you don’t cut the tail short.

Hoe should you have your hair done?
Either in a neat ponytail or under your hat. It doesn’t have to be completely contained like it would be in an English class or HMS class, but it needs to be neat.

Does presentation count?
Yes, to an extent. If you look sloppy and are dressed to go on a trail ride or to a rodeo, you don’t give the impression that you know what you’re doing. Show tack won’t actually be given more credit then clean working tack, but you do need to look polished and professional.

It there a minimum speed you have to go?
No. Contrary to popular belief (and what a lot of people here will tell you, especially those who don’t actually do WP), it is not the slowest horse who wins it every time. WP horses do generally go slow, but the quality of movement is more important than the speed. If your horse is lapping everyone, he’s probably not going to win anything, but he doesn’t have to be the slowest. Don’t sacrifice his movement to make him the slowest horse out there.

Is is ok if your horse calls out in an event?
A horse who is constantly whinnying tells the judge that it’s impatient and not quiet, which is the opposite of a horse you want in a WP class, so yes, it would be a problem. Your horse should be totally focused on his job.

What are the main things you need to know for western pleasure? Learn how to sit up and ride and how to make it look easy without pulling or kicking–your cues should be invisible and your horse should work on a loose rein, without any contact. Know how to steer and control your horse in a group (while passing others, being passed, riding behind someone, with someone on your tail, etc.) and how to maintain your rhythm.

How do you get judged? Your horse is judged on the quality of his walk, jog, and lope. That includes his actual movement (should have a definite 4 beat walk, two beat jog, and 3 beat lope; he should work off his hind end and be collected), his carriage (low and level, not high headed or arched neck), and his temperament (should move quietly and in a relaxed manner on a loose rein, not anxious, spooky, or irritable).

One of my favorite WP horses is Ona Good Impulse…I believe she won the 2008 Select World and the 2009 Senior WP at the World…not positive. Look her up on youtube–that is a fantastic example of a WP horse. You’ll notice she also has a long mane–it isn’t traditional, but it works because she’s such a High Quality horse. I wouldn’t recommend it on a lower level horse, because you want to fit in as much as possible until you know that every little detail is the best there is–in which case it’s okay to stand out.