Western

An American
Original
 What is Western?
„ Includes all classes/divisions where the horse
wears a western style of saddle
„ Style was developed in order to make long
rides and cattle work easier on the rider
„ Has now been specialized to a point where it is
sometimes difficult to see where the cow
might have fit into the picture
Words to Describe Western
„ Controlled
„ Cadenced, Rhythmic

„ “Between the Reins”

Alice on Tony 1944

Tin Type

1895
 Breeds Common to the Western
Discipline
„ American Quarter Horse
„ American Paint Horse
„ Appaloosa
„ Arabian
„ Morgan
„ Saddlebred
„ Color breeds: Palomino, Buckskin, Pinto
 American Quarter Horse
(AQHA)

Sam Savitt 1962 Orren Mixer

American Paint Horse
(APHA)

Orren Mixer
Appaloosa (ApHC)

1950's, George Phippen

1981, Orren Mixer
Arabian

Top:
Foxfire Arabians

Left: Scottsdale 2007

Morgan

Lake Holiday Taboo

American Saddlebred
American Saddlebred
Palomino, Buckskin, Pinto
Buckskin vs. Dun
Buckskin vs. Dun

Right: Buckskin
Pinto vs.
Paint
 Terms to Know
„ Level Topline (ears to withers)
„ Rounded Topline
„ Loop in the Reins
„ Spur Stop
„ Deep Hocked
„ Flat Kneed
„ Slow Legged
„ Hooky Neck
Level Topline

Australian Quarter Horse Association web site

Rounded Topline
Rounded Topline
Very
Rounded
Topline
 Loop in the Reins

Above:
Alabama Amateur Quarter Horse Association
Above:
Bill Porcher Pleasure Horses
 Spur Stop
„ Applying spur pressure
to the sides of your
horse tells the horse to
stop
„ Rider does not pick up
on or shorten the reins

Right: Not a spur stop

Deep Hocked

www.silver-star-ranch.com

„ Horse brings his hind legs deep underneath his belly,

using his hind quarters to drive forward.
„ Each time a hind leg comes forward, the hock swings
deeply under the horse’s body.
From Breed Show Hunters Under Saddle by Melissa Sexton
 Deep Hocked
„ Dylan
„ "Dylan" is a very nice
western pleasure horse. He
would be ideal for a novice
or amateur rider. He is
super flat and deep
hocked. Dylan's sire is
Zippo Pine Chex. Priced at
10,500

„ SOLD
www.stevehoffmantrainingcenter.com
Flat Kneed (Stock Breeds)
Flat Kneed (Stock Breeds)

Purely Zip 'N Rock & Frankie Hart

Ima Cuervo Cowboy & Caitlin Ferguson

Slow Legged
„ A horse that carries himself in the
correct frame, utilizes his body and
his stride to the fullest.
„ Because he uses the full length of his
stride, rather than cutting it short with
unnecessary small choppy steps, his
stride is longer.
„ His movement is soft and fluid. His
legs almost appear to be in slow
motion .
„ It is much like the ice skater performing
to slow music.
„ From Breed Show Hunters Under Saddle by Melissa Sexton
 Got the Glow
„ 2006 Sorrel 14.3 hand AQHA
gelding. Money earner as a weanling
and yearling in the Ohio and
Pennsylvania Halter Futurities. This
gelding is a phenomenal mover! He is
just being started under saddle. He
has been hauled all over to shows, so
he is use to being primped, pampered,
clipped, bathed, hauled, shown,
etc... He has a gorgeous profile, flat
kneed, deep hocked, slow
legged and will make someone an
outstanding Western Pleasure
horse. His price will go up with
training. This gelding is the Real Deal!
....the natural ability is in his blood.

http://www.hornyakranch.com
Knees Not Flat
Hooky Neck (Arabian)
 Divisions
„ Open Classes are Divided into Jr. Horse (5 years and
under) and Sr. Horse (6 and over)
„ Novice Youth (limited number of points
accumulated)
„ Youth 13 and under and 14-18
„ Novice Amateur (limited number of points
accumulated) also called non-pro in some breeds
„ Amateur/non-pro
„ Sr. Amateur/Select/Elite (Riders usually 55 and over)
Classes (just a sample)
„ Western Pleasure
„ Working Cow Horse
„ Trail
„ Horsemanship
„ Showmanship
„ Reining
„ Cutting
„ Speed Events
Jan Larsen Performance Horses
„ Roping
„ Western Riding
 Specialization
„ The “All Around” horse is still dominant as the
youth horse or amateur horse—with most
competitors riding a huge variety of classes
competing for the all around title
„ Most horses are specialized only doing a few
compatible events (i.e. western riding and trail)
„ Stock horse halter competitors, hunt seat
horses, and reiners don’t even look like they
share the same breed