Sr Western pleasure AQHA WORLD SHOW 2008

kfhoz Says:

Sep 2, 2009 - Wow. I was out of horses for about 10 years. What a shock to see what things have degenerated to. Who, horse or rider, would find it a "pleasure" to go for a ride like that?

SlowLopinFool Says:

Sep 2, 2009 - 01vallygirl, i want to mark your comment up 1432 times. :P 100% true

ponahs Says:

Sep 2, 2009 - Welll....this ISN'T dressage. This is a totally different discipline.

iroxalldatime Says:

Sep 2, 2009 - wtf is this shit i hope to the good lord in heaven this isn't considered a discipline its because of stupid pointless shit like this that people say riding isn't a sport. we must end this, people!

4evergus Says:

Sep 3, 2009 - It continues to amaze me that some are applying the rules of other disciplines to this. The horses energy is redirected upwards in western pleasure but not the legs (the horses are bred to be flat kneed, we don't want the legs to go up, just the shoulders, belly, and back). And natural, yes--good ones just need fine tuned, just like good dressage horses may not do piaffe and passage from birth but the ability is there given the quality of their gaits and self-carriage.

4evergus Says:

Sep 3, 2009 - Still don't get it. Watch a video of a beginner or lower level western pleasure class and horses legs are paddling and often the horse is all strung out and hollow backed, even if they may be slow (not covering much ground). Collection is missing. At higher levels, the backs round, the legs slow, shoulders lift and hocks drive. That, in western pleasure, is collection. Still don't get it, go ride a good one. If you know what collection feels like you'll note its there right away.

4evergus Says:

Sep 3, 2009 - Please come to our barn any morning and watch the horses--over half do exactly what you see here on their own, at liberty, maybe slightly more forward at the lope, but the jog is nearly identical. The only exception is the all-around horses, who often do huntseat as well and prefer to long-trot versus jog when loose.

KadajsKatana8902 Says:

Sep 4, 2009 - It's pleasure riding, if people want to see sport riding they should look it up.

DoubleDogDare54 Says:

Sep 8, 2009 - Okay, I started showing dogs in '72 and this certainly isn't the same thing - by a long shot. Couple of quick questions and comments: Why the limp right arms on the riders? How do you train the horses to not swish their tails? Why do the horses carry the head down on level with its knees? Just wondering because we feel any dog that doesn't have the pride to carry its head up isn't worth a d@mn. For a "pleasure" class, neither horse or rider look like they are enjoying it at all.

mrn1224 Says:

Sep 12, 2009 - The right arm is supposed to be loose because the rider may only use one hand is western. You can't train a horse not to swish their tails but you can use weighted tail extentions to prevent it. Most don't need it though. Have a head level rounds the back and body, thus helping them move slow. In rail classes, a horse must have a level head... this is not dressage. By pleasure, the mean how easy the horse rider move and the knowledge of the horse.

Redhedhorse Says:

Sep 13, 2009 - awesome class. nice horses :)

FergusonQH Says:

Sep 15, 2009 - try riding your dressage horse brideless. theres no way it could do a pattern. but my pleasure horse can. AND without spurs.

myponiesrule123 Says:

Sep 25, 2009 - shutup!

myponiesrule123 Says:

Sep 25, 2009 - i dont ride western, never have and never even touched a western saddle or a quater horse.... but somehow, i feel reall yattracted to it! im so interested! but im so experienced and goo dat eventing and english that iu could never go back........ im training my pony to neck-rein and do barrels (well, tyres on the floor) and shes really good at it... can someone tell me, on average a second hand synthetic 15inch western saddle would be...... maybe from somewhere like... online?!

lindcj Says:

Sep 27, 2009 - I agree...they all look lame at the lope.

captainmorgan8101 Says:

Oct 1, 2009 - you can get used western saddles for pretty cheap 500 or 300 for nicly used ones. i would go with leather though not synthetic just works better for the whole western thing and you will fing more. im in your situation but i ride western and want to do english sooo sooo badly

captainmorgan8101 Says:

Oct 1, 2009 - its a relaxed thing. its not about the horse having pride its about it being calm. when horses are calm they carry their heads low. When they are frightened or being wild they carry their heads high. the arms arent really limp they are just to the side to show your horse is under control and you dont need to hold him tight with two.

myponiesrule123 Says:

Oct 2, 2009 - oh no i just wanted a little western to hack in and have a bitt of fun at home, im not starting it seriously.... my mum wants me to concentrate on my dressage for eveting, i mean, fair enough, i love eventing but i thought western may be fun for my lil pony! :)

SlowLopinFool Says:

Oct 22, 2009 - i dont think you guys are getting the conecpt of pleasure. :P it is supposed to appear as if you are sitting there, like you could fall asleep, and and horse is going happily and smoothly under you.

Vlisady Says:

Oct 23, 2009 - WP HATERS: any horse can run around with its head high, strung out, running fast like a maniac...but it takes REAL TALENT to go slow and collected like this. these horses are naturals at this. WP trainers are not manipulating them...they're doing what they're made to do! quit critizing them for what they're best at. WP horses are some of the most amazing, smart, willing horses out there. If you dont happen to like it, pick a different dicipline instread of talking bull about someone elses...

SlowLopinFool Says:

Oct 26, 2009 - true dat!

PureAssets Says:

Oct 26, 2009 - Umm have you ever ridden a western pleasure horse? Cause this is all about collection! Yes this is collection of enrgy into a smaller space. The horses roll up to be able to look good and go slower.

wifto Says:

Oct 27, 2009 - all i have to say is that it's ridiculous to compare a WP quarter horse to any other breed of horse and its style. in a dog show, would you compare the conformation and movement of a germen shepherd to a bulldog? no.

1horse1crazy1 Says:

Oct 29, 2009 - Gosh it takes alot of talent to lope that slow and i know it is completly humane but they really look like they are mortally wounded

The4hcowgirl Says:

Nov 1, 2009 - i do wp..but i only do the really slow lope on my mule hobo..but jasper my 4 yr old i do at normal speed..its more of a canter on jasper..