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Welcome back to
Western Pleasure 101. This is the final article in the Western
Pleasure series and I’d like to thank Ride magazine, the readers,
Sandy Baldwin who has put my words into print and my clients who
have supported this project. These articles are for individuals who
are not able to put their horses in full training but who want to
get into Western pleasure and who want to try it on their own. At
any time throughout the training process when you are having
problems, you may want to have a trainer come to you or you may be
able to trailer in once a week to get help. There is nothing wrong
with getting help and that way you can stay within a your budget.
Equipment: If
you are going to buy equipment, buy good quality equipment. Today,
you can purchase a good quality saddle for around $1900 or $2700.
If you buy a saddle for $500 or $600 or $300, there is a reason. If
you buy a headstall for $19, you are not getting a quality piece of
equipment. A good quality headstall will cost anywhere from $80 to
$150 or even more. If you get a show saddle that is designed for
Western Pleasure there should be some silver on it and it will cost
more. The same is true for a headstall. You can spend $400 or $500
to get one with a lot of silver on it. For a show saddle with
silver you can spend from $3500 up to $8000.
The color of
equipment is starting to change. It used to be that light oil was
the big deal and now it is medium oil. That is acceptable in the
show ring and is beginning to be very popular.
The quality of
your reins is also important. A good quality, supple leather rein,
like a Herman Oak leather rein, will cost anywhere from $45 to $75.
Reins come in different widths, depending on the level of
sophistication. For example, with a snaffle bit, the reins are
wider. Reins used with a bridle (leverage bit) are usually narrow
(½ inch). The use of romel reins - braided rawhide - is also
acceptable in the show ring.
Fit of the
saddle for you and your horse is most important. Probably 90
percent of the people I see, are not using a saddle of the correct
size. If you are buying a saddle, always have the option of
returning it because it has to fit your horse and most likely your
horse is not with you when you are shopping. The top picture shows
a saddle fitting a horse that is the norm and what people are using
but it is too small for the rider and puts her in a poor position
with poor balance. It is the lack of understanding how a saddle
should fit. We don’t have space here to discuss the proper fit of a
saddle but a proper fit is a must. Proper fit of all your
equipment is a must. The equipment has to fit your horse and make
your horse comfortable. You don’t have to have a show saddle but
you want a saddle that is clean, oiled and looks nice on the horse.
Blankets: You
want a good quality blanket. You may use a pad with a Navajo
blanket on top of it for showing. A nice quality Navajo will cost
anywhere from $85 to $150. You can spend up to $400 but it is not
necessary. The blanket is just to showcase your horse and bring the
best out in the horse’s presentation. Good quality equipment is
always going to look good on your horse and a judge is going to see
how the blanket sets off your horse and makes your horse look good.
Dress: You
also want to coordinate what you wear. If you are in junior
classes, you can wear brighter colors, lime or pink or something
similar. In the adult classes you want enough bling or brightness
of color to showcase you and your horse to get the attention of the
judge. Something that is too loud will be offensive to the judge
and will detract from the horse and the judge will not be able to
see you as all he or she will focus on is the bright color. You
want to be somewhat conservative but at the same time you need a
little bit of zing to catch the judge’s eye. Image is not
everything, it is everything. It shouldn’t be
that way but when you enter an arena with 25 or 35 other riders and
your saddle and pad are not fitting properly, your pad is not
attractive, even though they are both clean, they are not going to
make a good impression on the judge. By the way, a saddle and pad
that don’t fit well can negatively influence how your horse
travels. Proper fit is very important.
It is important
how you look as well. You can be the best equitation rider in the
arena but if you are not presenting yourself well in colors that
compliment your horse or yourself, you will not present well. You
want to dress appropriately, with colors coordinating with your pad
and complimenting your horse.
Preparation:
Preparing your horse is important. The horse should be bathed and
brushed thoroughly, including the tail. It is not so much the style
or length of the mane that is important but that the mane is nicely
groomed and part of it is not rubbed out. If part of the mane is
rubbed out you should shorten it to be less noticeable and more
tasteful. You want to sit your horse in the proper position for
Western Pleasure. You want the horse to look like it is a pleasure
to ride and you want to have a presence so the audience and the
judge will know you are enjoying your ride.
Any time you
show it can and should be fun. One of the things I tell my clients
here at the ranch is have fun, have fun, have fun. I encourage my
clients to show because when you are at home at the ranch and you
are schooling your horse, the horse always seems to do well. But
when you are in a show ring for eight or ten minutes, and you are
being asked to perform in a specific way, on cue and on time, and
with other horses, which can be distracting, it really lets you know
where you are with the training of your horse. It doesn’t mean that
you get upset when you don’t do well, it just means that you go home
and work on the things that gave you trouble. As you progress your
horse will get better and better. Also, any time you have an
excuse, take your horse out and around to different horse shows, and
let him be exposed to different situations. The more you do that,
the better trained horse you will have and it will be more fun and a
real pleasure to ride.
When you finish
up a horse show, don’t be afraid to go up to the judge and introduce
yourself in a polite way and ask if he has any tips for you. Most
judges are more than willing to give you suggestions. There is a
time and place to do this. You don’t want to interrupt the judge in
the middle of doing something but find a time in between classes
when there is a lull. I have had clients of mine show and some
judges just don’t like them. I have a client who received high
point palomino for the year and who was invited to the world show
but there are some judges who were not placing her. Just because
you don’t place, you should not get discouraged. Some judges have
their own ideas on what a horse should look like. I have one client
who showed and the judge said the horse was homely. Two weeks later
she went to another show and the judge loved the horse. She not
only won Reserve Champion but she got blue ribbons in almost every
class she entered. What you are looking for is long term
improvement in your horsemanship skills and being a better teammate
with your horse.
As you get
better in the local shows and you are doing well, then you need to
set your standards a little higher and compete in regional shows.
In the two lower pictures, one client of mine has been doing quite
well in the local shows and is ready to go on to regional
competition. The second picture shows a client of mine who is more
on the regional and national level.
Everyone starts
at the local shows. They are often called schooling shows because
they are where you can learn to work with your horse in
competition. They are more casual and not quite as intense. As you
progress, it is good for you and your horse to raise the standard
and go for the bigger shows. Remember, Consistency, Patience,
Persistence, and Follow through. Never give up.
Good luck to
you and God Bless,
Charles
Wilhelm
Ride May 2009
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