AQHA Neck Testing at Horse Shows?

[endlessclimb]

Really. Look at the horses, the scores, the history.

The horses that can “do it” in reining are often not spectacular enough to win. Or maybe, they’re too unsound to stop and spin that hard anymore, whatever. You can see their reining scores were never good enough, or start falling. Then bam, into the ranch classes they go, because they are less demanding.

I find the ranch classes are placing horses with headsets etc. Exactly what they said they wouldn’t do.

I see this stuff first hand because I “give lessons” to a girl who shows in these classes. We work on general riding stuff - her horse is dull so we are constantly sharpening him up; he was also gate sour which caused a ton of problems to start with. Lately, working on lead changes (only took a year for her to be ready to even ask for them) - she spent the entire last show season doing the simple change which I’m sure impacted her placings. Started out a year ago with no chance of getting them, got 3 clean ones each way last Wednesday.

[2DogsFarm]

When you unwad your panties, go upthread & read what was already posted re: Ranch classes & those riding in them < NOT by me.
I was informed - supposedly by One Who Knows that Ranch horses are not capable of the WP or Reining performance.

[trubandloki]

@2DogsFarm

I was informed - supposedly by One Who Knows that Ranch horses are not capable of the WP or Reining performance.

I would assume that the people doing Ranch riding actually do not want their horses to go like a WP horse so that is part of the reason they are not capable of it, they are not bred to do it, they are not trained to do it, etc.

[Thunderkiss]

There are only checking necks in the pleasure which is stupid considering trail and reining have the problem too. Injecting necks is common unfortunately. I have Quarter Horses in training with trainers who don’t do this and they do well but the abusers win more often than not at the biggest shows.

[NoSuchPerson]

@2DogsFarm

I was informed - supposedly by One Who Knows that Ranch horses are not capable of the WP or Reining performance.

When it’s phrased like that, it sounds highly derogatory. It sounds like the person values WP and reining much higher than Ranch horses and thinks Ranch horses must be failed WP horses or failed reiners because why else would you show a horse in Ranch riding?

That is a highly inaccurate and biased version of the story. It’s like saying driving horses are only put in harness because they are not capable of showing under saddle. Or horses are being shown as hunters simply because they aren’t capable of being dressage horses or jumpers.

If Ranch riding is your chosen discipline (and it would be mine if I was in that world), then you would chose a horse that is likely to excel in that area. I wouldn’t expect the horse to also excel in WP because the ideal and demands are different. But that’s an entirely different thing than saying, “Oh, this horse is only being shown in Ranch riding because it’s incapable of doing WP.”

[endlessclimb]

The reality is this class was created because so many horses can’t successfully compete in WP or reining. People want ribbons, not to get their ass handed to them every show.

What else would you like to call them? Look at their bloodlines and tell me what they’re bred to be.

[spotnnotfarm]

Please stop. You keep showing you have no idea what you are talking about. No, a horse showing in ranch horse would be a terrible WP horse and vice versa. They are in no way shape or form the same discipline. It does not mean the ranch horse is not good enough, it is just a different discipline, way of moving etc… It is actually, the way a horse should move. As to your second point, many people that show in ranch horse buy reiners because they are broke to death. They are pretty overs and cross over well. In fact, many show in both so the horse is not always running and stopping hard.

Several high dollar reiners/cowhorses have been sold as ranch riders. The ranch riders love them! Also, just because the horse is a reiner does not mean the rider wants to show in reining. There maybe more AQHA shows in their area, lack of trainers, or just likes ranch better. They buy super nice horses and do well. I am unsure why you continue to think the ranch riders are subpar horses…

Edited to add…my horse is a cowhorse. He is an open cowhorse that was also shown as a ranch rider. He made the open world show finals every time he entered in the open ranch riding. He also made the finals in open cowhorse among some of the well known cowhorses. When he was for sale, he was marketed both ways. Oh, he also has money earned in NRHA and I am working on NCHA. However, since he is so good in ranch riding, he must be a reject

[NoSuchPerson]

@endlessclimb

The reality is this class was created because so many horses can’t successfully compete in WP or reining.

No. Ranch riding evolved out of the desire for something different from a group of AQHA members who were increasingly dismayed at the direction AQHA shows (and especially WP) were going.

I can’t believe you people. Versatility Ranch competition consists of 6 different classes: ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch reining, ranch cow work, ranch cutting and ranch conformation. In order to be eligible for all-around award at the shows, you must compete in a minimum of three categories – at least one cattle class, conformation, and at least one additional class. And yet, you’re sneeringly dismissing these horses as being just a bunch of WP and reining wanna be rejects.

[endlessclimb]

I never said they were sub par, IN RANCH HORSE CLASSES. What a great big giant portion of them are are culls from other AQHA sports. There is no doubt that ranch horse classes are easier on the horse - full stop.

[enjoytheride]

@endlessclimb

I never said they were sub par, IN RANCH HORSE CLASSES. What a great big giant portion of them are are culls from other AQHA sports. There is no doubt that ranch horse classes are easier on the horse - full stop.

You literally said the only reason the class was created was because people wanted ribbons. Suggesting that ranch horses are “culls” is really insulting and not true. Not every AQHA is bred to do WP or halter.

[NoSuchPerson]

@endlessclimb

I never said they were sub par, IN RANCH HORSE CLASSES. What a great big giant portion of them are are culls from other AQHA sports. There is no doubt that ranch horse classes are easier on the horse - full stop.

Don’t you claim to be an eventer? What you’re saying about ranch horses is the same as saying eventing horses are used for eventing because they aren’t capable of winning at dressage shows or in real jumping. It’s like saying “Yeah, a giant portion of eventers are culls from other English disciplines.” I mean, if those horses could win ribbons in dressage or in show jumping, they would be doing that, but since they’re really sub par for those more valuable and prestigious disciplines, they move down to eventing.

[spotnnotfarm]

What I am trying to explain, is that they are not culls……you seem to have a problem accepting this. I have no clue why…

[endlessclimb]

Well that’s exactly what the low low level hunters are.

Again, look at the results, look at the bloodlines. It’s right there, plain as day - my opinion is not needed.

[spotnnotfarm]

The results show, these horses are shown everywhere. Not in WP but that is such a bastardization of how horses move anyway. Most ranch riders can easily cross over into every other discipline. I really don’t know why you have such a problem with this

[enjoytheride]

@endlessclimb

Well that’s exactly what the low low level hunters are.

Again, look at the results, look at the bloodlines. It’s right there, plain as day - my opinion is not needed.

Oh, so now low level hunters are culls too. Even better. Nobody but you is saying that low level hunters and ranch horses are culls. It is your opinion.

[endlessclimb]

I don’t have a problem with it, but I’m not pussy footing around with what and why the ‘division’ was created. What to do with a huge pool of horses and riders who are not competitive in existing sports? Make one that caters to them. $$$ for aqha, ribbon and ‘success’ for the horses and riders.

Good for them! It doesn’t change that a rather large chunk of the horses started in professional reining training, or cow whatever, then get kicked to ranch when they won’t cut it in the initial discipline.

[endlessclimb]

Low being 2’6" and below. Yes. They’re almost all stepping down, and going around quietly and jumping from anywhere is priority #1.

Again, not my opinion.

[Bluey]

@endlessclimb

I don’t have a problem with it, but I’m not pussy footing around with what and why the ‘division’ was created. What to do with a huge pool of horses and riders who are not competitive in existing sports? Make one that caters to them. $$$ for aqha, ribbon and ‘success’ for the horses and riders.

Good for them! It doesn’t change that a rather large chunk of the horses started in professional reining training, or cow whatever, then get kicked to ranch when they won’t cut it in the initial discipline.

Except that statement is wrong, “reining or cow horse trained horses” are not “kicked to ranch”?
Don’t know why keep stating that, when obviously is not true, as most everyone else is trying to explain?

Read ads for reining horses, the ones with the right kind of movement for ranch classes are sold as dual horses, they can be successful at both, reining and ranch, they are not at all reining culls but enhanced their value being talented for both disciplines.

Ranch classes started because exhibitors kept asking for some ranch type classes, so they could show in more kinds of classes, after such shows not AQHA like SHOT were attracting so many entries.

[NaturallyHappy]

I guess I’d add…what about people who find a horse they really like and don’t ride well enough or are brave enough (say jump 4’) to do what that horse is capable of and do a lower division so they can buy the horse they love and do what they feel safe doing?

[spotnnotfarm]

Some of them yes. However not the majority. They cross over because they are very very versatile. By you saying cow whatever just shows you are uneducated in this area. It would be like me talking about difference between a venting, dressage, jumpers and hunters. I will not get into that debate because I have no great experience there.

![image|690x458]

(upload://osCWvRtM12iiYRDedy2jT9IRqiL.jpeg)

This is my horse showing in cutting, raining, cow horse, and ranch riding. As I stated before, he has multiple top ten placings at the a AQHA world show in ranch riding. When he was offered for sale, he was marketed as pretty much a four event horse. Someone could’ve bought him and just taken him into the ranch riding pen. This does not mean he was a cull. He has over $25,000 in earnings between all disciplines and is not done yet. People like to show in what they want to show him. They also like really nice, well breed, horses. Also, the class was not developed because people were not “good enough” it was interest and people converting to ranch type shows. There was also a huge outcry on the movement of WP horses.