Less common western events

[Rusty15]

if you want to skip the background info, go ahead to paragraph 3 I’d like to eventually compete with my horse because its always been a goal of mine. Nothing crazy, just local to regional level. The problem is nothing has appealed to me that much. I’ve ridden for 17 years and taken lessons from professionals in several disciplines including Hunter/jumper, dressage, barrel racing, and western pleasure/reining. This made me well rounded as a rider, but I only picked up small bits and pieces of these specific disciplines. My horse is 8 and also has the basics but has never competed or really been pushed in one direction.

I don’t currently have access to any trainers but I may be moving in the next few months so who knows what opportunities will arise but like I mentioned I am a pretty well rounded rider and my horse is the most trainable horse I’ve worked with. I don’t have much interest in most mire “traditional” western disciplines but it seems new ones crop more and more frequently so maybe there’s something I don’t know about.

I have no access to cattle, nor do my horse or i have any experience with them. I am not much for going to fast, but have had a lot of fun loping through the barrel pattern. I also do not have any interest in western pleasure or similar classes that require a HUGE investment in show tack and attire. I also don’t think my horse shows any aptitude for such slow gaits and low headset.

[Fillabeana]

Take a look at Working Equitation.

Looks like fun to me, anyway.

[ChestnutArabianMare]

What about western dressage?

[imaginique]

Trail challenges. I don’t know what they are officially called but there is a trail set up with natural obstacles. Team penning, but you’d need cattle to practice.

Trail challenges. I don’t know what they are officially called but there is a trail system set up with natural obstacles.
Team penning, but you’d need cattle to practice

[js]

Trail Classes
Ranch Horse classes (not sure if these involve cattle or not) but I think they have something similar to pleasure classes etc.
Halter, Showmanship at Halter

[kelo]

Have you tried ranch riding?

It is not SUPER fast paced, but challenging, with lots of transitions and requiring good horsemanship, the horses move naturally, it is a pattern class that changes so you’re not just bored on the rail, and specifically bans that sparkly tack nonsense. It’s quite popular at breed shows, and most open shows are adopting it too.

This is a AQHA World Show run: https://youtu.be/8jHditbPrwE

This is a winning Level 1 run: https://youtu.be/RwCfN0oJi3g

[saddleup]

I love the ranch classes. The videos show how the classes look, but may not show that the people/exhibitors are a fun group. There’s a reason these are growing so fast. You don’t need fancy anything…working tack, normal riding clothes, no bling. Everyone cheers for each other, and my horses seem to enjoy it, too. I show in the ranch riding and ranch trail classes at Paint shows. They’re also starting to offer ranch reining and ranch pleasure (not to be confused with western pleasure which is an entirely different thing).

I used to do the all-around classes, but much prefer the ranch events. It doesn’t include working with cows, by the way, but there very well may be cows in the arena in a pen or trailer, just to spice things up for you and your horse.

[Rusty15]

I should also mention that I do board so I have very limited ability to build and set up any practice obstacles for trail classes. At my current barn I do have a bridge, rope gate, and some poles but I’m not sure what I’ll have if we move. As far as the ranch classes having cattle, I doubt that will be an issue.

[KBC]

@ChestnutArabianMare

What about western dressage?

Gets my vote! Up here very friendly and supportive bunch, you can choose your level, no fancy tack or clothing needed, smart and workmanlike (or do I have to say workpersonlike) is all that is needed.

[Training_Cupid]

Extreme cowboy race! Though you do need obstacles to practice with.

I just did my first hunter pace, and they had a non-jumping class that you could do in a western saddle. This just involved trotting in a field type setting trying to get closest to the optimal time.

What about a drill team?

[js]

If you have fun loping the barrel pattern you can barrel race, just aim for the 5D-6D level, I think its the slowest. You don’t win much of anything but it’s a slower pace.

[imaginique]

I just thought of another one. Cowboy Mounted Shooting.It looks like fun! I just saw a segment on it on Ride TV. Web page to search for local clubs is cowboymountedshooting.com

[beau159]

@js

If you have fun loping the barrel pattern you can barrel race, just aim for the 5D-6D level, I think its the slowest. You don’t win much of anything but it’s a slower pace.

Most barrel races only go to 4D. Meaning that if the winner is 15.25 seconds, then the 2D begins at 15.72 second, the 3D at 16.25 seconds, and the 4D at 16.72 seconds (unless the race happens to have a full second split for the 4D … not as common … then the 4D would begin at 17.25 seconds).

There are a few 5D races, but they are not common.

I’ve never seen a 6D.

If the OP prefer to lope through the pattern (nothing wrong with that) it might be best to do barrels at local open horse shows that have both showing and gaming events as those tend to be less competitive than a jackpot.

[Rusty15]

@imaginique

I just thought of another one. Cowboy Mounted Shooting.It looks like fun! I just saw a segment on it on Ride TV. Web page to search for local clubs is cowboymountedshooting.com

I have been to a MS clinic with him! He’s pretty much a natural when it comes to being shot off and I’m very comfortable with guns so I did enjoy it. My current barn has weekly practice shoots as well as several competitions, so that is a valid option. The only problem is the expense of guns and equipment you need to get started. If I can get past that it might be a good sport for us.

[SuckerForHorses]

@beau159

Most barrel races only go to 4D. Meaning that if the winner is 15.25 seconds, then the 2D begins at 15.72 second, the 3D at 16.25 seconds, and the 4D at 16.72 seconds (unless the race happens to have a full second split for the 4D … not as common … then the 4D would begin at 17.25 seconds).

There are a few 5D races, but they are not common.

I’ve never seen a 6D.

If the OP prefer to lope through the pattern (nothing wrong with that) it might be best to do barrels at local open horse shows that have both showing and gaming events as those tend to be less competitive than a jackpot.

Agree with Beau. The NBHA at one of the New Hampshire districts runs to 5D, but I’ve never seen a 6D anywhere.

I don’t have access to cows to practice on either, but we participated in a cattle sorting clinic to see how my horse would respond to cattle (she acted like an old pro even though she’s never worked cows before, Arab mare, love her!) Anywho, after we knew she was fine with the cows, a friend and I just this past weekend went to, and participated in, an actual team sorting competition, and really didn’t do too bad! A few of the regular riders had no-times while we were able to sort at least 3 cows, which in my opinion, is pretty darn good for our first time out.

So as far as cows go, I wouldn’t let not having cows to practice on hold you back - if you can attend a clinic to get your horse’s first initial response to cows, after that you can venture out to places on your own. I don’t practice on cows at home either.

And the sorting was SO MUCH FUN!

[Mukluk]

My girl is english but we love trail classes, team sorting, and trail trials. And any logs in the pathway are fun to jump!!! I think she might enjoy barrel racing if the distances between barrels were a whole lot longer

[Luseride]

@imaginique

I just thought of another one. Cowboy Mounted Shooting.It looks like fun! I just saw a segment on it on Ride TV. Web page to search for local clubs is cowboymountedshooting.com

We used to do that. It is a lot of fun!