Ranch Pleasure/Ranch Riding

[paulaedwina]

Fella (standardbred/percheron gelding) and I went Western about 6 or 7 months ago when I cured his behind-the-leg purely by accident by trying out a friend’s Tex Tan flex tree in the hopes of trying some Western Dressage. Saddle fit can be a real challenge with draft crosses when you’re dealing with short curvy backs, high withers, and linebacker shoulders. Apparently more easily cured with a Western tree than an English tree. So we went Western.

It’s changed us a great deal and this past season we tried a little Ranch Pleasure and loved the heck out of it. Last week I was schooling in the corn field and it really firmed up what I’ve been playing with. And I already belong to a barn that’s mostly rodeo so I’ve been turning barrels, bending poles, and running plugs for a little bit. We even have cattle! I love dressage and have been pursuing Western Dressage, but …I think I might like RP more :eek:

Letting my bias show, but RP/RR seems to be measuring real utility in the horse as opposed to being a sport in its own right. An RP horse still works -see what I mean? I do believe I’m taking a big swig of the Koolaid :lol:

I think I’d like Fella to be an RP horse with whom I also compete in WD as opposed to a WD horse with whom I complete in RP. Do you see the distinction?

Anyway to that end I have a couple of questions.

I’ve heard the AQHA is going to start to require back cinches for RP/RR. I don’t think my Bighorn has the fixtures for a back cinch. That would be a second buckle thing towards the back of the saddle right? Can that be fixed?

Second; Do you need to have a Quarterhorse in order to get AQHA membership so that you can compete in AQHA amateur events? I went to their website to see if I could answer that question for myself, but I’m challenged to find their rule book.

Paula

[Pocket_Pony]

I can’t answer any of the rules questions, but just want to say it sounds like fun! The most fun I think I’ve had with any of my horses any time, anywhere, is doing cow work. Mind you, I’m a total novice at it, and certainly couldn’t throw a rope to save my life, but just moving cows or sorting cows is for some reason one of the funnest things ever!

Glad you and Fella are doing well and enjoying yourselves!

[saddleup]

I haven’t heard about the back cinch requirement. I do know that you have to be on a registered QH to show in an approved QH show. Same with Paints. They are for registered horses. There are other associations that are event specific not breed specific. In my area they are few and far between so it’s a challenge to find competitions away from the breed shows.

[NoSuchPerson]

[QUOTE=paulaedwina;8395390]
Second; Do you need to have a Quarterhorse in order to get AQHA membership so that you can compete in AQHA amateur events? [/QUOTE]

Yes. AQHA is a breed organization, so to participate in their shows, you have to be riding a registered QH.

You will need to look into something like the American Ranch Horse Association if you’re looking for an organization to belong to and compete under. There seem to be quite a few different associations out there like that one. Google “ranch horse competitions” and you’ll turn up quite a few.

The other alternative would be to seek out open shows with ranch horse pleasure classes.

Or, just buck the system and take your ranch horse pleasure-moving horse in western pleasure classes at open shows. You might start a new trend - and wouldn’t that be nice.

[kelo]

[QUOTE=paulaedwina;8395390]
I’ve heard the AQHA is going to start to require back cinches for RP/RR. I don’t think my Bighorn has the fixtures for a back cinch. That would be a second buckle thing towards the back of the saddle right? Can that be fixed?

Second; Do you need to have a Quarterhorse in order to get AQHA membership so that you can compete in AQHA amateur events? I went to their website to see if I could answer that question for myself, but I’m challenged to find their rule book.

Paula[/QUOTE]

So glad you’re enjoying RR, it’s a great class (IMHO)!

1. The rule states “It is suggested competitors use a breast collar and a rear cinch.” So it’s not required. The rear cinch is, well, the one in the back, and is connected to the front cinch with a hobble. http://s114.photobucket.com/user/westernrider81/media/backcinch.jpg.html I keeps the saddle steady and distributes pressure while roping. You can find the rulebook at https://aqha.com/handbook

2. Yes you have to have a registered QH to compete at AQHA shows or Versatility Ranch Horse events. So it would be best to look for open shows, or American Ranch Horse Assc (http://www.americanranchhorse.net/) or American Stock Horse Assc (http://www.americanstockhorse.org/) or Stock Horse of TX, aka SHOT (http://www.stockhorsetexas.org/) depending on where you live.

[paulaedwina]

Thank you so much! You guys are chock full of information as usual!

I had seen RP but didn’t think I had the skills to compete -not having an extended lope versus a working lope for example. Then I went to a fun day at Double Rock farm in Thurmont and the organizer encouraged me to try it anyway -what’s the harm. So I did jog/extended jog where I was supposed to lope so of course I didn’t place, but it was AWESOME! And then at our club CCWC I competed again and got the lope and the extended lope and got second! It was so cool. And as I said, it emphasizes working ranch gaits so it was really neat.

Lately I’ve been riding out a great deal. Our farm has cows and I got to “push” some cattle on the hack trail (they were going in the same direction we were on the trail and when we went fast they went fast ) and we’ve been doing some conditioning rides that have made us both quite confident. So more and more I think I’m channeling “ranch horse” with my draft cross :lol: Heck I’ve even figured out how to open a gate (not yet how to close it behind me though).

Paula

[Montanas_Girl]

[QUOTE=kelo;8395702]
Yes you have to have a registered QH to compete at AQHA shows or Versatility Ranch Horse events. So it would be best to look for open shows, or American Ranch Horse Assc (http://www.americanranchhorse.net/) or American Stock Horse Assc (http://www.americanstockhorse.org/) or Stock Horse of TX, aka SHOT (http://www.stockhorsetexas.org/) depending on where you live.[/QUOTE]

ARHA events are only open to AQHA/APHA/ApHC/etc. horses. Stock Horse shows are much more welcoming to horses of all breeds and types.

[kelo]

[QUOTE=Montanas_Girl;8396443]
ARHA events are only open to AQHA/APHA/ApHC/etc. horses.[/QUOTE]

Oops, my bad. Thanks, Montanas_Girl.

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=Montanas_Girl;8396443]
ARHA events are only open to AQHA/APHA/ApHC/etc. horses. Stock Horse shows are much more welcoming to horses of all breeds and types.[/QUOTE]

Here’s the list:

3.The following breed associations are accepted for permanent ARHA
Certificate Of Eligibility. A copy of horses breed association papers must
accompany registration application. Accepted breed associations are:
a) AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association)
b) APHA (American Paint Horse Association)
c) ApHC (Appaloosa Horse Club)
d) IBHA (International Buckskin Horse Registry-stock/quarter type)
e) PBHA (Palomino Breeders Horse Association-stock/quarter type)
f) PtHA (Pinto Horse Association-stock/quarter type)
g) ABRA (American Buckskin Registry Assn.– stock/quarter type)
h) NQHR (National Quarter Horse Registry).

If your horse is a cool color you may be able to have him registered with Palomino or Buckskin. They will hardship register geldings as long as they meet the color requirements.

I was super bummed to see that I couldn’t compete on my mare, she is a Sugarbush Draft, not an accepted breed. I would have loved to have tried one of their shows.

[x]

As far as a flank cinch on your saddle; if it has a ring along the skirt behind where your regular girth is, or if it has a slot in the skirt behind where your regular girth is you can add a flank cinch.

[RanchRider]

@paulaedwina;8395390

Anyway to that end I have a couple of questions.

I’ve heard the AQHA is going to start to require back cinches for RP/RR. I don’t think my Bighorn has the fixtures for a back cinch. That would be a second buckle thing towards the back of the saddle right? Can that be fixed?

Its not required but preferred.

[QUOTE=paulaedwina;8395390]
Second; Do you need to have a Quarterhorse in order to get AQHA membership so that you can compete in AQHA amateur events? I went to their website to see if I could answer that question for myself, but I’m challenged to find their rule book.[/QUOTE]

And yes, The AQHA is the American Quarter Horse Association and you are required to have a registered Quarter Horse.

Here is the rulebook. Select the link that says “Shows” and then search with Ctrl+F5 for “Ranch Riding”

I may be wrong but I suspect your are on the AQHA Ranch Riding group on Facebook? I think you have a little spat with a thread that I had posted about the type of horse in the class?

[paulaedwina]

Haha, yes that’s me. I was saying in another thread that I was suffering from PTDSD -Post Traumatic Dressage Stress Disorder -and completely misread the post as saying that non QHs were incapable of doing RR because I’d been in that kind of discussion in dressage before.

Paula