The last time I went to the Rockbridge Co Fair in VA, the open western pleasure class was half quarter horses and half saddlebreds. It looked like 2 different classes were in the ring at once.
With all the bling, rhinestones, and silver, I think they should really own it & call it Parade Pleasure (tapaderos optional).
I’ll bet it looked like two different classes! 
It does look like a parade class. Just something fun to do!
http://www.horsegirltv.com/equestrian/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/carson.jpg
This is an aside…
In this image how is Carson Kressley holding the flag? Is he just sitting the base of the pole on the saddle? Is there a type of flag holder that goes there in the middle by the pommel?
I’ve always seen flags held out from the ends stuck in holders on the stirrups.
Parade classes are still surviving at the ASB shows. But the horses are usually only parade horses. The ones I’ve seen cross enter are usually park type horses not the country western pleasure. I don’t have the cross entry chart handy, but I’m thinking that Country may not be allowed to cross over to Parade.
ETA: found it. It is allowed.
The last link for a group that Tiffani posted references my mare, who within a two week period ran barrels for the first time:
(yes, that’s a western side saddle on her);
Won the Colorado State ASB WP Championship, worked / cut cows for the first time ever, and went on trail rides in the high country.
Gave her lots to think about.
Having ridden parade, that is very different than WP. Just sayin.
Love your mare, CA ASB! Love that you are barrel racing sidesaddle on a Saddlebred. That’s so many buckets of awesome! My hat is off to you!!
Thanks, OneGrayPony. That mare is awesome! She’s everything I love about this breed and more. About the only thing she doesn’t like is flags. Doesn’t mind the horse next to her carrying one, but she won’t do it herself. Not. Going. To. Happen.
BTW, that first barrel run was a 28.5 … which isn’t bad. Isn’t great,either. But, it was her first (mine as well), and it was side saddle.
Here she is herding the cattle:
And this is what she looks like as a WP horse:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10444543_887175764643074_7176779475647075975_n.jpg?oh=b6714e1ee323282b2d3b600085e969d1&oe=54400033&gda=1413013643_ad680435b996e7ec1a70346cf6351b81
I agree that Saddlebred western pleasure and Parade classes are very different! Also in some areas of the country we have a class called Western Bridlepath that is like a step between Western Pleasure and Parade. In Western Bridlepath the gaits called for are an animated trot and canter, not a jog and lope as are called for in Western Pleasure. In Parade a Parade Walk and Parade Gait are called for (descriptions for these can be found in the Parade chapter of the USEF rulebook) and they do not lope/canter.
Love love love CA ASB!
I’m looking forward to playing. She seemed to be just fine with the change of tack so we’ll see where one goes from there. Where do you pick up all the amazing Parade tack? Gosh, that stuff is incredible! I’d like to just…ogle.
I have a Park horse that I am toying with the idea of showing Parade. The tack… sigh. So expensive. You can show Parade in regular western tack, but for me, it would have to be blindingly covered in silver, so a parade set might actually be cheaper LOL!
Most Parade sets are vintage. Usually there will be one or two on eBay. I think Dale Chavez will make you a new one. I’ve seen full sets (saddle with tapaderos, bridle, breastcollar, serape, hip drops) go for anywhere from upper four figures for German silver to mid five figures for sterling. A few were even made with gold. Some of the old ones have additional provenance and collectibility because they were owned by famous movie cowboys.
Our Parade equipment is definitely vintage…it was used when my parents bought it before I was born and I’m 46. Three generations of my family rode in it.
I’m late to the party but I have a western saddlebred too! We’ll be showing at the Shatner Finals in a few weeks. It’s just a blast, the horses are so much fun to show, and its so much fun to wear all the crazy fancy outfits!
There are plenty of western ASB’s out there looking grand in their western tack. The Shatner Finals were just held at the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show last week and that and the other numerous western classes at the show had a real nice turn out.
A Facebook group specifically for the western ASB in all shapes and forms was recently started; please feel free to join if you’d like.
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