I am 3rd level dressage rider but board at a western barn with the best people, I’m thinking about joining them at shows, with a ranch horse. I just cant do the western pleasure or the bling…although I love to look at it.
2 Likes
From what I know Ranch riding has no bling. Just western shirt, jeans ( chaps optional) boots and the saddles aren’t fancy. Looks like fun.
I have only seen local classes, but at least the horses aren’t crammed into that godawful Looks Lame WP frame.
There’s also Western Dressage.
2 Likes
I switched from Barrels to Ranch! They are holding a Championship show at WEC Ocala beginning of Sept. that I’m going to so I can soak it all up.
Watch Ranch classes on youtube and check out the rule book on the ARHA website.
No silver on your tack ,VERY minimal bling if you do it. (I don’t think bling is allowed at all in the upper levels)
1 Like
Former Pony Clubber and dressage rider here. Now I ride in our local Ranch classes. I started by sliding into western dressage when I had a Paint horse who fit that mold better. (Rode him regular dressage first.) It’s now been probably 5 years since my butt has been in an English saddle. 
The Ranch Pleasure rail class is okay, but I love the Ranch Riding pattern class. And I also enjoy messing around with trail and versatility obstacles, even though my current mare can be an overreactive pain with those.
I just bought my first pair of chinks (chaps), showed for several seasons in just jeans. I ride in a helmet and use a snaffle, although if I may eventually try to transition to a curb for showing one-handed.
So far my experience is that the Ranch exhibitors at shows are just the best people, supportive of each other instead of being catty.
3 Likes
I did eq medals and hunters for about 50 years, then ended up buying a Paint that was a mostly western all-around horse. I wore the bling. My horse had the fake tail. My tack had gobs of shiny silver. And… that lasted about 2 show seasons. It just wasn’t me. I’d always watch the ranch classes and think, “I should be over there, in that arena.”
So I sold the fancy all-around horse and bought myself a finished ranch horse that I can learn and have fun on. Showing in the ranch division (and ranch versatility) has been a welcomed change. It is definitely more laidback, but as you move up the levels the clothing and tack gets more nuanced, with horses and riders turned out according to personal taste. My friend I show with is very “old California style” with a flat brimmed hat, chinks and a vest. I’m more typical southwest, although I do wear shotgun chaps instead of chinks because when I trail ride out here I end up in a lot of mesquite and boulders. I need the shotguns!
As for the classes, some horses can do all of them while others specialize. My QH mare is Not Happy in ranch pleasure, so we skip that. But she is the queen of the pattern class, where smooth transitions and crisp movements are paramount. As you go up the levels the patterns get tougher and include 360 spins and flying lead changes. My mare is also pretty solid in trail and because she’s a nickel’s worth spooky, she has great expression over the obstacles. (There are some benefits to having a Wary Mare).
The most notable differences between trail at breed/open shows and ranch trail are the more natural obstacles in ranch. The ground poles are actual logs. Sometimes you have to lift a bucket off a fence post and carry it to another site, or drag a log (in a circle at the trot at my last show), or pull a slicker off a gate and drape it over your back and ride off. Breed show trail is more methodical. My trainer used to yell at me, “It’s not SPEED TRAIL, Cindy!” Well, in ranch trail you really do need to move along. There’s no moseying. You need to ride like you’re working, like you’ve got to round up the cattle before sunset.
In fact, the gaits are overall more forward than traditional western gaits (thank God). There is no “jog.” But there is “trot” and “extended trot.” There’s also an extended lope. You can maintain some contact with the reins (you’ll be penalized for a draped pleasure rein), although I get told to “push my hand forward,” up my mare’s neck at the extended trot and extended lope. You want to encourage your horse to stretch and extend its stride, not just go faster.
As for tack, there’s a mindset out there that you’re required to have tack totally bereft of any silver or stylistic touches. That’s not accurate. For certain, you don’t want to participate in one of those western pleasure show saddles that looks like a parade saddle. But the saddle I use for my pattern classes and ranch reining is a beautifully tooled saddle with some small touches of silver. It was custom made for me and I call it my Sunday saddle. No one has ever scoffed at it and I certainly haven’t missed out on ribbons or points because of some little silver conchos. The saddle I use for ranch trail is a much plainer, traditional ranch saddle with a more robust horn so I can dally a rope around it. Learning to throw a rope, dally properly and drag a log or other heavy item (I’ve had to drag a sled!) is a skill you might have never imagined learning!
As @cmdrcltr posted above, the competitors I’ve met at ranch and versatility shows have been a whole different group of folks, and I mean that in a good way. Lots of smiles, some cheering, lots of knowledgeable people willing to give you tips or suggestions. What I’ve found particularly interesting is how often the women who are lined up with me turn out to be former H/J, eventer or dressage riders. It’s like we never got over the thrill of being on a horse that is compliant doing its job, but at any moment could turn into a rocket ship on four legs. 
Anyway, that’s my long dissertation on ranch riding. I know there are other posters here who compete in it, too, and I’m sure they can add their insights and perhaps a different perspective. Have fun and welcome!
9 Likes
This is what I wish I’d had the $$ to do. It’s been a long, challenging road with my mare, who I thought knew more than she did. I have learned a lot and become a better rider, but I would love to have a horse who knows more than me, especially the lead changes since I’ve never installed those on a horse in all my years of riding, and now we’re both having to figure that out.
That said, all the regulars who ride at the shows near me are supper supportive. 
1 Like
I have to admit, one of my deal breakers was a ranch horse that already had its changes. I’ve already spent far too much time in my life putting changes on green hunters. I just didn’t want to do it again. Ever.
The only way I could afford my mare was by selling the Paint show horse I’d brought along, so that was a fortunate windfall. That, and I happened to be at the right place at the right time, when the seller had decided to switch from ranch to strictly reining.
Have you done any clinics? At most recognized or affiliated ranch shows there’s a clinic the day before the show starts. They can be very helpful and informative!
1 Like
No, I haven’t yet had the opportunity to. I don’t have my own trailer, so I’m dependent on my barn owner, and the last couple of years have been unpredictable for her due to outside of horses events and issues. And the trainer we both work with had a horse fall on him this spring and he broke his neck. Luckily one of those breaks where you aren’t paralyzed but you have to wear a brace and do nothing for several months.
Maybe my next one will be the one that finally knows more than me. 
I really do appreciate how much I’ve learned over the last 4 years, but I’d also love to be in a spot to just work on finesse. 
It’s hard, too, because there just isn’t a whole lot going on in Maine. 
I do understand. I feel like an idiot because I sold my nice 2-horse trailer and now I’m dependent on either hauling to shows with a friend or paying my trainer to haul my horse.
There are some great videos online for ranch riding tips, especially those through the AQHA and various ranch versatility associations. If you’re on FB, consider joining some of the ranch riding groups. They mostly list horses for sale, but there are always tons of videos available of those horses in action and they can be quite educational. 
Great advice, thank you, I am on Facebook.
I am trying to convince my husband to let me buy a Bockmann trailer to haul with our Toyota Tacoma. He’s cringing at the price, but I told him it would cost 3x as much to buy a bigger truck.
1 Like
Ah, I love how horsewomen are able to negotiate with our menfolk!
1 Like
Do it. You’ll have a blast!
I’ve shown ranch horse both locally and at AQHA shows. As far as what the show will entail will depend which show circuit is available in your area, and that will also vary on the classes offered.
Locally, they usually just offer the Ranch Riding class. It’s more or less a horsemanship class but of course based on the ranch look and the ranch gaits.
At AQHA shows in my area, they usually offer Ranch Riding, Ranch Rail (the ranch version of western pleasure), Ranch Reining (similar to regular reining … but more “ranchy”), Ranch Trail (the ranch version of a horse show trail class, such as dragged a log, open a gate, etc etc), and Ranch Conformation (halter version for ranch horses). Some areas will also have cattle events where you may need to rope live cattle and/or do boxing.
So ask those friends what classes are available in your area and if they are local shows or sanctioned by an organization.
3 Likes
Thanks y’all, I have a ranch prospect I am going to start “playing” with to see if we are a good fit. I am looking forward the the additional journey…
2 Likes
I have been thinking about that issue of the changes. I think I will add that to my list. Do you think the mid 30’s is enough to get a horse that fits this bill and moves nicely? I would like enoough of a mover to do some lower level USDF dressage as well, since that is where I have all my stuff. But I think I am going fully over to the dark side after this.
Can you recommend some of those FB groups?
I see there’s been some recent activity on this thread, so I thought I’d share a couple of new pics from our most recent (and only) show this year. Hard to believe I used to be a card-carrying Pony Club member.
13 Likes
So the prospect didn’t work out, but I have been playing with my 6 year old 1st level gelding and we are having a blast. A good horse is a good horse. We need to work on our neck reining but he is getting it…so looking forward to this journey.
3 Likes
I was a card carrying Pony Club B/H-A that can use a salinas and a snaffle bit - on the same horse. So not crazy unusual.
Apologies for just now reading this post.
That amount of $ was my budget, too, for a decent mover that had been pro-trained and already had points in reining and ranch. I still had to compromise somewhere, but I eventually found the right horse for me. Of course if you’re interested in a greener, younger horse without a competition record— or you luck into a great situation-- I’m sure you can find something nice for less money. I specifically wanted an older, finished horse, even if it was a little “creaky”.
I can’t remember the exact names of FB groups I joined, but I think they were all something like Ranch Horse Prospects, Reining Horses, Ranch Pleasure Horses, etc.
1 Like
