What’s All the Buzz About Ranch Horse Pleasure?

By: Brittany Bevis

One of the industry’s hottest new events strays away from the glitz and glamor we have come to associate with the horse show world. Instead, it harkens back to a different time, when horses were working animals prized for their hardiness, tenacity, and ability to endure a full day out on the range.

Striving to reflect the “versatility, attitude, and movement of a working horse,” the class, per AQHA’s Handbook of Rules and Regulations, intends to “simulate a horse riding outside the confines of an arena and that of a working ranch horse.” This is an event where light contact is rewarded, forward motion is highly encouraged, and silver on tack is frowned upon.

Still a relatively new event, it was approved by AQHA as an open class in 2012 and a whopping 230 riders qualified to compete at the 2012 AQHA World Show. Since then, the discipline has expanded to include amateur and youth divisions. At the recent AQHA Youth World, 133 competitors entered the class. Also, the APHA Youth World Show added Ranch Horse Pleasure to the schedule for the first time this year.

With the recent publication of the 2014 AQHA Standing Committee and Council Reports, we learned there are new changes and additions on the horizon for this popular discipline. First, Ranch Horse Pleasure will be renamed Ranch Horse Riding in 2015, and rules will be updated to include more and/or different obstacles by 2016.

In addition, a proposal was approved to create a new class for 2017, one that will be called Ranch Rail Pleasure. The event will still focus on promoting the versatility and movement of a working horse. However, this particular event only require horses to work both ways of the ring at requested gaits. In addition, the popularity of Ranch Rail Pleasure will be monitored periodically to see if its growth warrants it becoming a World Show class in the future.

As far as the technical aspects of the Ranch Horse Pleasure class are concerned, a few rule additions should be noted.

• Rule SHW419.2 – 3 point penalty for severe disturbance of any obstacle
• Rule SHW419.3 – 5 point penalty for each refusal (3rd refusal is a DQ)
• Rule SHW418.5 – Suggested to use breast collar and rear cinch
• Amend Rule SHW419.1 (Ranch Horse Pleasure) to remove the penalty for splitting the log at the lope.

On a related note, the Show Council supported the idea that AQHA should keep its ranching division branded as “Versatility Ranch Horse” and it should be kept as its own category, namely (Category IX). While Ranch Horse Pleasure and eventually Ranch Rail Pleasure will stay in their current categories (Category II and V) and be promoted as “stand alone classes” to be incorporated into the traditional weekend horse show, the newly modified Versatility Ranch Horse can be held as a “stand alone event” and will include classes like Versatility Ranch Riding, Versatility Ranch Trail, Versatility Ranch Reining, Versatility Ranch Working Cow Horse, Versatility Ranch Cutting, and Versatility Ranch Conformation.

Perhaps it’s the appealing combination of western pleasure, reining, and trail that has given Ranch Horse Pleasure its edge. Maybe, it’s the refreshing take on show horse preparation where the use of hoof black, banded manes, and tail extensions are actually considered “illegal equipment.” Regardless of the many reasons why this discipline has gained such a following, one thing is for certain. It shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and for good reason, because that would constitute a one point penalty.