It’s All About the Legs – Proper Strides for Western Pleasure
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By Rachel Kooiker
First, be correct. When it comes to Western Pleasure, both top riders and judges look for trueness of gait and correct striding before thinking about hocks or speed. At the end of the day, a Western Pleasure horse should be just that- a pleasure to ride.
An ideal Western Pleasure horse will hold the ground and push through a complete step, back to front, at each gait, and will increase the degree of difficulty by doing so at an unhurried, easygoing pace that’s maintained both on and off the rail.
In 2017, many major breed and showing organizations (AQHA, APHA, and NSBA) modified the rules concerning Western Pleasure to specifically address and clarify the evaluation of correct gaits that show balance and self-carriage. These modifications all stress the importance of an uninterrupted stride as being ideal for the discipline. We spoke with three top trainers to get a more detailed look at the training and execution of correct strides for the modern Western Pleasure horse.
Meet the Experts
Bret Parrish
Parrish holds numerous Congress, World, and NSBA Championship titles. He operates Parrish Quarter Horses in Pavo, Georgia, and was the first exhibitor to win a $100,000 payout in a single Western Pleasure event at the 2004 Reichert Celebration showing RL Best Of Sudden.
Cole Baker
Baker is a World and Congress Champion trainer based in Fellowship, Florida, where he specializes in training and exhibiting Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle horses.
Sara Simons
Simons, of Simons Show Horses in Pilot Point, Texas, is a multiple Congress, World, and NSBA World Champion trainer. She holds judges cards with AQHA, NRHA, NSBA, and NRCHA, and brings her expertise in conformation passed on by her parents, Lynn and Andrea Simons.
First, Be Correct
