Presenting the WCHA Ranch Horse Challenge! Sponsored by The Equine Chronicle

The Ranch Horse Challenge will be a two-part event that will begin on Friday with the Halter portion of the competition and continue to Saturday with Ranch Riding.

“On Friday, we will have the Halter potion of the WCHA Ranch Horse Challenge that will not start before 5 o’clock,” Castle says. “Then, the Ranch Riding portion will take place on Saturday and will not start before 3 o’clock. The halter portion will count for 40% of the total score, and Ranch Riding will count for 60%.”

“The Halter class will be a regular conformation class. We will have all the horses [all ages and genders] in the pen at the same time, and we’re going to have a calcutta, where we ‘sell’ each of the horses in the pen. Halter will be judged by four judges. Then, we will come back the next day and do Ranch Riding, which will be judged by four judges.”

Committee member Steve Meadows and Tim “The Trail Man” Kimura have joined forces to design a special pattern for the Ranch Riding portion of the event. Click here to view the Ranch Horse Challenge pattern.

Challenge prizes will include a trophy saddle for the Ranch Horse Challenge Champion, trophy halters, trophy tack, and purse winnings. Monies will be divided with 75% going to the top 10 challenge competitors in each division, open and non-pro. The remaining purse of 25% will be paid to the top 10 placing open and non pro exhibitors in the Ranch Riding portion of the challenge. In addition, a special award will be presented to the top three non-pro competitors in the open division of the challenge. Also, the top ten in both the Halter and Ranch Riding portions will receive prizes.

Here are a few important details to remember about the Ranch Horse Challenge:

• A point system will be used to determine the class score as based on entries. For example, if there are 22 entries in the class, 1st place will receive 22 points, 2nd place will earn 21 points, third will earn 20 points, and so on.
• Halter counts for 40% of the total score, Ranch Riding counts for 60% of the total score
• The Ranch Horse Challenge is open to ALL breeds
• Entry fee is $300 for an open division entry, which includes a stall and WCHA membership. To add a non-pro rider, it’s an additional $100

While Halter and Ranch Riding might seem like odd bedfellows for a Futurity Challenge, it’s actually the perfect combination. As part of the WCHA Mission Statement says, “We believe that correct conformation serves as the foundation to the horse’s ability to successfully perform in any discipline.” Essentially, the building blocks of good conformation go back to the tried and true principle of form to function.

“I will be most interested to see how those horses that are really well made will go on to compete the next day,” Castle says. “Ranch Riding is a class that everybody can be competitive in. I think when you add the conformation part, it will be very interesting. I think there are a lot of avenues this can go down. For the first year, I know we will have some kinks to work out, but I can foresee this becoming a big event.”

Be sure to check out the upcoming Select World Show issue of The Equine Chronicle to read more about the new WCHA Ranch Horse Challenge during an interview with Committee Chairperson, Beth Dunlap.