Ranch Horse Pleasure Highlights New APHA Classes Debuting April 1st
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PHJ press release by: Jessica Hein
In an effort to connect with and engage more Paint enthusiasts, APHA will launch several new classes April 1. Ranch Horse Pleasure and Limited Youth and Amateur Working Ranch Horse classes are the newest APHA-approved events; the APHA Board of Directors voted February 24 to not only approve the new events, but to expedite their launch.
“With popularity in these events growing in the stock horse world, offering classes such as ranch horse pleasure and expanding our offerings for working ranch horse and working cow horse exhibitors will allow us to reach a whole new group of Paint Horse enthusiasts currently competing with their Paints outside of association events,” Senior Director of Show & Contest Holly Slaughter said. “This is our invitation for them to be a part of the APHA family and enjoy the benefits of our many programs and opportunities for recognition.”
One of the most popular additions is APHA’s new ranch horse pleasure class, which reflects the versatility, attitude, and movement of a working horse. The horse’s performance should simulate a horse riding outside the confines of an arena and that of a working ranch horse. This class should show the horse’s ability to work at a forward, working speed while under control by the rider.
Horses are worked individually over one of four patterns outlined in the Official APHA Rule Book. The overall manners and responsiveness of the horse while performing the maneuver requirements, and the horse’s quality of movement are the primary considerations. Read more in Rule SC-302. Horses entered in Ranch Horse Pleasure may not cross-enter into traditional Western Pleasure events.
Ranch horse pleasure will be offered as a World Championship class at the 2014 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show, which takes place June 27–July 5 in Fort Worth, Texas. More information about the Youth World Show is available online.
Other improvements taking effect April 1 include allowing points earned in Limited Youth Working Cow Horse and Amateur Limited Working Cow Horse to count for all APHA awards and modifying the class eligibility criteria and the required class procedures for working cow horse and working ranch horse classes in the Novice Youth and Novice Amateur divisions. Read more about them here. Several regional clubs have announced plans to offer one or more of these new APHA-approved events at their shows—check with show management or your local regional club to find out if they’re coming to a show near you.
