Western Horsemanship is often an entry level class for novice amateurs and novice youth riders. It’s fun and can be very competitive and when it is taken to a high level only riders that are very disciplined with a well trained horse succeed.

Unlike in Reining and Western Pleasure, in Horsemanship thejudge is focused on the rider rather than the horse. Even though it is the ability of the rider that is being judged, a misbehaving or ill trained horseis a product of the rider’s ability, so the judge takes this into account.  Western Horsemanship is mainly about the pattern. Most judges have most of the class placed following the pattern work;the rail work is used mostly to decide between very similar riders.

In AQHA classes’ rail work must follow the pattern work,although only one direction is mandatory. In contrast, in the APHA rail work is optional at the judge’s discretion and very often they choose not to have it.

This is an "Equitation" class so correct riding position is important. Legs underneath your hip, heels down, knees tight, handlow, eyes up; all of these things are important. If you do not know the basic rules of proper equitation they are published in most of the association rulebooks and in riding "how to" books, learn them and then have aknowledgeable person evaluate you.  You may think your equitation is good, but it takes a critical eye to perfect it. Video your ride, and together with a trainer critically evaluate your equitation.

Leg position and hand position are the most difficult and tend to separate the winners from the losers. Weak riders have difficulty keeping their shoulders, hip and heels in astraight vertical line.  Generally thelegs get pushed out in front; this is a big mistake and sure sign of a weakrider.

Riders that do not communicate well with their horse have guiding problems, and they show us judges that they are having problems bylifting their hands to high and moving them too wide and wild. Hands should stay just above and in front of the saddle horn and move very little, even whenguiding the horse through the pattern.

One key to understanding what the judge is looking for is to study the pattern and determine where the critical points of that pattern are.  Every judge uses their own patterns for horsemanship and since they have designed the pattern themselves the pattern will tell you something about what the judge feels to be particularly important.  For example look at thissimple pattern; it is clear that what the judge feels to be important is:

1.     It starts with a back up, so communication with the horse to back with very little hand movement and no resistance from the horse will be what judge is looking for.

2.     A stop at the marker. Looking for accuracy, the ability to stop exactly at the marker.

3.     Execute a correct turn, pivot foot important on the horse and hand and leg position on the rider as well as ability to turn exactly ¾ a turn without under or overrotation.

4.     Lead departure to a left lead, hand position,leg position and upper body position important; opportunity for the judge toevaluate correct equitation.

5.     Transition to trot exactly at the marker, again evaluating accuracy.

6.     Stop exactly at the marker without resistance from the horse and with your hand low and legs and body correct, don’t throw you body back and your legs forward. The final impression for the judge with a higher degree of difficulty.

This is the way you should look ata pattern before you ride it, being aware of the points in it that the judge will use to pick the winner.