Ranch riding is a fast-growing western event. Its appeal is that it requires a unique blend of versatility, obedience, and smoothness from both horse and rider with minimal impact on the horse and rider’s bodies. That makes it particularly suitable for older horses and riders looking for a low-impact way to stay in the show pen and a way to get young horses in the show pen with low impact on their bodies.
It is a pattern class that asks for walk, trot, and lope gaits similar to the gaits that would be required on a working cattle ranch. This comprehensive guide will provide you with detailed instructions on training your horse for ranch riding, focusing on what judges look for, and how to incorporate Western riding principles into your training.
Understanding Ranch Riding
Ranch riding involves a pattern that requires the horse to walk, trot, extend the trot, lope, and extend the lope. The key to success lies in showcasing movements that reflect the work of a ranch horse, emphasizing forward, purposeful movements with smooth but prompt transitions with forward working gaits.
AQHA Class Description
The purpose of the ranch riding class is to measure the ability of the horse to be a pleasure to ride while being used as a means of conveyance from performing one ranch task to another. The horse should reflect the versatility, attitude and movement of a working ranch horse riding outside the confines of an arena. The horse should be well-trained, relaxed, quiet, soft and cadenced at all gaits. The ideal ranch horse will travel with forward movement and demonstrate an obvious lengthening of stride at extended gaits. The horse can be ridden with light contact or on a relatively loose rein without requiring undue restraint, but not shown on a full drape of reins. The overall manners and responsiveness of the ranch riding horse
to make timely transitions in a smooth and correct manner, as well as the quality of the movement are of primary considerations. The ideal ranch riding horse should have a natural ranch horse appearance from head to tail in each maneuver.
What Judges Look For
- Quality of Movements: In all gaits, movement of the ranch horse should simulate a horse needing to cover long distances, softly and quietly, like that of a working ranch horse The horse should display movements that are natural and efficient, resembling those needed in ranch work. In the video, Movement with Balance, I show you how balance affects movement.
- Transitions: Transitions should be performed where designated, with smoothness and responsiveness.
- Gait Consistency: The horse should maintain a consistent rhythm in each gait, without unexpected changes in speed.
- Correct Leads and Frames: The horse should pick up the correct lead when loping and maintain a proper frame, with the head and neck in a correct natural position.
NRHA Rule A General
The National Reining Horse Association has what they call rule A. GENERAL. This rule expressly applies to reining but it is a good rule to keep in mind no matter what class or event you show in:
To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely. Any movement on his own must be considered a lack of control. All deviations from the exact written pattern must be considered a lack of/or temporary loss of control and therefore a fault that must be marked down according to severity of deviation.
If you keep this rule in mind and keep asking yourself, “Is this willingly guided with little apparent resistance”, you will be on the right track in preparing to show ranch riding.
Scoring and Penalties
Scoring in ranch riding is based on the horse’s ability to perform the required movements with precision and smoothness. Penalties are given for mistakes such as drooping reins, breaking gait, too fast or too slow, out of lead, out of gait, and blatant disobedience.
Riding Equipment For Ranch Riding
- No hoof polish, or hoof black.
- No braided or banded manes/tails or tail extensions.
- Trimming inside ears is discouraged.
- Trimming bridle path, fetlocks and/or excessive (long) facial hair is allowed.
- Equipment with silver should not count over good working equipment. Excessive silver on bridles and saddles is discouraged.
- It is suggested competitors use a breast collar and rear girth. Pulling collars like this one are ideal for showing in ranch riding classes.
Training Tips for Ranch Riding
1. Warm-Up and Basic Gaits
- Start with a Calm Walk: Begin each session with a relaxed walk. This helps in loosening the muscles of your horse and prepares them mentally for the training session.
- Consistent Trot: Work on achieving a steady and rhythmic trot. This is crucial as it forms the foundation for more advanced movements. Pay attention to your horse’s response to your cues and maintain a consistent speed.
- Keep in mind that in most associations horses over 5 years old must be ridden in a leverage bit. Familiarize yourself with the bit rules for the association and class where you plan to show. If you are unsure about bits and bitting a horse the video, In Depth Into My Bit Program, discusses the bits that I use and why.
2. Working on Transitions
- Smooth Transitions: Practice transitioning between gaits smoothly. For instance, when moving from a lope to a walk, ensure there are no trot steps in between. This requires precise timing and clear communication with your horse.
- Immediate Response: Train your horse to respond immediately to your cues. This can be achieved through consistent and repetitive training, ensuring the horse understands and anticipates your commands.
- Customized Training: Understand your horse’s strengths and limitations. Customize your training approach to suit their comfort level, ensuring they are not pushed beyond their capabilities.
3. Extended Gaits
- Extended Trot and Lope: Regularly practice the extended trot and lope. The goal is to have your horse move with more extension while maintaining control and rhythm.
- Balance and Comfort: Ensure that your horse is comfortable at these extended gaits. A horse that appears rushed or uncomfortable will not score well.
4. Rein Management
- Rein Handling Skills: Develop your skills in handling reins. This includes learning how to gather, adjust, and use reins effectively to guide your horse without appearing forceful or excessively using them.
- Subtle Cues: Practice using subtle cues to direct your horse. Visible cues are acceptable but the key is obedience when you ask for something.
5. Addressing Specific Challenges
- Hindquarter Engagement: If your horse tends to be heavy on the front end, especially during transitions, incorporate exercises that promote hindquarter strength and engagement. If you are unsure where to start then the tips in the article, Foundation Exercises Every Horse Should Know, will be helpful to you. It gives you specific exercises to develop your horse’s muscle tone and balance.
- Gait Consistency: For horses struggling with maintaining a consistent gait, use exercises that develop muscle and improve balance.
- Steering and Lead issues: If you are having trouble with these issues then the article, Strategies for Training Horses with Steering and Lead Issues, will be helpful to you.
6. Special Maneuvers
- Spins, Rollbacks, and Ground Poles: Include maneuvers like spins and navigating ground poles. These elements are often part of ranch riding patterns and require precision and agility.
- Lead Changes are often incorporated into patterns. Flying changes are usually not required but flying or simple they must be precise and efficient.
7. Regular Practice
- Incorporate Ranch Riding Gaits: Make ranch riding gaits a regular part of your training. This helps your horse to naturally adopt these gaits.
- Show Conditions: Train under conditions similar to show environments. This includes working on the correct lead, maintaining proper head position, and ensuring smooth transitions.
8. Mental Preparation
- Confidence Building: Work on building confidence in your horse. A confident horse is more likely to perform well under the stress of competition.
- Desensitization: Expose your horse to various stimuli they might encounter in a show environment, like different sounds, sights, and surfaces. Often there will be a pen with cows incorporated into a ranch riding pattern.
9. Physical Conditioning
- Fitness: Maintain a regular fitness regime for your horse. A fit horse is more capable of performing the demanding tasks required in ranch riding.
- Rest and Recovery: Ensure your horse gets adequate rest and recovery time. Overtraining can lead to fatigue and injury.
Conclusion
You can watch, Schooling Ranch Riding. Tips for showing ranch riding, to see a video of me working a horse preparing him for showing in ranch riding. Training a horse for ranch riding requires patience, consistency, and an understanding of the horse’s natural abilities and Western riding principles. Focus on developing smooth, prompt transitions, consistent gaits, and a responsive yet relaxed demeanor in your horse. With regular practice and attention to detail, you can prepare your horse for a successful and enjoyable experience in ranch riding competitions. Tailor your training to suit your horse’s individual needs and capabilities, and enjoy the journey in this unique and rewarding equestrian discipline.
My horse training journey has brought me from winning world titles to now trying to make every horse the best they can be and to help you improve your equestrian knowledge.