Western
WELCOME TO THE WAIKATO WESTERN RIDING CLUB!
Katie Tasker Mark Chamberlin Elaine McIndoe
Diane Thompson Stefi Young Zippa Dee
Halter Lineup at our Rookie / Introductory Day May 2007
A lot of people ask "What is Western Riding?" Well, we have quite a selection of classes, diciplines, and style of horses. The breeds you are most likely to find in Western Riding is Quarter Horse, Appaloosa and Paint. Our western horses are expected to move at a much slower pace than other breeds, and we expect them to have a low head carriage.
The different styles of horse for Western Riding is Halter, Pleasure, Trail, Reining and Cutting.
The
'Halter Horse' is prized for for their excellent conformation, developed muscles, good manners and ability to stand 'square'. Our halter horses are also our ridden horses.
The
'Pleasure Horse' is prized for the ability to move at a relaxed natural gait, without speeding or slowing down unless asked. Their natural head carrige is encouraged to be relaxed with their ears in line with their wither. and excell at being 'a pleasure to ride'.
The
'Trail horse' is prized for it's manoeuvrability through and over any obstacles in it's path. A willingness and obvious 'team work' approach to a course is rewarded by our judges. Obstacles do include a bridge (as seen in the first photo), gate, walking/jogging/loping poles and cones and sometimes there are even a surprise or two like strange looking flowers for them to contend with but they should take it all 'in their stride'
The
'Reining horse' is prized for it's athleticism and it's ability to accelerate and slow down with a gentle and barely visible cue. They must be well balanced and responsive and have the ability to engage their hind quarters well beneath them to perform the exhilarating 'sliding stops'. The horses perform many set manoeuvres, like spinning on the hind quarters and about turns at speed all calmly and in complete control. The reining horse tends to be smaller in height and length than a traditional pleasure horse.
The
'Cutting Horse' is again a horse that needs to be athletic as, and possess a lot of natural ability to read a cow. It will be required to be able to move step for step with a cow to stop the cow getting back to the herd, this requires a lot of concentration on the horses part, and the horse needs to be able to deliver speed at the drop of a hat to head off a cow, and also to be able to stop just a quickly and change direction (you need a good seat for these guys!)
We have two different age groups for our ridden horses, Junior and Senior Horse. The Junior horse is up to the age of 5, they then become a senior horse at the age of 6. The difference being that a junior horse is ridden two handed in a snaffle bit, and a senior horse is ridden one handed in a curb bit.
If you would like to visit Waikato Western Riding Club website click 'here'
For Western Training click here
TO JOIN WAIKATO WESTERN RIDING CLUB
Click here for a membership form
Contact: Margaret Young
Committee Members
President
Ian Mathison
07 887 6714
stoneycreekherefords@farmside.co.nz
Vice President
Owen Madgwick
07 889 7134
Secretary
Anne Blomfield
thebloms@xtra.co.nz
(07) 884 7280
Treasurer
Steffie Young
07 889 1080
Newsletter
Angela Penney
