Page 1040 - Adams and Stashak's Lameness in Horses, 7th Edition

1006 Chapter 9

THE WESTERN PLEASURE HORSE

VetBooks.ir sheRRy a. Johnson and david d. FRisbie

UNDERSTANDING THE SPORT The quality of movement and consistency of gaits
remains the most intrinsic and sought‐after trait of an
Western pleasure remains one of the most popular show elite western pleasure athlete. It is also a source of intim­
events within the spectrum of western performance classes idation for many equine veterinarians who are not
offered by such prominent show associations such as the familiar with how the various gaits should appear.
American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), National When done properly, a western pleasure horse uses its
Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA), and the American Paint core stabilizing muscles to round its back, lift its topline,
Horse Association (APHA). From its origin dating back to and advance its limbs in free‐flowing, coordinated
the 1960s, the western pleasure sport served to showcase motions with suspension and cadence. The horse should
working horses’ athletic ability to execute performance gaits exhibit forward motion with significant hind end pro­
comfortably and synergistically with their rider. The col­ pulsion, especially while loping. The speed of movement
lected, soft gaits and overall calm demeanor of these horses is determined by the frequency and length of strides
embody the name of their sport and the enjoyable riding taken. According to the AQHA, the stride length in all
experience they have come to represent. The sport has since gaits should be “of reasonable length in keeping with
evolved into the platform for other western classes including conformation.” In addition, the horse should be able to
trail, horsemanship, and western riding. As with any special­ cover a proportionate amount of ground with little
ized equine discipline, an effective veterinarian must be effort. In essence, slow, deliberate, long‐flowing strides
closely familiar with the expected maneuvers, training sched­ are more rewarded than short, choppy, and uncoordi­
ule, and demands placed upon the western pleasure athlete. nated gaits. Western pleasure horses should carry their
Similar to other specialized equine sports, western heads and necks in a relaxed, natural position, without
pleasure has undergone several style transitions through­ excessive motion, while allowing for balance and
out the years. Excessively low head carriages character­ cadence reinforcement. The neck should be at or slightly
ized pleasure horses in the 1980s, while in the 1990s above the level of the withers, and the nose should not
they are remembered for their extremely slow, mechani­ be excessively behind or in front of the vertical. All of
cal motions. The AQHA has since redefined how the the maneuvers should be able to be performed on a rea­
western pleasure horse should ideally move throughout sonably loose rein, with a bright, willing expression
the three judged gaits (walk, jog, and lope). The western (Figure 9.49).
1
pleasure assessment criteria can be most easily grouped The sport of western pleasure has been criticized
into the below three categories: for the appearance of horses performing maneuvers
1. Correctness of each gait incorrectly, potentially leading to strained, unnatu­
2. Quality of the horse’s performance including self‐car­ ral, and uncoordinated gaits in the show ring. Most
riage, expression, topline, and softness of movement commonly, exaggerations of the desired gait quali­
3. Ease of performance with minimal cuing from the rider ties include head bobbing, a four‐beat lope, and most

Figure 9.49. Western pleasure
horse being shown at the jog.