Capricorn Western Club to host first reining qualifier

T he local community can look forward to the introduction of a new event when Capricorn Western Club hosts its first Reining and Western Horse performance qualifying event at a local riding school on Sunday.
Chairperson of the Capricorn Western Club, Mariette Engels said the event not only consiss of reining and Western performance but also has a Western dressage component to it. She explained that Reining and Western Performance Horse South Africa (RWPHSA) consists of exciting, challenging and pleasure classes for equestrian enthusiasts to choose from.
She indicating that reining is the absolute pinnacle of this sport and what every rider should aim for. It is an event designed to show the athletic ability of a ranch-type horse in the confines of a show arena. Contestants are required to run one of several approved patterns. Each pattern includes small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead changes, rollbacks over the hocks, a series of 360 ° degree spins done in place and exciting sliding stops that are the hallmark of the reining horse, according to Engels.
She further explained that showmanship at halter was designed to evaluate the exhibitor’s ability to execute, together with a well-groomed and conditioned horse, a set of manoeuvres prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness, the emphasis being on the handler.
Western pleasure is a class where the walk, jog and lope are demonstrated in free-flowing strides of reasonable length in keeping with the conformation of the horse. “Horses must work both ways of the ring at all three gaits to demonstrate their ability with different leads. Maximum credit must be given to the flowing, balanced and willing horse that gives the appearance of being fit and a pleasure to ride,” Engels explained.
When it comes to ranch riding she indicated that the purpose was to measure the ability of the horse to be a pleasure to ride while being used to perform 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.
Western horsemanship is designed to evaluate the rider’s ability to execute together with the horse a set of manoeuvres prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness with emphasis on the rider.

Story: RC Myburgh
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