A Great Western Riding Horse
December 7, 2010
Learn what AQHA Professional Horseman Charlie Cole believes it takes to make a great western riding horse.
Question:
What do you think is the difference between a good western riding horse and a great one?
Answer:
I think what makes the difference is their quality of movement and just their general way of going with their expression of their ears, for a great horse that’s what they need to have. A nice western riding horse just does the pattern and is consistent, solid and does the pattern correct, but those that stand out are the good movers and the ones that really enjoy their job.
When you are working with your clients, what are some of the changes they have to make to transition from western pleasure to western horsemanship?
It’s mostly their body position. A pleasure rider tends to sit back and is a little more relaxed in the saddle, whereas a horsemanship rider sits taller and tighter. They keep both arms up and in a square position. In western pleasure, they have the arm relaxed. So it’s definitely body position and sitting up taller and tighter for the horsemanship.
- AQHA Professional Horseman Charlie Cole
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2 Comments on “A Great Western Riding Horse”
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March 2nd, 2011 at 9:11 am
Good to know what is required. I like to own horses with good legs and hooves ( bad hooves need a lot of expensive visits to the farrier) and am pleased that they appear to be improving in QH – obviously the judges are paying attendion to legs. With the new FEI rules insisting on a horse competing only after it is 6, I suspect QH are going to have to be bred to stay sound.
But I am not too sure about the “straight neck” – the silver staue that AQHA gives out as a prize to those of us who have “all round” QH is what i want to see in a neck – those horses can do more than be shown in halter – they can do cutting, jumping dressage, reining – you name it. Straight necks can turn a horse awfully “ewe necked” if you try to pick them up off the forehand when they are ridden
May 26th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
[...] more than 2,500 points in youth and amateur showmanship, horsemanship, hunt seat equitation and western riding. He won the AQHA high-point all-round youth back-to-back in 2008 and 2009, in addition to four [...]