Walk-Trot

This class is for the green horse and/or exhibitor, neither having the experience at rating a canter or lead departures.  Horses are to be judged on their ability to cover ground with little or no effort and to exhibit balance, freedom of movement, and a relaxed but alert expression.  Horses should exhibit responsiveness and willingness required of a broke horse under complete rider’s control at the walk and trot. The ideal “non-pro” and “youth” horse will show that it is truly a pleasure for any level of rider.  The ideal 2 or 3 year old horse will show potential athletic ability and a temperament to be suitable for a future full day’s work on ranch or trail.

 Class Specifications

•   Horses may be asked to do the following maneuvers dependant on class size and arena conditions:

  • Walk

  • Extended Walk

  • Trot

  • Extended trot

  • Reverse (away from the rail)

  • Backing Up

  • Stop

  • Pattern, such as weaving through a line of cones on the rail at a walk

  • Pattern, such as weaving through a line of cones on the rail at a trot

• The judge will call horses into the center of the arena as their placings are determined.  All horses will continue to perform gaits as called until they are brought into the center of the arena or until all placings are determined and they are excused from the ring.

• The judge may call additional horses into the center of the arena and determine final placings after asking for the back-up.

• The judge may move horses up and down the line at his or her discretion until final placings are determined after the back-up.

• Once a horse is called into the center of the arena, it cannot return to the rail.  However, being called into the center of  the arena does not guarantee the exhibitor will be placed.

 Desirable

• Natural headset with the nose slightly in front of vertical.

• Horses that show responsiveness to rein/leg pressure and no resistance to the rider.

• Horses to be shown in a moderately loose rein (light contact)

• A relaxed, willing horse, accepting the bit and responding to the rider’s aids.

• Smooth and controlled gaits with good length of stride.  The walk should be brisk yet flat-footed, four beat gait.  The trot should be smooth, ground covering, two-beat diagonal gait with a marked change in speed when extended.

• Horses shall not be penalized for natural low head sets or head carried below the withers at the walk.

 Undesirable

• Horses moving more than 3 strides at the trot with the poll below the withers and/or the nose behind the vertical,  and/or exhibiting unnatural gaits such as a walking in the back and trotting in the front shall not be placed above other horses that do not exhibit such movements or head carriage.

•  Exaggerated opening of the mouth or tossing of the head.

• Breaking gait

• Excessive speed and/or excessively long strides

• Ignoring rider cues.

• Moving off the rail and toward the center of the arena.

• Ill-natured expressions, tail-swishing, pinned ears, or attempting to kick at other horses in the arena.

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