RANCH RIDING |
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General Information
NVRHA Ranch Riding consists of pattern work only which is ridden individually. The Ranch Riding patterns are designed to evaluate the rider's ability to execute, in concert with their horse, a set of maneuvers with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence, and maintaining a balanced, functional and fundamentally correct body position. The pattern is extremely precise with the rider and horse working in complete unison, executing each maneuver with subtle aids and cues. The horse/rider team will be judged on the different elements of the patterns and for performing the patterns in the correct order.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
<< Patterns
NVRHA Ranch Riding consists of pattern work only which is ridden individually. The Ranch Riding patterns are designed to evaluate the rider's ability to execute, in concert with their horse, a set of maneuvers with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence, and maintaining a balanced, functional and fundamentally correct body position. The pattern is extremely precise with the rider and horse working in complete unison, executing each maneuver with subtle aids and cues. The horse/rider team will be judged on the different elements of the patterns and for performing the patterns in the correct order.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
<< Patterns
RANCH TRAIL |
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General Information
This class contains a course pattern with 10 judged maneuvers that consist of 3 gaits (walk, trot, and lope), 3 mandatory obstacles and 4 optional obstacles designed to show a horse’s ability and willingness to perform several tasks that might be asked of him during a normal day's ranch work. This class will be judged on the performance of the horse over obstacles, with emphasis on manners, response to the rider and quality of movement. A horse will be rewarded with higher maneuver scores for performing the three gaits correctly with an alert attitude. Horses are to be shown at a ground-covering walk, working trot and lope. Horses should receive credit for showing attentiveness to the obstacles and the capability of picking their own way through the course when obstacles warrant it, and willingly responding to the rider’s cues on more difficult obstacles.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details, Penalties and Obstacles
This class contains a course pattern with 10 judged maneuvers that consist of 3 gaits (walk, trot, and lope), 3 mandatory obstacles and 4 optional obstacles designed to show a horse’s ability and willingness to perform several tasks that might be asked of him during a normal day's ranch work. This class will be judged on the performance of the horse over obstacles, with emphasis on manners, response to the rider and quality of movement. A horse will be rewarded with higher maneuver scores for performing the three gaits correctly with an alert attitude. Horses are to be shown at a ground-covering walk, working trot and lope. Horses should receive credit for showing attentiveness to the obstacles and the capability of picking their own way through the course when obstacles warrant it, and willingly responding to the rider’s cues on more difficult obstacles.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details, Penalties and Obstacles
RANCH CUTTING |
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Novice & Intermediate Amateur and Youth Novice & Intermediate
This class is judged on the ability of the horse to work a cow by separating it from the herd, driving it to the middle of the arena, holding it to demonstrate the horse's ability to work the cow and finally to pen the cow. All cattle will be clearly and distinctly marked. A single numbered or marked cow is cut from the herd and the horse must demonstrate its ability to work the cow. When satisfied that the horse has proven its cutting ability, the horse and rider must then pen the cow at the far end of the arena.
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Limited, Amateur, Youth Limited, Youth Advanced and Open Divisions
This class is judged on the ability of the horse/rider team to read the herd and select a cow of the rider’s choice to drive from the herd and work in the center of the arena. Once the rider has demonstrated the horse’s ability to work the cow, the rider will “quit” the cow and then cut another cow of his choice from the herd (2 cows maximum) The horse/rider team will be judged on the ability to work the center of the arena, properly “quit” a cow and use as much of the 2-minute time limit as possible. The Amateur/Open riders do not pen any cattle.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
This class is judged on the ability of the horse to work a cow by separating it from the herd, driving it to the middle of the arena, holding it to demonstrate the horse's ability to work the cow and finally to pen the cow. All cattle will be clearly and distinctly marked. A single numbered or marked cow is cut from the herd and the horse must demonstrate its ability to work the cow. When satisfied that the horse has proven its cutting ability, the horse and rider must then pen the cow at the far end of the arena.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
Limited, Amateur, Youth Limited, Youth Advanced and Open Divisions
This class is judged on the ability of the horse/rider team to read the herd and select a cow of the rider’s choice to drive from the herd and work in the center of the arena. Once the rider has demonstrated the horse’s ability to work the cow, the rider will “quit” the cow and then cut another cow of his choice from the herd (2 cows maximum) The horse/rider team will be judged on the ability to work the center of the arena, properly “quit” a cow and use as much of the 2-minute time limit as possible. The Amateur/Open riders do not pen any cattle.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
WORKING RANCH |
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General Information
This class combines the reining ability, cow sense and roping or circling ability of the horse. Each contestant will perform individually, first with the reining pattern and then working a single cow released into the arena. The cattle portion of Working Ranch Horse is timed. The clock will start when the gate is closed after the cow enters the arena.
Working Ranch - Reining
Any one of the seven approved reining patterns may be used and is to be selected by the Event Manager/Judge of the class and used by all contestants in all divisions. Each contestant will perform the required pattern individually and separately. To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance. Any movement on his own must be considered a lack of control. All deviations from the exact written pattern must be considered a lack of or temporary loss of control, and therefore faulted according to severity of deviation.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
<< Patterns
Working Ranch - Cow Work
Scoring emphasis on the cow work shall be based on the horse maintaining control of the cow at all times, exhibiting superior cow sense and natural cow working ability without excessive reining or spurring. The greater difficulty may be due to the extreme speed or stubbornness of the cow, or the cow's reluctance to move down the fence when sufficiently driven by the contestant. The most controlled cow work with the highest degree of difficulty should be marked the highest.
Time Limits:
There is a time limit during the cattle portion of Working Ranch Horse class. Time will begin when the gate closes behind the cow after entry into the arena.
a. Novice & Youth Novice: Time limit of 50 seconds. The announcer will signal time at completion of the 50 seconds.
b. Intermediate & Limited & Youth Intermediate & Youth Limited: Time limit of 1 ¾ minutes with a 45 second warning. The announcer will signal time at completion of the 1 ¾ minutes.
c. Amateur, Youth Advanced, and Open: Time limit of four (4) minutes in the combined cow work and roping or circling portion with a two-minute warning. The announcer will signal time at completion of the 4 minutes. When the time limit has expired, the exhibitor will be required to exit the arena.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
Type of Cow Work by Division:
a. Novice and Youth Novice: Box only. There will be no fence work or roping or circling.
b. Intermediate & Limited and Youth Intermediate & Limited: Double boxing. After holding the cow on the prescribed end of the arena for a reasonable amount of time, the contestant will proceed to drive the cow to the other end of the arena and demonstrate boxing again, then proceed to drive the cow to other end of arena. There will be no fence work or roping.
c. Amateur, Youth Advanced and Open: After holding the cow on the prescribed end of the arena for a reasonable amount of time, the contestant shall take the cow down the fence, making at least one turn each way on the fence. The first turn must be past the designated marker and the second turn does not have a designated marker. The rider has the option to either circle or rope the cow. As the ultimate goal is to rope the cow, a riding choosing to circle in lieu of roping receives an automatic -7 penalty “did not choose to rope”.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
Working Ranch – Roping/Circling
The third part of the Working Ranch Horse class for the Amateur, Youth Advanced, and Open Divisions involves the choice of roping or circling. With roping the ultimate goal, a -7 penalty will be assessed for circling.
a. Roping: This skill evaluates the ability of the horse/rider to track the cow (maneuver one), the ropers ability to handle the rope (maneuver two), and finally to stop the cow (maneuver three). During the tracking cow maneuver, the horse should maintain the correct position on the cow to allow the roper good position for a throw. During the roping maneuver, the rider will be judged on rope handling skills. Once the cow is caught, the horse should come to a square stop with the cow facing up on the horse.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
b. Circling:To circle the cow, the exhibitor will maneuver the cow smoothly at least 360 degrees in each direction without interference from the fence. The circle’s size, symmetry, speed and relative balance from right and left show control.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
This class combines the reining ability, cow sense and roping or circling ability of the horse. Each contestant will perform individually, first with the reining pattern and then working a single cow released into the arena. The cattle portion of Working Ranch Horse is timed. The clock will start when the gate is closed after the cow enters the arena.
Working Ranch - Reining
Any one of the seven approved reining patterns may be used and is to be selected by the Event Manager/Judge of the class and used by all contestants in all divisions. Each contestant will perform the required pattern individually and separately. To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance. Any movement on his own must be considered a lack of control. All deviations from the exact written pattern must be considered a lack of or temporary loss of control, and therefore faulted according to severity of deviation.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
<< Patterns
Working Ranch - Cow Work
Scoring emphasis on the cow work shall be based on the horse maintaining control of the cow at all times, exhibiting superior cow sense and natural cow working ability without excessive reining or spurring. The greater difficulty may be due to the extreme speed or stubbornness of the cow, or the cow's reluctance to move down the fence when sufficiently driven by the contestant. The most controlled cow work with the highest degree of difficulty should be marked the highest.
Time Limits:
There is a time limit during the cattle portion of Working Ranch Horse class. Time will begin when the gate closes behind the cow after entry into the arena.
a. Novice & Youth Novice: Time limit of 50 seconds. The announcer will signal time at completion of the 50 seconds.
b. Intermediate & Limited & Youth Intermediate & Youth Limited: Time limit of 1 ¾ minutes with a 45 second warning. The announcer will signal time at completion of the 1 ¾ minutes.
c. Amateur, Youth Advanced, and Open: Time limit of four (4) minutes in the combined cow work and roping or circling portion with a two-minute warning. The announcer will signal time at completion of the 4 minutes. When the time limit has expired, the exhibitor will be required to exit the arena.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
Type of Cow Work by Division:
a. Novice and Youth Novice: Box only. There will be no fence work or roping or circling.
b. Intermediate & Limited and Youth Intermediate & Limited: Double boxing. After holding the cow on the prescribed end of the arena for a reasonable amount of time, the contestant will proceed to drive the cow to the other end of the arena and demonstrate boxing again, then proceed to drive the cow to other end of arena. There will be no fence work or roping.
c. Amateur, Youth Advanced and Open: After holding the cow on the prescribed end of the arena for a reasonable amount of time, the contestant shall take the cow down the fence, making at least one turn each way on the fence. The first turn must be past the designated marker and the second turn does not have a designated marker. The rider has the option to either circle or rope the cow. As the ultimate goal is to rope the cow, a riding choosing to circle in lieu of roping receives an automatic -7 penalty “did not choose to rope”.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
Working Ranch – Roping/Circling
The third part of the Working Ranch Horse class for the Amateur, Youth Advanced, and Open Divisions involves the choice of roping or circling. With roping the ultimate goal, a -7 penalty will be assessed for circling.
a. Roping: This skill evaluates the ability of the horse/rider to track the cow (maneuver one), the ropers ability to handle the rope (maneuver two), and finally to stop the cow (maneuver three). During the tracking cow maneuver, the horse should maintain the correct position on the cow to allow the roper good position for a throw. During the roping maneuver, the rider will be judged on rope handling skills. Once the cow is caught, the horse should come to a square stop with the cow facing up on the horse.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
b. Circling:To circle the cow, the exhibitor will maneuver the cow smoothly at least 360 degrees in each direction without interference from the fence. The circle’s size, symmetry, speed and relative balance from right and left show control.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details and Penalties
RANCH CONFORMATION |
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Purpose
The purpose of this class is to select horses that have the most positive combination of form-to-function: balance, way of going and structure, substance/muscle, and conformation features, as demonstrated in the four riding classes.
a. Form: 60% of the Ranch Conformation Score will be evaluated by the judge individually. Balance, way of going and structure, substance/muscle, head/neck, shoulders/withers/heart girth, and hip/loin/back will be rated on a scale from below average to excellent. Credit can be earned for good conditioning, showmanship and manners.
b. Function: The remaining 40% of the Ranch Conformation Score will be determined by the horse/rider team’s performance in Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, Ranch Cutting and Working Ranch Horse during the performance classes of the schooling competition. 10% of each class performance score will be added to the Structural Correctness and Balance Scores. The Total Ranch Conformation Score will be the addition of the Structural Correctness Score (legs) plus the Balance Score (form) and the Function Score (10% of Cutting-Working-Trail-Riding Scores).
c. Grooming: No hoof polish, braided manes, or tail extensions are allowed. Trimming inside the ear is discouraged. Trimming bridal paths, fetlocks or facial hair is allowed.
d. Amateur and Youth Divisions Ranch Form Conformation Judging: All horses will be judged individually. There will be one horse being judged in the arena at a time and it will be dismissed from the arena once the judge signals completion. The exhibitor will walk the horse to the judge from the start cone, square the horse for inspection and maintain the horse both square and alert with balanced weight on all four legs during the judge’s evaluation. Upon the judge’s instruction, the exhibitor will trot the horse to a designated cone, turning 90° at the cone and continue trotting to a second cone, again turning 90° at the second cone and continue trotting to a third cone where he/she will stop and again square the horse for inspection. Upon the signal from the judge, the horse and exhibitor will be excused from the arena.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details
The purpose of this class is to select horses that have the most positive combination of form-to-function: balance, way of going and structure, substance/muscle, and conformation features, as demonstrated in the four riding classes.
a. Form: 60% of the Ranch Conformation Score will be evaluated by the judge individually. Balance, way of going and structure, substance/muscle, head/neck, shoulders/withers/heart girth, and hip/loin/back will be rated on a scale from below average to excellent. Credit can be earned for good conditioning, showmanship and manners.
b. Function: The remaining 40% of the Ranch Conformation Score will be determined by the horse/rider team’s performance in Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, Ranch Cutting and Working Ranch Horse during the performance classes of the schooling competition. 10% of each class performance score will be added to the Structural Correctness and Balance Scores. The Total Ranch Conformation Score will be the addition of the Structural Correctness Score (legs) plus the Balance Score (form) and the Function Score (10% of Cutting-Working-Trail-Riding Scores).
c. Grooming: No hoof polish, braided manes, or tail extensions are allowed. Trimming inside the ear is discouraged. Trimming bridal paths, fetlocks or facial hair is allowed.
d. Amateur and Youth Divisions Ranch Form Conformation Judging: All horses will be judged individually. There will be one horse being judged in the arena at a time and it will be dismissed from the arena once the judge signals completion. The exhibitor will walk the horse to the judge from the start cone, square the horse for inspection and maintain the horse both square and alert with balanced weight on all four legs during the judge’s evaluation. Upon the judge’s instruction, the exhibitor will trot the horse to a designated cone, turning 90° at the cone and continue trotting to a second cone, again turning 90° at the second cone and continue trotting to a third cone where he/she will stop and again square the horse for inspection. Upon the signal from the judge, the horse and exhibitor will be excused from the arena.
<<< See Rule Book for More Details
