Most western pleasure horses perform at the walk, jog and lope, yet some breeds perform at running walk, pace or other breed-specific gait. The majority of the western pleasure community consists of horses in the American Quarter Horse, Arabian, Appaloosa and Paint horse breeds. There are a variety of opportunities to explore the community, both through local shows and on the national level.

Getting involved

There are several ways to become involved in the western pleasure community. If you are a beginner, it is likely that your local shows will offer western pleasure classes, which will include all different breeds of horses. Depending on the size of the show, the organizers may divide the class by the age of the rider or into different categories for horses and ponies.

As you become more advanced, you may want to attend larger western pleasure shows, most of which are breed-specific. The Web site for your particular breed will include a calendar with a list of competitions and may even post show bills online. If not, contact the show organizer, whose information should be on the Web site, and that organization can mail, e-mail or fax a copy of the show schedule to you. You will be able to see which classes are best suited for you and your horse. Larger shows often divide the classes by age of both rider and horse. You may also find other classes to show in, such as western showmanship, horsemanship or trail. Many breed shows offer high-point awards for the horse and rider combination that earns the most points during each show.

What to expect

It is important to know what to expect when entering these classes. Western pleasure is a rail class, and you will walk, jog and lope both directions of the ring. The judge watches the horse to see how pleasant he appears to be when being ridden. Additionally, his gaits should be smooth, and he should readily respond to your commands. Other classes, such as western horsemanship, judge the rider more strictly or the team of horse and rider. In some of these classes, you will perform a pattern. If you have any questions about a class, ask the secretary when you sign up.

National level

Once you have mastered the western pleasure classes in your local area, you may wish to attend a national show.  Because the qualification for these classes differs with each breed, check the Web site of the organization whose shows you are interested in competing in. These shows are a wonderful showcase of the western pleasure horse community, with not only show classes, but often a horse auction and a trade show with great shopping. Even if you are not ready to compete, visiting one of these events is a great experience. The American Quarter Horse Association holds its annual World Show in Oklahoma City, Okla. Fort Worth, Texas, hosts both the Appaloosa and Paint Association World Show, while the Arabian World Show takes place in Scottsdale, Ariz.