2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

94 Section 9. Western Horsemanship A. Class Description: Western Horsemanship is a pattern class, designed to evaluate the rider’s ability, in concert with their horse, to execute a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge. Maneuvers are to be performed with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence and maintaining a balanced, functional and fundamentally correct body position. Patterns should be designed to test the horseman’s ability. The ideal horsemanship pattern is extremely precise, with the rider and horse working in complete unison, executing each maneuver with subtle aids and cues. B. Class Procedures: 1. The pattern to be worked must be posted at least one hour prior to the commencement of the class. In the event the judge requires additional work for final placing consideration, no posting for this work is required. 2. All exhibitors may enter the ring and then work individually, or each exhibitor may be worked from the gate individually. When exhibitors are worked individually from the gate, a working order is required. Exhibitors should be instructed to either leave the arena, fall into line, or fall into place on the rail after their work. 3. The whole class, or just the finalists, must demonstrate the gaits, and may be directed to work at the Trail Walk, Flat Foot Walk, Fox Trot and Lope, at the discretion of the judge, at least one direction of the arena. 4. The following maneuvers are acceptable in a pattern: Trail walk, flat foot walk, fox trot, lope in a straight line, curved line, serpentine, circle or figure 8, or combination of these gaits and maneuvers; stop, back in a straight or curved line; turn or pivot, including spins and rollbacks on the haunches and/or the forehand; side pass, two track or leg yield; flying or simple lead change; counter canter or any other maneuver; or ride without stirrups. A back should be asked for at some time during the class. 5. Judges should not ask exhibitors to mount or dismount. 6. All ties will be broken at the judge’s discretion. C. Judging Considerations: 1. Overall Appearance of Exhibitor and Horse: Correct equitation shall be a major consideration when judging the Horsemanship class (See Section 3. A & B Equitation/Horsemanship). The exhibitor’s overall poise, confidence, appearance and position throughout the class and the physical appearance of the horse will also be evaluated. a) Appropriate western attire must be worn. Clothes and person are to be neat and clean. b) The exhibitor should not crowd the exhibitor next to or in front of them when working on the rail and should pass to the inside of the arena. c) When reversing on the rail, the exhibitor should always reverse to the inside of the arena. d) Appearance of Horse: the horse’s body condition and overall health and fitness should be assessed. The horse should appear fit and carry weight appropriate for the body size. A horse which appears sullen, dull, lethargic, emaciated, drawn or overly tired should be penalized according to severity. e) Tack should fit the horse properly, be neat, clean and in good repair. 2. Performance a) The exhibitor should perform the work accurately, precisely, smoothly and with a reasonable amount of promptness. Increasing speed of the maneuvers performed increases the degree of difficulty. However, accuracy and precision should not be sacrificed for speed. b) Exhibitors that perform the pattern sluggishly and allow their horse to move without adequate impulsion, collection or cadence will be penalized. c) The horse should perform all maneuvers in the pattern willingly, briskly and readily with minimal visible or audible cueing. Failure to follow the prescribed pattern, knocking over or working on the wrong side of the cones or severe disobedience will not result in a