What is Ranch Riding?
Ranch Riding classes are designed to showcase the movement and versatility of ranch style horses. Riders and their horses work individually in the ring to complete a pre-determined pattern which is scored by a judge. The pattern may consist of specified gaits: walk, trot, extended trot, lope, and extended lope; along with some optional maneuvers and a change of direction somewhere in the pattern.
Optional maneuvers may include sidepass; turns of 360 degrees or more; change of leads (simple or flying); walk, jog, or lope over poles; and any other reasonable ranch maneuver.
AQHA publishes the patterns used in Ranch Riding. They can be downloaded at https://www.aqha.com/ranch-riding1
Classes may be split or combined based on entries received.