Country or Western Country?

[Fred]

I DO happen to show BOTH registries and I DO know the differences. Yes everyone is entitled to an opinion but if you don't drive why complain. I have horses that can go either country or open and I have a road horse that can go pleasure or park. It is HOW they are driven and the talent they posess that makes them able to switch. AMHR also has hunter,jumper, obstacle etc. I know because we also show those classes in open, youth and amateur. There are MANY very talented horses and drivers that are also able to go in either class. I do know however the horses that tend to be pinned in AMHA as a pleasure horse are a lot more like AMHR country horses.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

I But, for now I only show AMHA because their shows offer me more classes. I I like to do things like hunter, jumper, and halter & driving obstacle. At AMHA shows, I am offered the option to do all of these classes in open and amatuer. I am not given that opportuninty at the R shows.

This is a bit off subject but... why cant you do ammy hunter, jumper and halter and driving obstacle and for that matter in hand obstacle? At every AMHR show I have ever been to short of some performance shows (and halter) they offer those classes in ammy,open and youth

 

[R3]

Lisa, I don't know about the R shows in your area, but here I have not seen the Amatuer division offered in all of those classes. I don't have a show premium in front of me, so don't remember exactly, but I think it is the obstacle classes that don't offer the Amatuer classes, and the obstacle classes are my favorites. Does AMHR have Amatuer Halter Obstacle or Amatuer Obstacle driving at their National Show? I thought I read here on the Forum that is wasn't offered at the National Show, only Open and Youth?

Maybe I should start a separate thread, as this is getting a little off topic, but Fred, I would love to have a good 'picture' of what the a country pleasure horse and a pleasure horse are supposed to look like, the differences between the two, and how you change the way you drive a horse so that it can be competitive in both divisions (I am assuming you mean at different shows as there is no cross-entering allowed.)

I have watched a lot of the AMHA drivng classes, and I have trouble telling Country from Single if I just walk up to the rail in the middle of a class. It isn't until they announce a gait change (since they call for different gaits) that I know which class I'm looking at.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

They do offer it at most local shows (at least that I have been to) however no not at Nationals (the obstacle and driving obstacle) in ammy however I have been told by many that enter it that not alot of trainers go in as it is the last day

But I havent been in the class so I don't know if that part is true or not

 

[mondak]

"If the horse has some flexion in knees & hocks to go with his nice long action, fine, but if it's that stiff legged, ground skimming trot that some minis do--no, that's not what I think CP should be. Good movement IMO means knee & hock flexion."

If the horse has no hock or knee flexion then it should be veted and for sure not driven...I do not want to see a class started for the comformationally challenged. I agree with everyone that there should be no need for the WP class but lets face it, the judges are still going to pin break level horses in C/P and (at least not in my life time) that will not change. My horse does have hock flexion, a ground covering trot, and is pleasurable to drive so why am I getting gated at every show? Because I am competiting against horses that in my mind, should be in open, but again we have that trickle down effect. Until this changes I will compete in WP or deal with getting the gate in C/P because I refuse to check my horse up to an unatural set and try to make something of him that he is not. It is sad because I see some truely wonderful country horses gated because the competition is too flashy for the class. :no:

 

[Fred]

It is truly hard to put a picture up of a country horse vs a pleasure horse as you really have to SEE the motion. The way you tell is by watching lots and lots and lots of horses. I am fortunate because watching movement in horses is part of my livelihood as a farrier. To get a horse to drive differently is a lot like dressage. Watch a higher level dressage horse and you can see the changes in movement and how the rider gets the changes. The same can be done in driving if the horse is talented enough. The more you watch the more you will see.