Western Performance disciplines trace their roots to competitive cowboys wanting to prove they were the best rider who rode the best horse. These informal competitions have evolved in the past 100 years to organized events with specific rules and organizations to govern them.
Though originating in the United States, participation in western riding has quickly spread around the World.
Open to Western Performance equestrian sites including:
Open to all associations and clubs promoting or sponsoring the sports of Western Performance, including Cutting, Reining, Barrel Racing, Show Pleasure, and Show Trail.
A uniquely Australian sport which combines the sport of Cutting and cowherding using a figure eight patterned course with a finishing "gate", all of which evolved from the old practice of selecting individual cattle from a large mob and driving the beast to a separate holding area, achieved through the skill of the horse and rider in blocking the attempts by the beast to return to the mob. An ACA approved judge awards scores for performance in the cut-out and also for skill and control in completing the course in the arena. In a large event, there may be several rounds, and the highest aggregate score will become the winner.
Open to all site promoting, sponsoring, or providing information on the sport of Campdrafting.
Cutting has evolved into tightly disciplined, highly developed sports that leaves behind none of the excitement and romance associated with the cowboy and the American West. Among the breeds you are most likely to find are the Quarter Horse and Paint.
Sites pertaining to the sport and breeds of Cutting, which originated from the original day to day work of the 1800s cow pony while managing cattle.
Reining horses are judges on a series of maneuvers - spinning, circles with change of speed and direction, rollbacks, and the crowd favorite - sliding stops. Reining began in the United States and is based upon the qualities desired in a good cow horse. Today Reining is enjoyed around the world and is the world's fastest growing equine sport.
Roping is a tradition of the Old West when cowboys would rope cattle for branding and doctoring purposes. Roping cattle was a valuable skill for cowboys and competitiveness grew among them as they worked to increase their skill.
Today the skill of roping has evolved into a competitive sport at rodeos and horseshows across the country. Modern-day cowboys compete individually in Calf Roping or in pairs as Team Ropers.
Please submit sites about roping and rope horses to this category.
Open to all sites that exclusively train specific breeds in western performance, including Quarter Horses, Arabs, Paints, Pintos, POA''s, and Appaloosas.