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WESTERN STATES
WILD HORSE AND BURRO EXPO
August 19 – 21, 2005
Reno Livestock Events Center
Reno, Nevada
RANCH VERSATILITY COMPETITION
Ranch Versatility is Expo’s newest division. Modeled after the AQHA's Ranch Versatility classes, this competition promotes the functionality, athletic ability and versatility of the American Mustang*.
Ranch Versatility classes demonstrate the versatility of the working ranch Mustang in five categories:
Ranch riding (Western Pleasure will count as this class)
Ranch trail (Trail Under Saddle will be our Ranch Trail class, with added requirements for those in the Ranch Versatility Series)
Ranch cutting
Working ranch horse
Ranch conformation (Halter)
To be eligible for points in the Ranch Versatility Mustang competition, one rider/horse pair must enter all five classes.
RANCH RIDING
This class shows the horse's ability to move at a working speed with a rider. Horses will be shown at three gaits walk, trot and lope in each direction of the arena. Horses also will be asked to change directions while on the rail, stop and back. A horse will be given credit for traveling with his head held in a normal position, ears alert and moving at a natural speed for the gait requested. Credit also will be given for making a smooth transition between the gaits, for keeping the correct lead and for maintaining the gait until the judge asks for a change. A rider must show his horse with only one hand on the reins, unless the horse is being shown in a snaffle bit or hackamore (bosal). (AQHA requires horses over 5 to be in bit with one-rein handling. Due to the various ages at which mustangs are adopted, and differences in training philosophies, we allow snaffle bit regardless of age)
RANCH TRAIL
This class contains a course with a minimum of six obstacles and is designed to show a horse's ability and willingness to perform several tasks that might be asked of him during the course of a normal day's ranch work. Whenever possible, realistic or natural obstacles are encouraged and the course is encouraged to be set outside of an arena using the natural terrain of the land. The horse will be judged on three gaits: walk, trot and lope, performed between the six obstacles to be determined when the judge chooses the pattern. A horse will be rewarded with higher credit for performing these gaits on the correct lead and with an alert attitude.
Mandatory obstacles include:
· Opening, passing through and closing a gate
· Dragging a log either in a straight line or around a set pattern
· Dismount, Bridle Removal and Feet Pick: The horse remains quiet while the rider dismounts, removes the bit completely from the horse's mouth and re-bridles, and then picks up all four of the horse's feet.
· Optional obstacles include crossing a water hazard; being hobbled or ground tied; crossing a bridge; and any other obstacles determined by the show committee.
RANCH CUTTING
Rider must cut a single numbered cow from the herd and the horse must demonstrate its ability to work the cow. When satisfied that the horse has proven its cutting ability, the horse and rider must then pen the cow at the far end of the arena. Contestants will have 2 1/2 minutes to cut and pen a designated cow from a herd of at least 10 head. Horses will not be penalized for reining during the cutting portion and should display the horse's natural cow ability.
WORKING RANCH HORSE
This class combines the ability of the working ranch horse to rein, handle cattle and put its rider in the position to rope and stop a cow.
The class is to be judged in three sections:
reining
cow work
roping
Scores from each section are added together for the final score of the class.
TIME
Each contestant will perform individually. A maximum of 6 minutes is allowed to complete the class. When the 6-minute time limit has expired, the exhibitor will be required to exit the arena.
Reining pattern:
One of two approved patterns will be used for this class. Maneuvers include at least one circle in both directions, a change of leads in each direction, at least one 360-degree turn in each direction, a rollback in each direction, stop and back.
Working the cow:
After the exhibitor has completed his reining pattern, he will call for the cow to be turned into the arena. Upon receiving the cow, the contestant shall hold the cow on the prescribed end of the arena for a sufficient amount of time to demonstrate the ability of the horse to contain the cow. After a reasonable amount of time, the contestant shall take the cow down the fence, making at least one turn each way on the fence.
Roping:
The exhibitor must then rope the cow and bring it to a stop. The horse is judged on his ability to trail, rate and stop the cow. There is to be no dragging and the exhibitor is allowed only two throws. Ropes cannot be tied to the saddle horn. It's not necessary for the exhibitor to catch in order to receive a score. However, if there is no catch, a five point penalty will be subtracted from the roping score.
Amateur and Youth entries my rope a straw bale "cow" instead of a live, moving one.
RANCH CONFORMATION (Halter)
The ranch conformation class will be based on balance, conditioning, structural correctness, & gender characteristic, with the degree of muscling with balance being the most important. Horses are to be shown in a good working halter (rope, braided, nylon or plain leather). Horses will walk to the judge one at a time then trot straight to a cone. At the cone, the horse will continue trotting, turn to the left and trot toward the left wall or fence of the arena. After trotting, horses will be lined up head to tail for individual inspection by the judge. The judge shall inspect each horse from both sides, front and rear.
The ranch conformation class will be held after the conclusion of the other four events. All sexes will be shown together as one class.
DISCLAIMER/PLEA FOR SUPPORT:
Bringing cows to Expo is expensive. For that reason, we need to have at least 4 people entered in all 5 classes by August 1, or we will have to cancel this division.
We also need sponsorships for the ribbons and top prizes for this competition.
$25 sponsors one class
$100 sponsors Reserve Championship prize (to be determined)
$200 sponsors Championship prize (to be determined)
RIDER DIVISIONS:(may ride stallions, mares or geldings)
- Amateur
- Open
Youth over 13 may enter either Amateur or Open
Entry Fee: Before August 1: $10 each class (total of $50 for entire Ranch Versatility Series), $12 after August 1, and $15 same-day registration (Same day must be completed by 8 AM)
Wild Classification: Freeze-branded BLM or Nevada Department of Agriculture, or other wild-bred horses from Indian Reservations, USFWS, USFS, throughout the US and those private ranchos in the American Southwest that contain wild horse bands.
Appendix Classificiation: Domestic-born horses with one wild-bred or wild-born parent, and un-branded wild-born horses who lack documentation to prove wild status. (This is basically Honor system: The day we start getting "ringers" is the day we know we're getting somewhere raising the status of Mustangs in the overall horse world)
If you don’t already have a Mustang, you still have time to get one!
since 7 PM January 18, 2005
