Working western classes

[ClemsonASB]

Has anyone competed in these classes at ASB shows? There's some interest to try to get them back at shows in the Carolinas circuit and I was wondering how the classes go, what is usually counted against you and what some of the typical obstacles were. Any info would be appreciated!

[jshay]

They have these at several shows in my area. I have not competed, but have watched.
The obstacles I have seen are a jump, a bridge, a gate to open and close, a mailbox on a post, poles/dogleg to go into and back out of.....that is all I can remember.
The classes I saw had less entries than the regular western classes and the jump seemed to be the obstacle that was most difficult. They had several tries at eacj obstacle, then moved to the next. Hope this helps.

[wstrngrl]

Has anyone competed in these classes at ASB shows? There's some interest to try to get them back at shows in the Carolinas circuit and I was wondering how the classes go, what is usually counted against you and what some of the typical obstacles were. Any info would be appreciated!

I use to compete in them all the time when I was showing, they were my favorite class!

Here are 11 examples of patterns used (look for the ones that say "Shatner Working Pattern" ones that have an "a" and "b" one is the pattern, the other is the written description) #10 is the pattern for the Shatner Working Finals in 2002

http://pets.webshots.com/album/45856200ToXArB?start=12

If you are doing a Shatner (Saddle & Bridle) Working Western class; all the entries come in and do the rail work first then exit, the obstacles are set up, then each entry completes the pattern.

Failure to complete an obstacle, wrong leads, not halting, wrecking an obsticle (knocking over cones, moving poles, ect), sloppy transitions, ect are things the count against you. Judges should look for good gaits; crisp, prompt gait changes at the correct marks; clean execution of obstacles; proper pivots; ect

Common obstacles are:
-poles (walk, jog, or lope over)
-serpentine though cones (jog or loping with lead changes most common)
-bridges ("actual" real wood bridge with a small step up and down, a flat piece of plywood usually; some places put down poles in the shape of an '8' and call it a bridge)
-pivot 360 degrees in a defined circle/box (defined with cones, poles, or a baby powder line)
-sidepass over pole
-Back a keyhole (I've only seen it a couple times in the almost 10 years I showed in Working classes, I can't remember exactly how to execute it)
-Back through a "L" (much more common than the keyhole)

[cparker912]

The best thing is to make them somewhat simple at first...then as participation grows the course can be more elaborate! They are fun classes and we would gladly enter them at some of the Carolina shows.

[ClemsonASB]

i dont think the patterns are going to be very complicated because of having to set it all up then take it down. i was thinking it'd be like some poles to go over, serpentine through cones, a gate, mailbox, maybe a bridge but no lead changes or anything like that but i dont know. i didnt know they asked for lead changes. i ride a 17 yr old and teaching him lead changes would not be good for him lol but i am very excited about the thought of possibly having a "new" class for western horses and i'd just be doing it for fun, wouldnt matter if i was in dead last

[wstrngrl]

i dont think the patterns are going to be very complicated because of having to set it all up then take it down. i was thinking it'd be like some poles to go over, serpentine through cones, a gate, mailbox, maybe a bridge but no lead changes or anything like that but i dont know. i didnt know they asked for lead changes. i ride a 17 yr old and teaching him lead changes would not be good for him lol but i am very excited about the thought of possibly having a "new" class for western horses and i'd just be doing it for fun, wouldnt matter if i was in dead last

just so you know, they don't ask for flying lead changes. When a pattern asks for a serpentine at the lope, you halt and pick up the next lead. So as long as your horse can pick up a lope from a halt away from the rail, teaching him to lope a serpentine shouldn't be too hard. Just don't rush the changes.

Also, a pattern can be very complicated without having a lot of set up. Lots of pivots, lead changes, gait changes, and halts can make it complicated; and that's before you start adding the obstacles ;)