Reining
Reining is currently the most popular discipline in Europe and is also known as Western-style dressage, with many fast-paced movements performed with precision. This discipline is ridden at a canter, mixed with changes of pace, spins, sliding stops and backing up. To be able to perform this discipline correctly, the horses have special shoes (sliding shoes) and the ground must also be suitable. A prescribed task (pattern) must be ridden by heart.
Freestyle Reining
Freestyle reining is particularly popular in the USA and is a magnet for spectators. The rider is free to choose who or what they want to interpret. They must choose suitable music and create their own pattern. Freestyle reining is comparable to freestyle dressage. In contrast to dressage freestyle, however, the interpretation of the chosen theme is often freer and looser, so it is not unusual to wear a suitable costume, for example. Freestyle reining, which is ridden entirely without a saddle or bridle, is also permitted. Perfectly executed maneuvers from the range of prescribed maneuvers that are coordinated with the music must be performed in the freestyle, which can last up to four minutes.
Trail
In trail riding, skill tasks are required, such as going through pasture gates without dismounting, which requires controlled, precise movement of the horse in all directions (backing up, lateral movements), or crossing wooden bridges, whereby the horse's composure and trust in the rider become visible. All possible and impossible situations that a rider may encounter in the field (on a trail ride) are simulated. It is important here that the horse moves calmly, independently and smoothly through the obstacles without much influence from the rider, but can still be directed with centimeter precision at all times. The test usually consists of six obstacles. It always includes the gate, a ride over at least four poles (at a walk, trot or canter, on a straight or curved line) and an obstacle that must be ridden through backwards (L, U or similar). The distances between the poles or obstacles are regulated. The gait between the obstacles is also specified. The scoring starts at 70 points, as in reining. Fault points are deducted from this, e.g. for hitting poles. The manner of the horse at the obstacle (calmness, head carriage, attentiveness) is also included in the score.
Western Pleasure
Western Pleasure wird in Gruppen geritten, bei der die drei Grundgangarten Walk (Schritt), Jog (Trab) und Lope (Galopp) sowie das Rückwärtsrichten und unter Umständen auch der Extended Trot am angemessen losen Zügel und auf beiden Händen verlangt wird. Wie der Name sagt: Es soll ein Vergnügen sein. Der Richter gibt an, was die Reiter tun müssen. Pleasure-Prüfungen unterscheiden sich durch die individuellen Vorgaben des Richters. Die Übergänge sollen exakt ausgeführt werden, wobei die Hilfen möglichst fein sein sollen. Dadurch wirkt es auf die Zuschauer sehr mühelos, verlangt aber von Reiter und Pferd ein Höchstmaß an Konzentration. Bewertet wird vor allem die Reinheit der Gänge (Takt), die Haltung des Pferdes, sowie die Rittigkeit bei den Übergängen. Trab (Jog) und Galopp (Lope) sollen in langsamen Tempo und möglichst weich geritten werden. Auch das Gesamtbild von Reiter und Pferd wird hier bewertet.
Western Horsemanship
In this competition, the rider's performance is assessed. Among other things, the rider's aids and posture during the individual lesson are assessed. The required task must be performed very precisely, which also requires enormous control of the horse. The maneuvers required of horse and rider are not spectacular, but very demanding. The test consists of two parts, the first of which counts for 80% of the score. In the first part, the rider completes a mostly short, but all the more precise individual task, also known as a pattern. The second part, the railwork, which accounts for 20% of the score, corresponds to a pleasure test. Here, the judge can decide whether to allow all participants to take part in the pleasure test. In contrast to a pleasure test, however, the rider is still judged here. If the rider makes a mistake, he will receive fewer points for this task or none at all.
Western Riding
Western Riding requires precise flying canter changes, which should be ridden softly and on an appropriately loose rein. This discipline is considered one of the most difficult. A task ("pattern") must be ridden in accordance with the rule book, whereby precision is required above all in the canter changes between the cones.
Versatility Ranch Horse
This discipline was created a few years ago by the AQHA to show the all-round abilities of the western horse. At Versatility Ranch Horse, the horses are shown in the following five disciplines: Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, Ranch Cutting, Working Ranch Horse and Ranch Conformation.
Showmanship at Halter
Showmanship at Halter is a discipline in which the focus is not on riding, but on correct groundwork as a training standard. It is offered in all performance classes (EWU). Only the participant is judged on how he presents his horse at the halter. Naturally, a well-trained, calm horse has a positive influence on the overall assessment. In addition to the correct positioning of the horse and the exact completion of the required task, the condition of the horse, equipment and clothing are also part of the assessment. Originally, this test was intended to prepare inexperienced exhibitors for the Halter test. However, it is now possible to qualify for the EWU German Championships.
Halter
The Halter classes of the breeding associations are purely a breeding show for Western horse breeds. The conformation is assessed and thus whether the horse presented corresponds to the breeding objectives of the association. The tests take place unsaddled in hand (halter = halter). The horses are trotted out and then judged standing.
The classes are divided according to age (foals, yearlings, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, older horses) and according to the sex of the horses, i.e. there are separate classes for stallions, geldings and mares. There will also be classes in the various performance categories of the exhibitors (youngsters, amateur and open).
Cutting
The disciplines in which cattle are used are called cutting, working cowhorse and team penning. These are also widespread in Europe - especially cutting and working cowhorse. Cutting is the third most lucrative sport in the world in terms of prize money (after tennis and golf). Cattle classes are expensive for the practitioner because, in addition to a suitable horse, the riders must also have cutting machines (= mechanical cow) or even a whole herd of cattle available for training so that the horses remain "fresh" and in training. In addition, the prize money in Europe is nowhere near the same level as in the USA. The cattle discipline of cutting is a classic spectator magnet. The rider has to "cut" a cow out of a herd (hence cutting = to cut) and prevent it from returning to the rest of the herd following its natural herd instinct. The rider has 2½ minutes to demonstrate his horse's skills on the cattle. He can work as many cattle as he wants, but may only stop working a cow if it does not want to move at all or turns its back to him. The rider may no longer give any visible aids when the cattle are separated from the herd and must place the rein hand on the horse's neck. Western horse breeds have a natural instinct for working cattle, the so-called cow sense, due to their decades of breeding as ranch horses. The horse works completely independently on the cattle. Almost cat-like, the horses follow the cattle's movements to prevent them from running back to the herd. Each rider chooses a team to help him with the work. Two cornermen or herdholders and two turnbackmen. The team of helpers is usually recruited from the participants and therefore actually from competitors. The work of the team of helpers is not judged.
Working Cowhorse
This cattle discipline is ridden in two parts. In the first part, horse and rider show their skills in a reining pattern, i.e. "dry work". In the second part, "fence work" is required. Here, the rider must first hold a cow on the short side (boxing), then turn twice against the long side (fence). The final part is the circling of the cattle on each hand in the middle of the arena (with a flying canter change of the horse). The horse's cow sense is particularly important here.
Team Penning
Within a time limit of 1½ minutes, a team (three riders) must separate up to three cattle (which are marked by color or number) from the herd and lock them in a pen. When starting or crossing the timeline (center line), the targeted color or number to be sorted out by the team is called. No more than four cattle may cross the center line of the arena, otherwise the team is disqualified. The team that manages the most cattle (maximum three) wins. If several teams manage this, the team that manages this in the shortest time wins.
Ranch Sorting
Similar to penning. However, ten cattle are numbered from 0 to 9 with spray paint (non-toxic). The ring announcer then calls out an arbitrary sequence of numbers, as specified by the judges, when the timeline (center line), this time the center of the arena or riding arena, which has been narrowed to about three meters by panels, is crossed. And the cattle must then be driven into the pen in exactly this order. Again, the time limit is 2:30 minutes. The fastest team (two riders) wins. If no team makes it in the allotted time, the team with the most cattle wins.
Hunter under Saddle
The rider should present a willing, easy to ride horse with a full gait. The horse is presented in an English saddle and bridle and the rider is required to wear appropriate clothing. The judge rates the horse at 80 %, condition and conformation at 20 %.
Similar to Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle requires the three basic gaits Walk, Trot and Canter, but at a faster pace. In the Hunter Hack class, two jumps must also be completed.
Barrel Race
In the barrel race, a triangle marked by three oil drums (barrels) must be ridden through as quickly as possible. The barrel race is ridden at rodeos by both men and women. From a flying start, the barrels are circled in the order left barrel, right barrel, rear barrel or right barrel, left barrel, rear barrel. The barrels may be touched, but not knocked over. Knocking over a barrel costs five penalty seconds. Barrel racing is the most popular discipline in tournament sport in the USA.
Pole Bending
In pole bending, six poles are set up 21 feet apart, which must be ridden through as a slalom. Knocking over a pole is penalized with a time penalty, missing a pole with disqualification. Flying starts are permitted.
Pleasure Driving
There is even a class in which the horse is harnessed to a sulky (pleasure driving), but this class is extremely rare in Germany.
The gaits required are walk and trot at two different speeds (road gait and park gait) on both hands.
Superhorse
Superhorse is a mixture within a pattern that consists of elements of the disciplines Trail, Reining, Western Riding and Ranch Riding.
This discipline is only offered by the EWU and SWRA; the VWB offers the Western Combination, which has a similar structure to the Superhorse.