Manawatu Western Riding Club Inc.

We are passionate about our equine sport and love to share our experience with others. We run shows and clinics, hold monthly club days, and promote the sport of Western Riding The club is family orientated and offer a family concession membership fee $60 per year for a family or $35 for a single. Shows have classes with the following events:

Halter
- A Halter Class is defined as a class where

the horse is judged upon its conformation. The judge is looking for different characteristics when looking at each breed of horse. The handler has to walk and jog the horse to and past the judge so the judge can look at the horses legs and movement. The handler is then expected to stand the horse square so it is balanced on all fours so the judge can look at the horses topline and stance. Showmanship
- An individual event that is judged on the competitor exhibiting the best ability to show a horse in a halter with precision and safety (without touching it). Performing a set pattern including walk, jog, halt/set up for inspection, pivots and back up. Western Pleasure
- Competitors show on the rail together. Horses are shown at the walk, jog, lope and are required to rein back. The horse is judged on performance, conformation, quality and substance.. The announcer will let competitors know what gait to show at. The winning western pleasure horse is a pleasure to ride, perform with smooth transitions without visible commands on a reasonably loose rein. Trail
- An individual event the horse is shown over a series of obstacles mimicking those commonly encountered on the trail which test the horse's ability to safely, calmly and willingly negotiate these obstacles. Obstacles may include opening and closing a gate, walking over a bridge, loping/jogging/walking or side passing over poles, backing though poles or weaving cones. Horsemanship

Reining
- An individual event performed using one of the 14 patterns and consists of mostly, loping with controlled speed demonstrating circles, variation in speed, flying lead changes, roll backs and spins. Western Riding
- An individual riding event using a set pattern at specified gaits. Horses are judged on the qualities of each gait, flying changes of lead, response to the rider, manners, disposition and intelligence. This event requires a high degree of training for the horse. It involves a number of flying changes of lead at a controlled pace. This event is one of the most challenging of the western events. Working Cowhorse
- Working cow horse classes test the horse's ability to work and control cattle and its maneuverability and control by the rider. The competition consists of two parts: prescribed reined work and actual cow work. Judging is based on good manners, smoothness, cow sense and ease of reining. During the cow working part, one cow is turned into the arena. The horse is required to hold the cow on the end of the arena, make at least one turn each direction along the fence, and circle the cow both directions. Ranch Riding

Hunter Under Saddle

English Equitation

Throughout the 'off' season (winter May - October ) Club Days are held once per month. The emphasis during these months is on training our horses for the forthcoming season, although many will have been turned out for a spell after completing a hectic show season. The 'off' season provides time to bring out young or up coming horses, and to continue training for more seasoned horses. We have also been continuing our club days throughout the summer months as well. The club holds a monthly meeting in Feilding and we welcome interested riders and NON riders to these meetings, and club days & events.