SubscribeGift a Sub
Enable cache 100

Video: AQHA Western Pleasure Judging

Learn what western pleasure judges are looking for and see some of the common faults of gait that you should avoid with your western pleasure horse.



 



Watch more horse videos >>

For more information
Western Perception
American Quarter Horse Association

 

Abigail Boatwright

Abigail Boatwright is a freelance writer and photographer based in Texas, and is the editor of Horse Illustrated’s sister publication, Western Life Today.

View Comments

  • This video was very easy to understand, follow, and grasp exactly what the judges were saying. i mysef wish to one day be a accomplished judge, and this video gave mme some helpfu insight to judging in the future. Thankyou

  • Excuse me. Do these judges even read? NATURAL GAITS Check out the descriptions contained in the rules for WP and you will find that these presentations violate the rules. Such violations inflict pain and distress upon the horses.

  • Thank you for posting this video! I now better understand how I should be riding. With all of the not so pleasant stuff in the past of WP, I was a little confused about what they wanted to see now. Thanks!

  • OMG, you're still making your horses move like cripples. They're TRANSPORTATION, not DECORATION. Learn from the TWHA and fix your obscene judging before someone fixes it for you!!!

  • Well this is some peoples talent just like your talent and don't think they just hopped on these horses and did this. At this level it probably took years to train these horses. These horses are amazing and they don't take that for granted.

  • Those horses look like they are limping when they perform those 'gaits'. Extremely unattractive way to present a horse. They all look beaten down with no light in their eyes. But maybe that's how those cowboys/girls like their horses?

Recent Posts

All About the Belgian Draft Horse

When standing near a Belgian Draft Horse, it’s easy to feel small—intimated, even. But the Belgian Draft is the epitome…

5 hours ago

Best Horse Blanketing Practices

Opinions about blanketing can be as varied as the weather itself, and horse owners are often confused when confronted with…

3 days ago

ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Cat (Cutters D Bar Chex)

Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…

4 days ago

The Risk of Ticks with Horses

While many experts agree that fleas are an uncommon parasite for horses, ticks can be prevalent and potentially present a…

1 week ago

AHP Equine Industry Survey Returns in 2025

Horse owners who live in the United States, are 18 years of age and older, and currently own or manage…

1 week ago

Is My Horse Cold? – An Excerpt from Keeping Horses Outdoors by Iveta Jebáčková-Lažanská

Is your horse cold in the winter? The following excerpt from Keeping Horses Outdoors by Iveta Jebáčková-Lažanská helps answer that question…

1 week ago