NSHO Classes Explained
Ranch Herd Work
Judging will begin at the time line. The contestant shall approach the herd with no hesitation, weaving or reluctance on the part of the horse to enter the herd sufficiently deep enough to show his ability to make a cut. The horse shall work quietly, but alertly, causing very little disturbance to the herd or the animal brought out. Credit will be given for driving cattle, clearing the herd by a sufficient distance and setting up a cow while holding it in a working position as near the center of the arena as possible. The degree of difficulty, eye appeal and the amount of courage in staying on a tough cow will be taken into consideration. The amount of time actually spent working cattle in the 2 minute period will have a positive effect on the total score. The horse should show a great deal of expression but no ill will toward the animal. Judging will end at the whistle.
Cattle Driving
Class is to be judged on the horse’s natural cow ability, response to the rider’s cues, and the rider’s stockmanship. The objective is to drive a single cow through a lane and put it in a pen at the opposite end of the arena as if moving a cow in a stock yard. The class is evaluated as if the judge owns the cattle and they are being shipped to market. Excessive speed and stress as a result of the horse’s or rider’s methods equates to weight loss of the cattle and will result in lower scores. Calm, quite, and pragmatic work on the cow while demonstrating cow sense by the horse and stock sense by the rider is to be credited.
Trail Class
The trail class is judged on the performance of the horse over obstacles with emphasis on manner, attitude, and response to the rider. Credit is to be given to horses negotiating obstacles with style and demonstrating a willing response to the rider’s cues.
Required obstacles include: bridge, trot over logs, and a backing obstacle.
The trail class must include three forward moving gaits (walk, trot, and lope).
Reining Class
Reining is a judged event designed to show the athletic ability of a ranch type horse in the confines of a show arena. In reining competition, contestants are required to run a predetermined pattern. To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely. Each contestant will perform the required pattern individually and separately. All horses will be judged immediately upon entering the arena. Credit will be given for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness and authority in performing the various maneuvers while using controlled speed.
Scoring and penalties will be the same for Reining and Reined Cow Horse classes, scoring each maneuver with an average score equaling a 70.
Reining patterns will be posted no later than the morning of the show and will come from the current year AQHA rule book for reining patterns for the Open and Non-Pro Divisions.
Ranch Roping
The idea of this class is to demonstrate the ability of the horse and rider’s skill of roping a single cow as if they were doctoring injured or sick cattle. Cattle should be handled as calmly and slowly as possible. The judge should judge this class as if the cattle belonged to him or her. At no time should there be excessive running or disruption of the herd. Up to two loops (but no more than two) may be attempted within the 90 second time limit. The loop must go over the head of the intended cow, rope dallied, and honda split within 90 seconds to complete the class and receive a judged score. Credit is given for quietness, rope handling skills (including catch), and the ability of the horse to work in partnership with the rider to accomplish the roping task.
For the Open and Non-Pro Divisions only: If the second loop thrown by a competitor catches an animal determined by the judge not to be the original animal targeted for the first throw, the score will be a 60 for the run.
For the Novice and Youth divisions only: A competitor who misses an animal with their first loop may target a different animal and receive a score if another loop within the time frame makes a legal catch.
Ranch Rail Pleasure (& Walk / Trot)
The Ranch Rail Pleasure horse should reflect the versatility, attitude, and movement of a working horse. The horse’s performance should simulate a horse riding outside the confines of an arena and represent that of a working ranch horse. This class should show the horse’s ability to work at a forward, working speed while under control by the rider. Light contact should be rewarded and horses shall not be shown on full drape of reins. The overall manners and responsiveness of the horse while performing the maneuver requirements, and the horse’s quality of movement are the primary considerations. Horses will work at the rail as a full class, both ways of the arena, and at all three gates (except the walk/trot class which excludes the lope).
Ranch Horse Riding
The Ranch Horse Riding horse should reflect the versatility, attitude, and movement of the working horse. The horse’s performance should simulate a horse riding outside the confines of an arena and that of a working ranch horse. This class should show the horse’s ability to work at a forward, working speed while under control by the rider. Light contact should be rewarded and the horse shall not be shown on a full drape of reins. The overall manners and responsiveness of the horse while performing the maneuver requirements, and the horse’s quality of movement are the primary considerations. Competitors will complete the class individually.
Patterns for all divisions will come from the current year AQHA rulebook.
Each maneuver will be scored from -1.5 to +1.5 in ½ point increments. A score of 70 denotes an average performance.
Working Cow Horse - Boxing Only
Working Cow Horse -Boxing Only consists of a single cow work (boxing) on the short end of the arena. Each contestant upon receiving a cow in the arena shall hold that cow on the prescribed short end of the arena for 45 seconds, demonstrating the ability of the horse and rider to control the cow. Time shall begin when the gate closes behind the cow after being let into the arena. The announcer or judge will signal the completion of the 45 seconds with a whistle or horn. There shall be no schooling between between cows if a new cow is awarded or a cattle score of zero (0) will be given.
Ranch Cutting
Ranch Cutting is to be judged on the horse’s natural cow ability, agility, and response to the rider’s cues. The objective is to cut a cow from the herd, establish a working position in the center of the pen, demonstrate control, and pen the cow within a 2½ minute time limit. Credit will be given to a horse that displays softness, cow sense, and control in the herd, during the cut, and during the drive to and penning of the cow. This class is to be evaluated by the judge as if he or she owns the cattle and is paying for the cattle to be cut, evaluated, and penned on the ranch.
Each run is to be evaluated by the judge for the following run content; herd work, the cut, working time, drive to the pen, and degree of difficulty.