A western pleasure show horse is judged on his calm demeanour and smooth flowing gaits. Highly strung horses will have trouble succeeding in such a class. The horse should be a pleasure to ride and needs to travel with a low head carriage. The topline should be level. Correct conformation and expert training will enable a horse to develop the muscling needed to travel in the required relaxed frame.

The gaits required are the walk, jog and lope. Contestants will also be asked to rein back. Choppy gaits are penalized as is an exceedingly slow way of going. Performing with little or no pressure on the reins is very important. The horse should appear to be the ideal mount for a relaxed ride. He should be calm and go forward on a loose rein. Changes in pace should occur with no visible commands being given by the rider.

The most popular breeds used in these classes are the stock horse breeds such as the American paint, the Quarter horse and the appaloosa. Arabians and Morgans are also quite popular. Breeds that carry their heads in a naturally higher position need consistent training if they are to achieve the required lower carriage.

The head should be carried level with the withers. Too much deviation from the horse's natural position will result in an unhappy and stressed mount. If the head is carried too low, the hindquarters will not engage properly and points will be lost. Consistent training is necessary to fully develop the muscles to enable the hind legs to come well under the body. The cadence or rhythm of the gaits, especially the jog, is important. Choppy or uneven strides are not desirable.

The rider wears western clothing. Jeans or dress pants, a fitted shirt, chaps and belt are standard as are cowboy boots and a hat. Waistcoats are popular. Anything that distracts from a smooth outline should be avoided. This includes bouncing ponytails, frills or puffy sleeves. A judge wants a clear view of the rider's position which should be as still as possible. Outfit styles change continually. Careful observation will tell you what is popular at any given time. Choose colors that harmonize with the color of your horse.

The horse and tack should be immaculate. Clip the legs, muzzle, face and ears. It is a requirement for some breeds that the mane and tail be left natural. The manes of stock horse breeds are usually shortened and often banded. Banding causes the mane to lie flat, contributing to a neat appearance.

Before adding a tail extension, check that it is not against the regulations. The tail is normally cut straight across the bottom. Hold the tail in a natural position before cutting off straight across the bottom. When at rest, the tail appears longer than it does when the horse is moving so don't cut off too much.

Clean your saddle and bridle thoroughly and polish any silver. Under-blankets should not be visible under the saddle. Be considerate in the ring. Try to enter the ring as an individual rather than as one of a bunch of riders. The neat and sparkling appearance of horse, saddlery and rider all help attract the judge's attention but the behavior and movement of the horse is the first priority in western pleasure show classes.