Quarter Horse
Stay Current With AQHA's New Western Pleasure DVD
By
Jun 10, 2009, 11:23

AQHA has released "Showing to Win: Western Pleasure," an in-depth look at one of the most popular western show classes, geared for all western pleasure exhibitors, trainers and judges.

AQHA Professional Horseman and world champion exhibitor Dave Dellin and National Snaffle Bit Association Executive Director Dianne Eppers go through the basics of the expectations in the western pleasure discipline through the eyes of an AQHA or NSBA judge. The DVD covers topics such as over-canting, taking gaits in a timely manner, passing and more.

The DVD's chapters are "Cadence and Rhythm," "Consistency of Performance," "Topline and Expression" and "Presentation." It gives examples of the same horse presented in two different manners -- credit-earning and noncredit-earning -- and includes video clips from AQHA World Championship Show performances, along with footage specially filmed for this project.

Through the generosity of The American Quarter Horse Journal, AQHA judges will receive a free judge's copy of the DVD for review.

"We think this DVD will be informative to help all western pleasure exhibitors, amateurs and professionals understand that correct presentation and showing by the rules of the class will enhance the performance of their horses and, ultimately, their final placing," said Alex Ross, AQHA executive director of judges. "We also hope it will help them to know the judges' expectations. We think if the exhibitors understand how they will be judged, they'll have a better understanding of how to correctly present their horses."

AQHA and NSBA worked with some of the top 100 riders in the western pleasure discipline in the development of this DVD. In an opening montage, leading western pleasure trainers express their image of the ideal western pleasure horse.

The DVD retails for $24.95, but AQHA members receive a $5 discount. The DVD can be purchased at Quarter Horse Outfitters, www.aqhastore.com. AQHA and Quarter Horse Outfitters are donating a percentage of the proceeds to the AQHA Professional Horsemen's Crisis Fund.

This western pleasure DVD is the first in a series, presenting the standards expected in AQHA's most popular classes. Watch for more class DVDs in the Showing to Win series to be released by AQHA.

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