Western Performance Association (WPA)
Below are the divisions that the WPA has classes for. If there is a division you would
like added please contact us. The WPA will however, need several (at least 3) entries
to add the division. Each event will have an Open, Professional, Amateur, and Youth
classes for each event. For some events there may be a Junior Horse class and Senior
Horse class, a 2yo-3yo, or lunge line class for yearlings.
Reining
*Each contestant will perform the required pattern individually and separately. All horses will be judged
immediately upon entering the arena and judging will cease after the last manuever. Any fault incurred prior
to the commencement of a pattern will be scored accordingly.
*Manuevers may include the following:
+ Rollback
+ Sliding stop
+ Backing up
+ Spins (turn-arounds)
+ Loping circles (large and fast, small and slow)
+ Flying lead changes
Working Cow Horse
*Consists of a combination of reining and a pattern performed with one cow also.
*Both the cow work and reined work portion are mandatory.
*A pattern will be given for the competitor to peroform.
Western Riding
*An event where the horse is judged on quality of gaits, lead changes in the lope, response to the rider,
manners, and disposition.
*The rider will perform a pattern involving the following manuevers:
+ Jog or lope over log
+ Flying lead change
+ Stop and back
Trail
*Judged on the performance of the horse over obstacles, with emphasis on manners, response to the rider,
and quality of movement.
*Horses will not be required to work on the rail but the course will be designed to show the horse at the walk,
jog, and lope.
Barrel Racing
*A timed event in which the horse runs a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels. The fastest time wins.
Western Pleasure
*Judged on the three gaits (walk, jog, lope) of a horse. Horses should have a free-flowing stride of
reasonable length and cover a reasonable amount of ground with little effort.
Western Horsemanship
*Designed to evaluate the rider's ability to execute a set of manuevers in a pattern. Precise patterns are set
for each class.
*Manuevers include (but are not limited to):
+ Walk
+ Jog
+ Lope
+ Extended trot
+ Extended lope
+ Curved line, straight line
+ Serpentine
+ Circle
+ Figure 8
Cutting
*The rider/horse team has 2 1/2 minutes in the ring. They must "cut" out at least two, but no more than
three, cows from the herd and keep them from the herd. Each cow is cut separately and the time starts
when the rider enters the arena.
