focus on
RANCH HORSE
exhibitors box the cow at one end of the arena for 50 seconds. Limited exhibitors complete box-drive-box-drive, holding the cow at one end, driving it down the fence, boxing it at the opposite end and driving it back past the middle marker. Open, Amateur and Youth exhibitors complete full cow work: box- ing, turning the cow in both directions along the fence and then either circling or roping it. Open is required to rope, while Youth and Amateur have the option. Ranch Conformation, some- times called ranch halter, eval- uates the physical qualities of a useful ranch horse. Judges con- sider balance, structural cor- rectness, movement, muscling, manners and overall ranch horse type. AQHA VRH offers Open,
Amateur, Limited Amateur, Rookie Amateur, Youth, Limited Youth and Rookie Youth divi- sions. WCRH also offers Green Horse and Green as Grass divi- sions to help less-experienced horses and riders get started as well as All-Breed equivalents to the AQHA divisions. Although exhibitors may
enter individual classes, earning a VRH all-around title requires true versatility. Within the same division, a horse-and-rider team must show in at least one
“dry” class (Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail or Ranch Reining), at least one catle class (Ranch Cuting or Ranch Cow Work) and Ranch Conformation. By establishing Southern
California’s only AQHA VRH shows, WCRH created an important new opportunity for local horses and riders. The organization made World Show qualification more accessible while providing the education and preparation exhibitors needed to confidently enter the VRH arena. Based on interest in the inaugural series, WCRH is considering offering VRH com- petition again next year. Reach out to the association if you or your barn is interested in this opportunity for next year.
September, 2026
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Johnny Flores and Peptos Cielito Lindo box a cow in the AQHA VRH Open Cow Work.
Nichole Brown and Freeze Frame compete their spins in the AQHA VRH Open Reining.
Brooke Louise Creative photo
Brooke Louise Creative photo
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