RANCH RIDING Promoting the Versatility of the Western Horse
By Katherine O. Rizzo In the world of Western riding, competitors
have lots of options when it comes to classes and types of shows. From Reining to Speed classes to Western Pleasure and everything in between! But here in Maryland, Ranch Riding is quickly becoming one of the more popular Western disciplines.
Ranch Riding Te goal of Ranch Riding is to showcase the
versatility of the Western horse. “It’s to show what an actual ranch horse would be asked to do… a real working horse,” explained Mary- land competitor Shannon O’Grady. Te sport promotes traditional Western heritage and working-type horses with classes geared to- ward showing off the natural movements and ability of the horse. O’Grady has been showing in Ranch Riding since 2018, along with her twin sister Sharleen Bender and husband Scott Rauhauser. “Te sport is designed to welcome all levels of riders and it’s a great community,” she said, adding, “everyone is super supportive of each other.” Jamie Timson of Delaware has been com- peting in Ranch Riding since 2019 and said, “Everyone supports each other, and I love the way the horses are encouraged to move the way they are meant to move.” She added, “I enjoy it all, the people, the horses, everything!” Timson often travels to Maryland to com-
pete. “Te Maryland venues just have more op- portunities for Ranch Riding than Delaware,” Timson explained. She also shows her grullo American Quarter Horse Shining C Austin in AQHA shows. “He’s a foundation style horse and was bred to be a working horse,” she said. “He’ll do most anything… even with a spook
every now and then,” Timson added with a chuckle. Here in Maryland, those
interested in the sport have several venue options includ- ing Rockin A shows, which are run by Lynda Arnold who says she loves the Ranch classes because they “let your horse move freely and for- ward.” She added, “riders can come with
their everyday
normal horse, wear regu- lar clothes and use everyday tack” making the sport acces- sible to all types of riders and horses.
Tis more laid-back atmo-
sphere is what attracted Pam Mitchell of Baltimore to the sport as well, when she was 64 years old, in 2019. “I’m en- joying Ranch Riding because for me, it’s low-key competition,” she stated. “Everyone encourages each other.” Other venues/organizations that offer Ranch Riding here in Maryland include the Eastern Shore Western Horse Association, Maryland Western Horse Association, Free State Rid- ing Club, Double C Farm, and Western Horse Shows of Harford County.
East Coast Ranch Riding Association
Many of these venues offer
Professional rider Brooke Domino Skodzinski and her Quarter Horse gelding Love In The Moonlight pull a log during the Open Ranch Trail class at the 2023 ECRRA Championship show, held at the Keystone International Livestock Exhibition in Harrisburg, PA.
their own show series as well as classes that are pointed for East Coast Ranch Riding Association (ECRRA) year-end and lifetime points. ECRRA was co-founded in 2017 by the late Terry Lynn Helder. Helder, who was 68 when he died on May 25 of this year, was from Pennsyl- vania and started ECRRA with the purpose of promot- ing and educating Western horse enthusiasts on the versa- tility of the Western horse. His primary goal was to cre- ate a sport that anyone could participate in with competi- tions as well as educational opportunities. ECRRA offers competitions in three regions with Maryland being part of
12 | JULY 2024 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION
Jamie Timson and her grullo Quarter Horse Shining C Austin showing an extended trot while competing at the Queen Anne County Fairgrounds in Centerville.
Region 3. Helder modeled the competition classes after AQHA competition with competitors being able to show in five classes. Ranch Horse In Hand is a halter class. “Te big- ger shows often separate geldings and mares but some of the smaller shows will have them all com- pete together,” O’Grady explained. Ranch Pleasure is an
under-saddle class where horses can be judged in- dividually but often in groups “on the rail.” Hors- es are judged together on general overall movement and way of going. “Judges are looking for a horse you’d want to ride all day
The late Terry Lynn Helder co- founded ECRRA in 2017 as a sport open to all levels of riders and horses.
long,” O’Grady said. ECRRA carded judge Roxy Baldwin of Manchester said she looks for horses that are able to show two trots and two lopes. “Tey need to be able to show easy tran- sitions between the regular work and extended gaits,” she explained. Te Ranch Riding class is tested on a se- ries of patterns from the AQHA rulebook. Te patterns are short and can include maneuvers such as stops, rein backs, and turns. Ranch Trail also has a set of standard patterns and maneuvers but in this class, they are more out- door/trail type questions. Tese can include cross- ing a bridge, weaving through cones, dragging something behind the horse and opening/clos- ing a gate. “Tis is where I want to see horses and riders performing in a
fluid movement,” Baldwin stated. “Horses can’t touch the ground rails and need to move along from obstacle to obstacle.” Finally, there is the Ranch Round Up class
which is a speed class judged on fastest time to complete a simple pattern. ECRRA divides these classes into five divi-
sions as well. Open, which is for anyone includ- ing professionals; Non Pro, which is for anyone
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