Ranch Cow Horse & the WCRH Ranching Heritage Challenge are new for 2023!

This is a WCRH created class! Ranch Boxing combines ranch riding with the popular boxing class. This class makes competing in cow horse even more accessible! Riders will first complete a ranch riding pattern, then they will call for their cow to box.  Working the cow in the short end of the arena is what gives the class its other name, “cow horse boxing,” because you and your horse are “boxing” that cow into the arena’s short end. The boxing component requires  that horse and rider demonstrate control over a single cow along the short side of the arena for 50 seconds. Simple or flying lead changes are both acceptable. 

  Ranch reining measures the ability of the stock horse to perform basic handling maneuvers.  In ranch reining, the judges are looking for willingness more than perfection of each maneuver.  “To rein a horse is not only to guide him but also to control his every movement. The  horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely.”  The maneuvers should be done correctly, but judges aren't expecting the same level of perfection as at a traditional reining show. For example, ranch cow horses horses aren't expected to "spin a hole in the ground," as they don't specialize solely in reining.   The ranch cow horse isn't expected to slide down the arena for 30 feet. It's a crowd pleaser, but that's not a maneuver a working cowboy would ever need to utilize.  Judges still want to see a horse using his rear end properly to stop and drive forward, but they don't demand the same kind of purity you'll see in an NRHA reining. A working cowboy's horse might be a bit more "coarse" than a horse that does nothing but reining, but that's not detrimental.   Another difference is how much contact is allowed. 

A judge won't be as critical of your contact with the horse's mouth as if you were showing in a traditional reining competition where they  don't want to see contact. In ranch reining the judge expects to see some contact because you're giving the horse direction with the reins.

What's important in this class is how willingly the horse allows himself to be guided and controlled. He should show little to no resistance.  Simple or flying lead changes are both acceptable.  
 

Similar to other cutting classes, ranch cutting is judged on the ability of the horse to work a cow by separating it from the herd and holding it. The objective is to cut one to two cows, based on the division. For Open, Amateur, Green Horse and Youth, there is a two-minute limit where each exhibitor must work two head, but has the option of working the full two minutes. In green as grass and short stirrup competition, on the other hand, there is a one- and-a-half-minute time limit where the exhibitor must work one cow but has the option of working the full minute and a half.  Exhibitors will not be penalised for reining during cutting portion but the horse should respond softly to rider’s cues, showing wiliness to accept exhibitor’s directions as well as to display horse’s natural cow ability in controlling and driving the cow. A horse that can perform all task of this class on a loose rein with minimal help from its rider shall be credited accordingly. This class is very similar to the herdwork in reined cowhorse.