Class Descriptions
Current score sheets are available under the Handbook link
Stock Horse Pleasure
The Stock Horse Pleasure Class measures the ability of the horse to be a pleasure to ride while being used as a means of conveyance from one ranch task to another. The horse should be well-broke, relaxed, quiet, soft, and cadenced at all gaits. The horse should be ridden on a relatively loose rein with light contact and without requiring undue restraint. The horse should be responsive to the rider and make timely transitions in a smooth and correct manner. The horse should be soft in the bridle and yield to contact. The ideal stock horse should have a natural, levelheaded carriage at each gait.
Stock Horse Trail
The Stock Horse Trail Class, as the name implies, tests the horse’s ability to cope with situations encountered in everyday riding. The horse is ridden through a pattern of obstacles which should nearly approximate those found during the course of everyday work. The horse/rider team is judged on the correctness, efficiency, and pattern accuracy with which the obstacles are negotiated and the attitude and mannerisms exhibited by the horse. Judging emphasis is on identifying the well-broke, responsive, well-mannered horse which can correctly navigate and negotiate the course.
Stock Horse Reining
This Stock Horse Reining Class measures the ability of the stock horse to perform basic handling maneuvers. SHTX has several recognized regular patterns (please see “Patterns” in the SHTX Handbook). Each pattern is a combination of maneuvers and these maneuvers include stops, spins, rollbacks, circles, back up, hesitate, lead changes and run downs.
Working Cow Horse
The ideal stock horse must also be a cow horse and this Class demonstrates and measures the horse’s ability to do cow work. The SHTX working cow classes have varying requirements depending upon the division:
Open and Non Pro complete a traditional working cow horse pattern consisting of boxing, taking the cow down the fence and executing at least one turn in each direction, and then circling the cow in each direction. Riders have the option of roping instead of circling the cow. Watch a video about Open / Non Pro Cow Work
Limited, Intermediate, Junior and Youth divisions demonstrate their ability to control a cow by boxing on one end, driving the cow to the opposite end and boxing on the opposite end. Watch a video about the Box Drive Box Drive cow work
Novice and Novice Youth divisions box only. Watch a video about the Boxing class
For additional information and complete rules on each class, visit the SHTX Handbook.
