American Stock Horse Association
Stock Horse Pleasure/Ranch Riding
This class highlights a horse that is a pleasure to ride and a great mover.
The ideal stock or ranch horse is functional, willing, and comfortable, with smooth, cadenced gaits and forward, free movement. Quality of movement, softness, and correct, timely transitions are key, reflecting a horse you would confidently want to ride from one stock/ranch task to the next.
Stock Horse Trail
This class showcases a functional, willing horse that is a pleasure to ride while confidently navigating obstacles commonly encountered in everyday stock or ranch work. The ideal stock horse demonstrates versatility and negotiates obstacles efficiently and accurately with smooth transitions and quality movement.
Stock Horse Reining
This class evaluates the stock or ranch horse’s ability to perform essential maneuvers in a calm, forward, and correct manner, reflecting the usefulness and attitude of a working horse. The ideal horse is well-trained, relaxed, and responsive horse that remains soft and willing, moves forward freely, and performs each maneuver with correctness, control, and quality movement.
Stock Horse Cow Work
The American Stock Horse Association offers three levels of cow work to evaluate the stock or ranch horse’s ability to work cattle with confidence and control. The ideal stock horse is also a capable cow horse, demonstrating courage, responsiveness, and correct positioning.
Stock Horse Cutting
This class is judged on the ability of the horse to work a cow by separating it from the herd and holding it to demonstrate the horse's ability to work the cow. A single cow is cut from the herd and the horse must demonstrate its ability to work the cow. The horse should reflect the versatility, attitude, and movement of a working stock/ranch horse riding outside the confines of an arena.
