Few Questions about Western Horses?

Question

Alright so I have a 4 year old QH gelding. I was wondering if I wanted to get into something like barrels if he would have to be registered.

I dont know his sire or dam. So is there any way I can figure it out?

The people I bought him from dont know either.

Also what other western competing activites are there?

Answer 1

You only need papers if your going to a registered show, like AQHA APHA and things like that. If your going into a open show, like a rodeo, it doesn't matter what breed as long as it can run.

As for other western events there are

cutting

reining

roping(calf roping, team roping, break away)

western pleasure

are just a few.

Answer 2

You dont have to have papers to barrel race. You can have an unregistered horse. I have one that has no papers that i show with at the rodeos and Central 4D. They just want to make you your horse has coggins. thats it. If you think your horse can run very fast then you can do speed events like:Barrel Racing, pole bending, Flag, calf roping, or any thing else with speed. If your horse is KIND of slow try and teach it pleasure. Or do halter with it if it has nice conformation. Thats what i would do.

Answer 3

It depends on where you want to show your horse.  In local open shows  a horse doesn't have to be registered.  But if you want to show in QH shows he will need to be registered.  

If your horse was registered at some point you can contact AQHA.  Right now they have a deal that you can catch up you horses papers for $15 (for members).  If a horse has never been registered there is no way to know the sire and dam unless you contact the breeders.  Usually if a horse is not registered he is considered a grade horse.  Records for such as sire and dam are not usually kept for grade horses.

There are many different western competing activities.  When you go to gymkhanas, there are events such as barrel racing, pole bending, key hole and other timed events.  You can go to shows that have western pleasure (horse judged), western horsemanship (rider judged), showmanship (halter class), trail, and western riding.  At your local horse shows these classes are divided up by the age of the rider and sometimes there are green classes for young horses or people who haven't shown.  There are also competitive trail riding competitions.  Reining or working cow horses are other events you can do western.  Sorting and Team penning are also very popular.  I would suggest checking out local shows and see what interests you most.

Answer 4

your horse usually does not have to be registered unless ur going national, i think. i guess it depedns on wat u wanna do. but there are tons of great sports and activities in western riding, too many to name but u have some very good suggestions.

Answer 5

To get into barrel racing competitively in most circuits, you do not have to have a registered horse, but to compete in breed shows, you do.

Knowledge of the sire and dam may give you insight into some of their behavioral possibilities, possible injuries from hereditary weaknesses - that's about it.  For example, I have an Eternal Sun mare - she's very active mentally, so I have to work with her at a certain level all the time to keep her mind happy.  Perhaps another bloodline is less mentally active and learns better by conditioning a different way.  This is only a small part - really the bloodline will not ensure or disprove such abilities.

I also am a Western aficionado - but do not like to compete in "beauty competitions" such as pleasure classes or "horse shows" - I prefer athletic competitions between myself and a clock or partially judged on my own horse's ability in the performance arena.

Check into these types of things:

Reining

Cutting

Competitive Trail

Ranch Horse competition

Cowboy Mounted Shooting

Roping

These are only some I can think of off the top of my head.  I am sure there are others that you might find enjoyable.

There's also local competitions everywhere - "fun shows" or "gymkhana" which are speed competitions usually including barrel racing, pole bending, key hole, flag race and fun stuff like the pop race or the boot race. These typically aren't a circuit but a one or two day event where you win money or prizes that are really geared toward having fun.

The QH is a very versatile breed- however at 4 years old, I hope you realize that your horses' mind is still very young and his body is still growing.  You can blow a young horse's mind with too much too fast.  I have seen many people succeed by focusing with just such a horse at basics like speed control, flexion - all sorts of things he'll need to excel at performance later when his body and mind are ready - like doing your sums in elementary school prepares you for Algebra later.  I have also seen just as many people start training that 4 year old HARD - put too much stress on their minds and bodies and have a broken down, blown up horse before they're even physically and mentally mature around 8 years old.

Answer 6

No, he would only need to be registered if you wanted to show at sanctioned Quarter Horse shows. There are many, many shows where you can compete with no papers whatsoever, so you can have a really enjoyable time doing your gaming on your horse without them.

Poles, barrels, keyhole, speed and action, down and back flags are just a few games. Check in your area for shows and see what they offer. You can usually find showbills at the feed stores or vet offices or showgrounds in you area. You can also do roping events, team penning, trail rides, cutting or reining.

Answer 7

No your horse doesn't have to be registered for barrels enless its top notch like National level.  There is no way to find out the sire or dam enless you go to all the previous owners. Other Gaming events are Keyhole ( running into a square doing a tight 360 degree turn and running out again-timed), Poles ( weaving in and out of 8 poles as fast as you can- first you run to the opposite side of the ring then you weave then turn around and weave back through and then race back to your starting position-timed), Trail (judged and timed), Barrels, Flag race, there are many different ones depending on your age and competion

Answer 8

Not sure what to tell you about his lines, unless you can find a sight similar to ones for race horses that lists the pedigree and resistration. For most quine sports the horse must be reistered, but do you know if your horse ever was? B/c if he was at one point there are ways to find it through the association like AQHA. Maybe find out if you can through the people you bought him from, who they bought him from and so on and you might have a slim possibility of tracking it down.

as for other western competing activities there is....

-pole bending

-barrel racing

-pleasure

-halter

-bareback

-cutting

-reining

-roping

-trick

-team penning

-driving

or there are always english options....

-cross country

-dressage

-pleasure

-jumping (hunter or jumper)

good luck picking one! i suggest barrels or poles or jumping!