Letter to the Editor

Re: Why not mix English and Western in Trail Pleasure?

Number one reason…image.  After many years of being considered the “bathroom break horse” Trail Pleasure Horses have become appreciated by most of the Racking Horse World.  Horse enthusiasts recognize and acknowledge the careful selection and years of training required to produce a world class Trail Pleasure Horse.   It is insulting to serious Trail Pleasure exhibitors to have those in management positions think of this class as a “catch all” where anything goes and any flat shod horse wearing any saddle will fit in. 

In Racking padded classes, it would be unacceptable for exhibitors to mix tack and attire.  We require an English riding habit and boots etc. for a reason.  In the beginning it was acceptable to wear polyester leisure suits (they were abundant in a wide range of colors).  Most of the founders of this association had there roots at the Saturday Night Saddle Club, where dress codes did not exist, but worked hard to establish an image that was more pleasing to see, and more marketable as a “show”. 

The Trail Pleasure Class is as uniform and professional as any padded class at a Racking Show.  Mixing tack and attire would be a distraction to judges and spectators alike.  We do not show chained and bare legged horses together even though they are judged in identical class categories and under identical rules.  Performance horse enthusiast would want to call in mental health professionals, if someone suggested such a ridiculous idea.  From a Pleasure Horse enthusiast point of view, mixing tack in Trail Pleasure is just as ridiculous.

All of our classes are uniform for a reason and Trail Pleasure should not be treated any differently.  Trail Pleasure Horses can perform in western tack but so can a padded horse, do we want to mix tack in all divisions?  

Country Pleasure is the only division of Racking where “optional tack” is offered.  I can’t say why it was written that way but it was never successfully “mixed” but rather evolved in a short time to a preferred western class.  Trail Pleasure would not stay mixed either, just like Country Pleasure; it would go one way or the other but could cause unbelievable confusion during the evolution process.  

Trail Pleasure Western can be added as a separate class and the integrity and image of the Trail Pleasure division will not be degraded.  The new Western Class can grow alongside the existing English Class and be a win-win situation for everyone involved.   Mixing tack should not be considered as an option.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Blaylock