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Whats the difference between Western Pleasure and Trail Riding2007-11-24 21:22:42Answers:

Western pleasure is a class at shows where the horse is judged based on movement, training, and over all quality. It takes a lot of training to get a horse doing western pleasure correctly. Western pleasure is a very competitive division at most breed shows, at top level competitions (such as the AQHA congress and worlds) western pleasure horses are in genral worth a lot of money (meaning upwords of $30,000, sometimes well over $100,000). Western pleasure is an arena class, horses are worked in the arena both directions at the walk, jog and lope. Extended jog is now sometimes asked for. The horse must be very slow, but have true gaits (meaning no walking when its supposed to be jogging). A western pleasure horse will also be collected, pushing off from its hind end, and have a correct headset.

Trail riding is recreational riding. There are competitive trail rides, but they in no way represent western pleasure events.

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Western Pleasure is a specific show class. Trail riding is riding strictly for fun on the trails. There is also a Trail class at many shows where the horse is ridden through various obstacles that are intended to mimic what the horse would encounter on a trail.

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Yeah, like the other answer said, both terms have different meanings. If you buy a pleasure horse, it generally means one that you're just going to walk jog and lope around the arena. If you buy a horse that's supposed to be a good trail horse, it's one that you can take out on a trail in a field or through the woods or something and the horse is supposed to be good about not getting spooked and that sort of thing.