Ranch Riding Patterns

One of the 15 approved patterns must be used (see rule 12.18). Log spacings are noted in brackets where specified.

Ranch Riding Pattern 1

• Walk.
• Trot.
• Extend trot; at the top of the arena, stop.
• 360 degrees turn left.
• Left lead 1/2 circle lope to the centre.
• Change leads (simple or flying).
• Right lead 1/2 circle.
• Extend lope up the long side of the arena (right lead).
• Collect back to a lope around the top of the arena and back to centre.
• Break down to an extended trot.
• Walk over logs (26" to 30" between logs).
• Stop and back up.

Ranch Riding Pattern 2

• Walk.
• Trot.
• Extended trot.
• Lope left lead.
• Stop, 1 1/2 turn right.
• Extended lope.
• Collect lope right lead.
• Change lead (simple or flying); continue lope left lead.
• Walk.
• Walk over logs (26" to 30" space between logs).
• Trot.
• Extended trot.
• Stop and back up.

Ranch Riding Patterns 3-15 follow the same format. The full set of 15 approved patterns is contained in the printed and PDF rulebook. Graphical arena diagrams will be added to this page when available.

Western Riding Patterns

The judge selects from patterns 1 to 9 for standard classes. Smaller arenas may use Novice Rider patterns 4 & 5. For the Novice Rider class, Novice Rider patterns 1 to 4 are used. See rule 16.4-16.5 for arena layout guidance.

Pattern 1

• Walk at least 15 feet from the start cone to the first marker; transition to jog; jog over log.
• Transition to the lope left lead & lope around end.
• First line change; second line change; third line change; fourth line change; lope around end of arena.
• First crossing change; second crossing change.
• Lope over log.
• Third crossing change; fourth crossing change.
• Lope up the centre; stop & back up.

Pattern 2

• Walk at least 15 feet from the start cone to the first marker; transition to jog; jog over log.
• Transition to the lope left lead.
• First crossing change; lope over log; second crossing change.
• First line change; second line change; third line change; fourth line change.
• Third crossing change; fourth crossing change.
• Lope up the centre; stop & back up.

Patterns 3, 6, 7 and 8

These patterns follow similar structures to patterns 1 and 2 with variations in lead direction and crossing change sequence. The complete step-by-step instructions are in the printed and PDF rulebook.

Pattern 4

• Walk at least 15 feet from start cone to the first marker; transition to jog; jog over log.
• Transition to lope right lead.
• First line change; second line change; third line change; fourth line change.
• First crossing change; second crossing change; third crossing change.
• Lope over log.
• Lope; stop & back up.

Pattern 5

• Walk at least 15 feet from the start cone to the first marker; transition to jog; jog over log.
• Transition to the lope left lead.
• First line change; second line change; third line change; fourth line change.
• First crossing change; lope over log; second crossing change; third crossing change; fourth crossing change.
• Lope; stop & back up.

Pattern 9

• Walk at least 15 feet from the start cone to the first marker; transition to the jog; jog over log.
• Transition to the lope right lead.
• First crossing change; lope over log; second crossing change.
• First line change; second line change; third line change; fourth line change.
• Third crossing change; fourth crossing change.
• Lope up the centre; stop & back up.

Western Riding - Novice Rider Patterns

Novice Rider Pattern 1

• Walk at least 15 feet from start cone to first marker; transition to jog; jog over log.
• Transition to the lope left lead & lope around the end.
• First line change; second line change; lope around end of arena.
• First crossing change; second crossing change.
• Lope over log.
• Third crossing change; fourth crossing change.
• Lope up the centre; stop & back up.

Novice Rider Pattern 2

• Walk at least 15 feet from start cone to first marker; transition to jog; jog over log.
• Transition to the lope left lead.
• First crossing change; second crossing change; third crossing change.
• Circle & first line change; second line change & circle.
• Lope over log.
• Stop and back up.

Novice Rider Pattern 4

• Walk at least 15 feet from start cone to first marker; transition to the jog; jog over log.
• Transition to the lope right lead & lope around end.
• First line change; second line change & lope around end of arena.
• First crossing change; second crossing change; third crossing change.
• Lope over log.
• Lope; stop & back up.

Novice Rider Patterns 6, 7 and 9

Patterns 6, 7 and 9 follow similar structures with variations in lead direction. Full step-by-step instructions are in the printed and PDF rulebook.

Reining - WES Novice Rider Patterns

For standard Reining classes, any approved NRHA pattern may be used (rule 17.4). NRHA patterns are available from NRHA at nrha.com. The WES Novice Rider patterns below are for use in the Novice Rider class only.

Novice Rider Reining Pattern 1

• Beginning on the left lead, complete two circles to the left. Stop at the centre of the arena. Hesitate.
• Complete two spins to the left. Hesitate.
• Beginning on the right lead, complete two circles to the right. Stop at the centre of the arena. Hesitate.
• Complete two spins right. Hesitate.
• Beginning on the left lead, go around the top of the arena; run down the right side past the centre marker and do a right rollback.
• Continue around the end of the arena; run down the left side past the centre marker; stop and back up. Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern.

Novice Rider Reining Pattern 2

• Run around the end of the arena; run down the left side past the centre marker and do a right rollback; no hesitation.
• Run around the end of the arena; run down the right side and do a left rollback; no hesitation.
• Complete two left circles: the first large and fast; the second small and slow. Stop at centre of arena.
• Complete three spins to the left. Hesitate.
• Complete two right circles: the first large and fast; the second small and slow. Stop at centre of arena.
• Complete three spins to the right. Hesitate.
• Begin a large circle to the left; at the top of the circle run down the centre past the centre marker; stop and back up ten feet (3 metres). Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern.

Novice Rider Reining Pattern 3

• Run around the end of the arena; run down the left side past the centre marker and do a right rollback; no hesitation.
• Run around the end of the arena; run down the right side and do a left rollback; no hesitation.
• Complete two left circles: the first large and fast; the second small and slow. Stop at centre of arena.
• Complete three spins to the left. Hesitate.
• Complete two right circles: the first large and fast; the second small and slow. Stop at centre of arena.
• Complete three spins to the right. Hesitate.
• Begin a large circle to the left; at the top of the circle run down the centre past the centre marker; stop and back up ten feet (3 metres). Hesitate to demonstrate completion of the pattern.

The full NRHA approved patterns (used in standard Reining classes) are available from NRHA at nrha.com and from WES on request. Graphical arena diagrams for all patterns will be added to this page when available.