Our Guide to Western Riding Events
With cowboy culture on the rise in the UK, Western riding has also been growing in popularity over the years. Taking inspiration from the Western equestrian traditions of the United States, there are plenty of spectacular Western riding competitions and events to enjoy the sport..
Join us as we look at the Western Riding events around the UK for British lovers of Western riding to enjoy and compete in. If you are looking for great places to ride Western in the UK and Europe, you can check out our guide to Western riding venues.
AQHA Championship Show
Hosted in the UK in late Summer each year, the championship is one of the American Quarter Horse Association’s biggest events in the UK. The AQHA is an international organisation based in Texas, and they are one of the major players in Western riding in the US as well as around the world.
The AQHA Championship Show is the biggest event of the AQHA’s UK event calendar, bringing together riders and representatives from the vast array of Western disciplines. In their show schedule, you will usually find events dedicated to Western pleasure, horsemanship, ranch trails, horse equitation, and more! There is always a diverse showcase of Western equestrian events, creating a celebrative atmosphere for lovers of Western riding.
One of the key goals of the American Quarter Horse Association is promoting Western riding disciplines and encouraging young riders to get involved with the sport - their Championship Show is a great way for young riders to witness the excitement and energy of Western riding. Attending the event means seeing a wide range of disciplines on display, from reining to Western pleasure and plenty more, offering the opportunity to enjoy the breadth of what Western riding has to offer. It is an excellent event for longtime Western riders to see their favourite competitors, as well as a perfect introduction to riders who might be interested in starting out in the sport.
WES National Show
The Western Equestrian Society are a British organisation which has been operating for around 40 years, bringing Western riding disciplines to the UK with their events, competitions, and shows. Aiming to foster inclusion, they offer events that riders at all levels can compete in – so whether you are a lifelong lover of Western riding or more of a beginner, the WES National Show has activities and events to enjoy.
With a wide range of disciplines on offer, including more traditionally English riding styles like dressage, the WES National Show is specifically dedicated to celebrating all things Western. The organisers make sure to preserve traditions, so the show has a real atmosphere of the rodeo.
Disciplines typically on display at the Western Equestrian Society National Show include ranch riding, Western riding, reining, Western trail, and Western pleasure. Events are broken down into particular categories to ensure riders of all ages and abilities can take part, so whether you’re in the little britches category for under 10s or in the intermediate horse category for more experienced horses and riders, you can show the crowds your best work!
British Reining Spring & Championship Shows
In the UK, British Reining is the authority on reining, with events and shows organised across the year to bring together riders and Western riding fans. British Reining has been in operation since the 1990s and has been affiliated with the National Reining Horse Association in the United States for most of that time.
The BR Spring Show takes place around April/May, with events for riders of all abilities and experience levels. With youth events as well as intermediate and open competitions, beginners and seasoned competitors can come together to showcase their skills and build their experience. As it is a British Reining event, the schedule is kept more simple than other major Western riding shows. The day consists of reining competitions across a range of skill levels, as well as often including a qualification event for world reining competitions.
The BR Championship Show is the pinnacle event of the year for British Reining, bringing together the best of the best to showcase their skills and compete for reining titles. Set up in a very similar way to the Spring Show, but with the added gravitas of being the National Championships, riders are invited to compete in reining competitions across all levels to win the championship title. There are qualifying rounds for the World Reining Championships, in which riders are expected to meet certain scoring criteria.
Other Western Riding Events
As well as the biggest Western Riding events in the UK, there are a handful of Western shows and competitions which showcase and celebrate all things Western.
One such event is Equifest, which is a festival showcasing Western riding disciplines as well as other styles of riding too. Equifest is a major event in the UK equestrian calendar, with four days of competitions for various disciplines and classes.
A similar event is the British Show Horse Association National Championship Show. Though most disciplines in this show are typically within the English style of equestrian sport, the schedule may include Western disciplines too. Whether you are primarily interested in English or Western styles of riding, the BSHA National Championship Show is an amazing spectacle filled with skilled riders performing at their best. It is well worth a visit.
