FAQs

VRH stands for Versaility Ranch Horse. Versatility Ranch Horse competitions allow American Quarter Horses to demonstrate their ranching abilities in these classes – ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch reining, ranch cow work, ranch cutting, and ranch conformation.

VRH Ranch Trail – This class demonstrates a horse’s ability to maneuver a set of six to nine obstacles resembling what the horse and rider would encounter during everyday ranch work. The horse and rider team is judged on correctness, efficiency and the quality of performance. The horse should maintain the natural appearance of a ranch horse at all times.

VRH Ranch Riding - This class measures a horse’s ability to be a pleasure to ride while being used as a conveyance from performing one ranch task to another. The horse and rider are asked to perform a pattern that includes changes of gait, extension of gait, crossing logs and lead changes. All maneuvers should be performed as if the horse were being used on a ranch, and the horse should demonstrate a high level of training, relaxation and quality of movement in all gaits.

VRH Ranch Reining – In this class, a horse is evaluated on its maneuverability as it performs a set pattern that includes circles, lead changes, spins and stops.

VRH Ranch Cutting – A horse’s ability to separate and work a cow out of the herd is judged in VRH cutting. With the help of two turnback riders and two herd holders, an exhibitor will cut two cows out of a herd one at a time and demonstrate the horse’s ability to hold them. The rider is allowed to cue with the reins.

VRH Ranch Cow Work – The horse must demonstrate its natural ability to work a cow in a specified pattern that varies depending on division. Exhibitors in the open, amateur, cowboy and youth divisions are given three minutes to box the cow, turn it both directions on the fence and then rope it. Amateurs and youth are allowed to circle the cow both directions in lieu of roping. Limited-division riders will be asked to box the cow, drive it down the fence, box the cow at the other end of the arena and then drive the cow back up the fence to complete their pattern. Rookie-division riders will be asked just to box the cow at the end of the arena.

VRH Ranch Conformation – This class is intended to preserve the American Quarter Horse type by selecting a well-mannered individual in order based on their resemblance to the breed ideal.

Open – Anyone with a current AQHA or AQHYA membership is eligible to show an American Quarter Horse in open competition. Open competition is usually for the most experienced exhibitors, trainers and professional horsemen but many amateur and youth members can be tough competitors as well. Open division classes may be offered for junior and senior horses. If you are an amateur member, you must still follow those ownership guidelines.

Cowboy – The cowboy division is for working ranch cowboys who are full-time employees of a working ranch. The horse must be owned by a family member or the full-time employee of the ranch. Employees must have been employed for a minimum of 90 days prior to competing in the Ranching Heritage Challenge.

Amateur – American Quarter Horse owners who do not join the professional ranks may enjoy a full spectrum of competition in the amateur division.

Limited Amateur - Eligibility for the limited amateur division is not restricted, except that exhibitors must meet amateur membership requirements. There is no cap on points or money earned by either horse or exhibitor.

Rookie Amateur - The exhibitor must have earned no more than ten (10) lifetime points in any breed association (including but not limited to AQHA, APHA, AQHA VRH All Around); or $500 in a national organization (including but not limited to NCHA, NRCHA, NRHA, RHAA, NRSHA, NSBA) in any western performance discipline (western pleasure, working cow horse and boxing, western riding, reining, cutting, trail, ranch riding, ranch trail, western horsemanship, VRH ranch riding, VRH ranch trail, VRH ranch reining, VRH ranch cow work, and VRH ranch cutting.) Accuracy of eligibility is the responsibility of the exhibitor, eligibility is from January 1 - December 31 of the show year.

Youth – Exhibitors 18 years of age or younger (age as of January 1) may show in this division.

Limited Youth- Eligibility for the limited youth division is not restricted, except that exhibitors must meet youth membership requirements. There is no cap on points or money earned by either horse or exhibitor.

Rookie Youth - The exhibitor must have earned no more than ten (10) lifetime points in any breed association (including but not limited to AQHA, APHA, AQHA VRH All Around); or $500 in a national organization (including but not limited to NCHA, NRCHA, NRHA, RHAA, NRSHA, NSBA) in any western performance discipline (western pleasure, working cow horse and boxing, western riding, reining, cutting, trail, ranch riding, ranch trail, western horsemanship, VRH ranch riding, VRH ranch trail, VRH ranch reining, VRH ranch cow work, and VRH ranch cutting.) Accuracy of eligibility is the responsibility of the exhibitor, eligibility is from January 1 - December 31 of the show year.

Ranch Trail:
- Rookie Amateur & all Youth exhibitors will not drag an object.
- Open, Cowboy, Amateur, and Limited Amateurs will drag an object.

Cow work:
- Rookie Cow Work exhibitors will only box a cow with a 50-second limit.
- Limited Cow Work exhibitors will box, drive, box, drive a cow with a 1 minute and 45 second time limit.
- Regular Amateur & Youth Cow Work exhibitors will box, drive, and circle or rope a cow with a 3-minute time limit.
- Open and Cowboy Cow Work exhibitors will box, drive, and rope a cow with a 3-minute time limit.

No, a horse/rider combination cannot enter more than one subdivision within the Amateur or Youth divisions. I.E horse/rider combo enters Amateur VRH trail, same combination cannot enter Amateur VRH Limited or Amateur VRH Rookie trail at the same show.

Yes, if eligible, a horse/rider combination can enter more than one division. I.E., horse/rider combo enters Amateur VRH trail, same horse/rider combo can ALSO enter Open VRH trail.

Open exhibitors may show up to four horses per all-age class.

Cowboy, amateur, and youth exhibitors may show up to three horses in each class. AQHA criteria will be used to determine eligibility for open, amateur, and youth exhibitors.

Class participation rules:
SHW556.1 No horses less than 3 years of age may be exhibited.
SHW556.2 No hoof polish or hoof black.
SHW556.3 No braided or banded manes/tails or tail extensions, except in any VRH or RHC class where roping is involved, the horses mane may be braided for a distance of 12”- 16” in front of the saddle pad. No ribbons or other kind of ornamentation will be allowed.
SHW556.4 Trimming inside ears is discouraged.
SHW556.5 Trimming bridle path, fetlocks and/excessive (long) facial hair is allowed.
SHW556.6 Equipment with excessive silver should not count over a good working outfit. Excessive silver on bridles and saddles is discouraged.
SHW556.7 Holding the saddle horn with either hand will not be penalized in any class.
SHW556.8 Posting at the extended trot is acceptable.
SHW556.9 For shows conducted in international countries, the exhibitor has the option of wearing traditional attire of the country.
SHW556.10 Romal reins are allowed in all VRH and RHC classes, including VRH and RHC Ranch Cutting. When riding with a romal, a get-down rope may be used. A get-down rope is defined as a small rope tied around the neck of the horse with a bowline or other non-slip knot and run back to the rider or tied to the saddle. The get-down will be used to lead, ground tie, or tie the horse. When ground-tying with split reins, one or both reins may be dropped, romal reins may be loosely draped over the horse when used with or without a get-down rope. The get-down rope may also be run through a bosalito, as long as the bosalito is not tight enough to function as a cavesson. If a bosalito is used, it must allow approximately 2 fingers (1 inch) to pass freely between the nose and the bosalito. The bosalito must be constructed of a flexible braided rawhide, leather or rope, the core of which must be flexible. Absolutely no rigid material will be permitted under the jaws, regardless of how padded or covered. Hobbles are allowed.
SHW556.11 The use of two-rein equipment is allowed in working cow horse, boxing, ranch riding, ranch trail, working western rail, all VRH classes and all RHC classes for one year only.
SHW556.12 When exhibiting in a snaffle bit or hackamore, an exhibitor may switch between two hands and one hand on the reins at any time.

Horse/rider combination must compete in at least two VRH riding classes in the same division to be eligible to show in VRH ranch conformation.

All horses whose registration certificates are marked with parrot mouth, cryptorchid, or excessive white notations are ineligible to compete in VRH ranch conformation classes. (SHW567.3)

Horses are to be shown in a good working halter: rope, braided, nylon or plain leather. Horses may not be shown with a lip cord or safety lead; however, a chain may be used under the chin or over the nose. It is recommended but not required for exhibitors to remove their spurs.

As the horse approaches, the judge will step to the right to enable the horse to trot straight to a cone placed 50 feet away. At the cone, the horse will continue trotting, turn to the left and trot toward the left wall or fence of the arena. After trotting, horses will be lined up head to tail for individual inspection by the judge. The judge shall inspect each horse from both sides, front and rear and place the horses in order of preference.

Exhibitors may enter more than one horse in ranch conformation classes. This allows the horses to remain eligible for VRH all-around awards. Any Current AQHA member may show a horse for another competitor in open VRH ranch conformation. Any current amateur or youth member or a family member of the competitor may show a horse in amateur or youth VRH ranch conformation. An exhibitor with multiple horses entered in a VRH conformation class must lead one of horses.

Mares, geldings, and stallions in each division/subdivision are shown in one VRH ranch conformation class, except stallions are prohibited in all youth subdivisions.

All VRH All-Around eligible horse/rider combinations are placed against each other based on individual class placings. The highest placing VRH All-Around eligible horse/rider in each individual class will receive 50 credits, the next highest placing VRH eligible horse/rider will receive 49 credits, and so on. The horse/rider combination earning the highest number of credits will be placed first in the VRH All-Around class and will receive points based on the number horses competing for the VRH AllAround title. (SHW555) All entries in every VRH class MUST be placed.

To be eligible for the VRH All-Around, one horse/rider combination must enter and show within a single division in the following: VRH conformation, at least one cattle class, and at least one non-cattle riding class.

Points earned in individual VRH classes do not affect leveling in any other class. (SHW554) VRH All-Around points do not either.

Riders may cross enter all AQHA and VRH classes except for AQHA Reining and VRH Ranch Reining. (SHW562.1)

VRH mandatory obstacles and maneuvers:

1. Rider over obstacles (logs) walk (26-30 inches suggested spacing), trot (36-42 inches suggested spacing), or lope (6-7 feet suggested spacing)
2. Opening, passing through, and closing a hinged swinging gate.
3. Ride over a wooden bridge.
4. Backing obstacle (minimum spacing of 28 inches, 30 inches if elevated)
5. Side-pass obstacle
6. Drag an object - open, cowboy, amateur, and limited amateur ONLY. The drag is not to be used in youth and rookie classes.

Optional obstacles are listed in the rulebook under SHW561.8

Ranch Cutting - The objective will be to cut two cows from the herd and work the cow(s) with a two-minute time limit. This class is laid out very similar to other cutting events. The big difference between ranch cutting and a regular cutting class is that you’re able to lift your hand up while you’re working a cow and help your horse out a little bit.

Cutting - Contestants can cut two or more head of cattle in the 2.5-minute time limit. The cutting class is a battle of wills between a horse and a cow. Horse and rider must move quietly into a herd of cattle, cut one animal from the herd, drive it to the center of the arena, and hold it away from the herd. The cutting horse must match moves with the cow, anticipating its every maneuver. Judges score the horses on their ability to keep the cow from returning to the herd, cow sense, attentiveness, and courage.

AQHA Working Cow Horse and Boxing have two portions (reining pattern and cow work) while VRH Cow Work (only works a cow) and VRH Reining (reining pattern) are separate classes.

AQHA Working Cow Horse consists of cow work portion and reined work portion. Scoring emphasis on the cow work portion shall be based on the horse maintaining control of the cow at all times, exhibiting superior cow sense and natural cow working ability without excessive reining or spurring.

AQHA Boxing consists of an AQHA working cow horse reining pattern and single cow work (boxing) on the end of the arena. The goal of this class is to introduce the rider to the “boxing” phase of the cow work. Judging begins when the contestant enters the arena. A rider is eligible for amateur or youth boxing classes if they have never placed in the top ten in working cow horse (going down the fence) at any AQHA world championship show or NRCHA major event. Also, a rider must have earned less than 25 points in working cow horse. Riders cannot have earned more than $750 in fence work classes at any judged classes or events, including earnings reported by Q Data, Equistat and other verifiable resources.

Open, Cowboy, Amateur and Youth divisions are allotted three minutes
- Part One - Boxing the cow
- Part Two - Fence work
- Part Three - Roping or circling. Amateur and Youth have the option of circling the cow in lieu of roping. Open and Cowboy exhibitors must rope the cow.

Limited Amateur and Youth divisions are allotted one minute and 45 seconds
- Part One - Boxing the cow
- Part Two - Set up cow and drive down fence to opposite end of the arena
- Part Three - Boxing the cow at the opposite end of arena
- Part Four - Drive the cow back down the fence (original side) past the middle marker and continue until the judge blows the whistle to show competition

Rookie Amateur and Youth divisions are allotted 50 seconds
- Boxing the cow. The cow shall be controlled on the entry end of the arena to demonstrate the horse's ability to hold the cow.

Yes! All-breed classes are open to all breeds of equines and all exhibitors. AQHA membership and registration are not required to be eligible to show.