365 Days in Horse Country – Lead-Line Class
Horses aren’t just for teenage girls, cowboys, and
middle-aged women. Tiny tots enjoy
horses, too. The lead-line class, seen
in both English and Western shows, was created for young children who want to
be part of the action.
Lead-line classes feature a well-behaved horse or pony, all decked out in her best show apparel. Children aged seven and under compete in the class in their show clothes.
A person over the age of fifteen leads the horse by a rope at the walk as the judge observes the equitation of the little rider, who holds the reins as if he or she is riding alone.
In many classes, ribbons are given to all the riders so as not to disappoint the young entrants. Judges often express how difficult it is to officiate lead-line classes because of the cuteness factor of the exhibitors.
Michael