2023 Sun Circuit

Patterns
Showmanship • Horsemanship • Equitation
• National Championships •
Ranch Trail • Walk/Trot Ranch Riding
AQHA Pattern Numbers
 Showmanship, Horsemanship and Equitation
Guidelines and Pattern Key
1. All patterns are to be ridden exactly as drawn
2. Horseshoe like marks in the back indicate location of the horse’s
hind feet.
3. All turns are on the haunches unless noted differently
4. Judged at all times on the drawn pattern

Walk
Jog, Trot
Extended Jog/Trot
Two Point
Sitting Trot
Canter, Lope
Hand Gallup/
Extended Lope
Back
Lead Change

Change Diagonal
Side Pass
Cone X
 Showmanship
L1 Amateur, L1 Select, Non-pro Green
March 4

Start

1. Trot and stop

2. 3/4 turn
3. Back 15 feet and stop
4. 1/2 turn then walk and stop
5. Set up
6. Inspection
7. 1/4 turn, trot serpentine
8. Stop with horse’s hip even with Judge
 Showmanship
Amateur, Select, Color
March 4

Start

1. Extended trot and stop

2. 3/4 turn
3. Back 15 feet and stop
4. 1 1/2 turn then walk and stop
5. Set up
6. Inspection
7. 1/4 turn, trot serpentine
8. Stop with horse’s hip even with Judge
 Showmanship
Youth 10 & Under, 11 & Under
March 10

Start

1. Trot and stop

2. 1 1/4 turn
3. Walk and stop
4. Set up
5. Inspection
6. 1/4 turn, walk away
 Showmanship
L1 Amateur, L1 Select, Non Pro Green - March 6
L1 Youth - March 10

Start

1. Trot and stop

2. 1 1/4 turn
3. Walk, trot square corner and stop
4. Set up
5. Inspection
6. 1/4 turn, back and stop
7. 1/2 turn, walk and stop
8. 1/4 turn and walk
 Showmanship
Amateur, Select, Color - March 6
Youth 13 & Under, Youth 14 to 18 - March 10

1. Trot and stop

Start 2. 3/4 turn
3. Back and stop
4. 1 1/4 turn
5. Trot and stop
6. Set up
7. Inspection
8. 1/4 turn, back and stop
9. 1/2 turn, walk and stop
10. 1/4 turn and walk away
 Showmanship
Youth 11 & under
Youth 10 & under - March 12

Start

1. Trot and stop

2. Back 5 feet
3. 1/4 turn, walk and stop
4. Set up
5. Inspection
6. 3/4 turn and walk
 Showmanship
L1 Amateur, L1 Select, Non-pro Green - March 7
L1 Youth - March 12

Start

1. Trot and stop

2. Back “L” and stop
3. Trot and stop
4. 1 turn
5. Walk and stop
6. Set up
7. Inspection
8. 1/4 turn and walk
 Showmanship
Amateur, Select, Color - March 7
Youth 13 & Under, Youth 14 - 18 March 12

Start

1. Trot then extend trot, stop

2. Back “U” and stop
3. Trot and stop
4. Set up
5. Inspection
6. 1 3/4turn
7. Trot then stop, exit at walk
 FARNAM
THE FOUR SHOWMANSHIP
Select and Amateur - March 7
Youth - March 12
Semi Finals & Finals

1. Trot and stop

2. Two turns right
Start 3. Back and stop
4. Trot and stop
5. 1/2 turn right, trot and stop
6. Set up
7. Inspection
8. 1/4 turn, walk away
 Horsemanship
All Walk/Trot Classes
March 5

1. Extended trot and stop

2. 1 1/4 turn right
3. Jog and stop
4. 3/4 turn left
5. Jog and stop
6. Back and walk

Start
 Horsemanship
L1 Amateur, L1 Select, Non Pro Green
March 5

1. Left lead lope

2. Jog and stop
Start
3. Side pass left
4. Walk and stop
5. One turn right
6. Jog, extended trot, jog and stop
7. Back
8. Trot to exit
 Horsemanship
Amateur, Select, Color
March 5

1. Lope with speed

2. Slow to lope
3. Jog and stop
4. Side pass
5. Walk and stop
6. One turn right, one turn left Start
7. Extend trot then jog and stop
8. Back
9. Jog to exit
 Horsemanship
Amateur Walk/Trot
Youth Walk/Trot
March 9

1. Walk
2. Extend trot
3. Jog and stop
4. 1 1/4 turn right
5. Back
6. Jog
7. Walk
8. Extend trot to exit

Start
 Horsemanship
Youth 11 & Under
March 9

1. Lope left lead

2. Jog and stop
3. 1 1/4 turn right
4. Back
5. Extend trot
6. Slow to jog and stop
7. Back and walk to exit

Start
 Horsemanship
L1 Amateur, L1 Select, Non Pro Green
L1 Youth
March 9

1. Lope right lead

2. Simple change, lope
left lead
3. Lope left lead circle
4. Extended trot and stop
5. 2 turns right
6. Extended walk
7. Jog
8. Stop and back,

Start
 Horsemanship
Amateur, Select, Color
Youth 13 & Under and 14-18
March 9

1. Lope right lead

2. Change leads, lope left lead
3. Lope 3/4 circle with speed
4. Slow, Lope 1/2 circle
5. Extend trot and stop
6. 2 turns right
7. Walk
8. Extend trot and stop
9. Back

Start
 Horsemanship
Amateur Walk/Trot, Youth Walk/Trot
March 11

1. Jog then stop

2. 1 1/4 turn right
3. Extend trot and stop
4. Back
5. Walk to exit

Start
 Horsemanship
Youth 11 & Under
March 11

1. Lope left lead

2. Jog then stop
3. 1 1/4 turn right
4. Extend trot and stop
5. Back and walk to exit

Start
 Horsemanship
L1 Amateur, L1 Select, Non Pro Green
L1 Youth
March 11

1. Lope right lead

2. Simple change, lope
left lead
3. Extend trot and stop
4. 1 turn left
5. Lope right lead
6. Extended trot
Start
7. Jog and stop
8. Back, walk to exit
 Horsemanship
Amateur, Select, Color
Youth 13 & Under and 14-18
March 11

1. Lope right lead,

change leads
2. Lope left lead,
change leads
3. Extend trot and
stop
4. 2 turns right
5. Lope with speed
6. Slow to lope
7. Extend trot
8. Jog and stop
9. Back, walk to exit

Start
 CINCH
THE FOUR HORSEMANSHIP
Youth, Select and Amateur
March 11

Semi Final and Finals

1. Extend trot and stop

2. Counter canter small circle, left lead
to the right
3. Change leads, counter canter small
circle right lead to the left
4. Change leads
X Start 5. Lope large fast circle to the left
6. Slow to lope and stop
7. 2 1/2 turns left
8. Extend trot, slow to jog
9. Extend trot, stop and back
10. Walk to exit
 Equitation
Amateur Walk/Trot
March 6

1. Posting trot right diagonal

2. Posting trot left diagonal
3. Sitting trot and stop
4. 1/2 turn on forehand left
5. Walk
6. Posting trot right diagonal
7. Stop and back, walk to exit

Start
Equitation
L1 Amateur
March 6

1. Posting trot right diagonal

2. Posting trot left diagonal
3. Sitting trot, then stop
4. Canter left lead
5. Simple change
6. Canter right lead
7. Two point at trot
8. Stop, back, walk to exit

Start
 Equitation
Amateur, Select, Color
March 6

1. Posting trot right diagonal,

change diagonals
Start 2. Sit trot, then two track right
3. Canter left lead
4. Hand gallop
5. Slow to Canter
6. Change leads, canter right lead
7. Two point at trot
8. Stop, back and walk to exit
 Equitation
Amateur Walk/Trot
Youth Walk/Trot
March 10

1. Posting trot right diagonal

2. Posting trot left diagonal
3. Walk
4. Posting trot left diagonal
5. Sitting trot
6. Two point
7. Stop and back
8. Walk to exit

Start
 Equitation
Youth 11 & Under
March 10

1. Canter left lead

2. Simple change
3. Canter right lead
4. Posting trot right diagonal
5. Two point at trot
6. Stop and back
7. Walk to exit

Start
 Equitation
L1 Amateur, L1 Youth
March 10

1. Canter left lead

2. Simple change
3. Canter right lead
4. Posting trot left diagonal
5. Sitting trot
6. Two point
7. Stop and back
8. Walk to exit

Start
 Equitation
Amateur, Select, Color
Youth 13 & Under and 14-18
March 10

1. Hand gallup right lead

2. Slow to canter
3. Change lead, counter canter
left lead
4. Trot left diagonal
5. Sit trot
6. Two point
7. Stop and back
8. Walk to exit

Start
 Equitation
Amateur Walk/Trot
Youth Walk/Trot 10 & Under
March 12

1. Posting trot left diagonal

2. Posting trot right diagonal
3. Walk
4. Posting trot right diagonal
5. Two point
6. Posting trot right diagonal
7. Stop and back
8. Walk to exit

Start
 Equitation
Youth 11 & Under
March 12

1. Canter right lead

2. Posting trot right diagonal
3. Two point at trot
4. Posting trot left diagonal
5. Stop and back
6. Walk to exit

Start
 Equitation
L1 Amateur
L1 Youth
March 12

1. Canter right lead

2. Simple change
3. Canter left lead
4. Posting trot right diagonal
5. Two point
6. Posting trot left diagonal
7. Stop and back
8. Walk to exit

Start
 Equitation
Amateur, Select, Color
Youth 13 & Under and 14-18
March 12

1. Canter right lead

2. Change leads canter left lead
3. Hand Gallup
4. Posting trot right diagonal
5. Two point
6. Posting trot left diagonal
7. Stop and back
8. Walk to exit

Start
 EQUINE CHRONICLE
THE FOUR EQUITATION
March 12
Youth, Select and Amateur

Semi Finals and Finals

1. Two track right

2. Posting trot left diagonal, stop
3. One turn on forehand right
4. Canter right lead
5. Change leads, canter left lead
6. Sitting trot
7. Two point
8. Hand gallup right lead
9. Stop and back
 Ranch Trail
Amateur Walk/Trot - March 4

1. Walk bridge and poles

4. Walk through
open gate

2. Trot
logs 6. Back through
chute

7. 1/4 turn, walk

5. Sidepass

3. Trot poles and trees

 Ranch Trail
Open, Amateur, Select - March 4
VRH Ranch Trail - Friday March 3

1. Walk bridge and poles

2. Lope left lead over logs

5. Right hand push gate

and trot
4. Lope right lead

7. Back chute

6. Sidepass

3. Trot logs and trees

8. Lope left lead,

drag log (walk or trot)

9. Trot, then walk poles

 Ranch Trail
Walk/Trot Amateur - March 7
Walk/Trot Youth - March 11

5. Walk into hay bale chute

6. Back through chute, walk

7. Trot log

4. Walk bridge and poles

3. Trot logs

3. Trot poles and circle

2. Walk through
open gate

1. Sidepass right
 Ranch Trail
Youth 11 & Under - March 11

8. Back through chute

9. Walk, then trot log

7. Walk bridge and poles

5. Walk

6. Lope left lead

3. Lope left lead pole and circle

4. Trot logs

2. Walk through
open gate

1. Sidepass right
 Ranch Trail
Open, Amateur, Select - March 7
Youth - March 11

8. Back through chute, walk

9. Lope log right lead and stop

7. Walk bridge and poles

5. Drag log (walk or trot)

6. Lope left lead

4. Trot logs

3. Lope logs left

lead

2. Right hand
push gate

1. Sidepass right, walk

 Ranch Trail

Youth 11 & Under - March 12

7. Trot serpentine

2. Walk through open gate

3. Sidepass right
4. 1/2 turn
right

5. Walk bridge
and poles

8. Walk poles

6. Lope left lead

1. Lope right lead

 Ranch Trail
Walk/Trot Amateur - March 8
Walk/Trot Youth - March 12

6.Trot serpentine

3. Sidepass right, 1/2 turn right

2. Walk through
open gate

4. Walk bridge
and poles

7. Walk logs

5.Trot logs

1. Trot
 Ranch Trail
Open, Amateur, Select - March 8
Youth, L1 Youth, 13 & Under - March 12

7. Trot serpentine

6. Lope left lead over logs

3. Sidepass

2. Right hand
push gate,
walk

4. Walk bridge
and poles

8. Walk poles

5. Drag log (walk or trot)

1. Lope right lead

 Ranch Riding
Amateur Walk/Trot - March 6

1. Trot
2. Extend trot
3. Walk
4. Trot
5. Extend trot
6. Walk poles
7. Stop and back
8. One turn right, walk to exit

Start
 Ranch Riding
Amateur Walk/Trot - March 9
Youth Walk/Trot - March 12

Start

1. Walk
2. Trot
3. Extend trot
4. Trot poles
5. Walk
6. Extend trot
7. Stop, one turn each way
8. Trot
9. Stop and back
 Ranch Riding
Youth 11 & Under
March 11

1. Walk
2. Left lead lope
3. Trot and stop
4. 2 turns left
5. Trot, then lope right lead
6. Extend trot
7. Trot
8. Stop and back
9. Walk poles

Start
 Ranch Riding
Amateur Walk/Trot - March 11
Youth Walk/Trot - March 11

Start
1. Trot
2. Walk poles
3. Extend trot
4. Stop, 2 turns right
5. Trot
6. Stop and back
7. Walk
 Ranch Riding
Youth 11 & Under
March 12

1. Walk
2. Lope left lead
3. Trot
4. Extend trot
5. Trot poles
6. Lope right lead
7. Walk
8. Extend trot and stop
9. 1 turn each way
10. Trot
11 Stop and back

Start
 AQHA Pattern Numbers

2023 WORKING COW HORSE PATTERNS

Sunday Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Junior 11 4 6
Lope Lope away
toward
Senior 11 4 6 Lope
Lope toward away

Amateur 4 11 6
Boxing Lope Lope away
toward

Box-Drive 4 11 6 Lope away

Lope
toward
L1 Amateur 11 4 6
Boxing Lope toward Lope away

Amateur 4 11 6
Working Lope
Cow Horse toward

Youth 4 11
Boxing Lope toward

Youth. 4 11
Cowhorse Lope toward
2021 WESTERN RIDING PATTERNS

Saturday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

All L1 classes L1-1 L1-2 L1-2 L1-4 L1-2 L1-4 L1-4

All other 1 2 2 4 2 4 9
Classes