Western riding is an old sport that reflects conditions you would encounter every day riding a horse in the Rocky Mountains.
Events on display in Lawrence included the trail course (which requires a horse to step over, around and back out of obstacles), a flag race, a keyhole test (similar to doing a three-point turn on a horse, where they have to stay within set boundaries), a barrel race and Western pleasure.
Western pleasure involves riders walking, jogging (trotting) and loping (cantering) around a ring.
Faye Allen has been a Western riding judge for more than 25 years and said she looked for a horse that travelled smoothly and consistently in each of those areas.
Mrs Allen said because Western riding events were performed slowly and carefully, it helped to build confidence in the horse.
She said such events were often used as a starting point from where riders and mounts would progress to other events.
"If you have someone out mustering stock, it's quite useful for that as well," Mrs Allen said.
