Regardless of the type of equipment and attire, a pleasure class requires the judge to pick the most desirable horses to ride. Pretty movement, responsiveness to the rider, smooth transitions and appropriate speeds factor into the placings.
In Western Pleasure , an easy, ground-covering walk, a slow, collected two-beat jog and a condenced, flowing, three-beat lope are desirable. The horses are worked in both directions and should traves on a reasonably loose rein. Pleasure horses should be quiet and relaxed, yet alert and cooperative.
Hunter Under Saddle is a hunt seat class designed to judge the suitablility of horses as mounts for cross-country riding. Although they're not required to perform over fences, the entries should cover the ground in a long, low frame with good stride length as though traversing hunt country while following hounds. The horses are shown on the flat in both directions at a walk, trot and canter.
Saddle Seat Pleasure is a throwback to the days when people visited on horseback or rode in city parks for enjoyment, and the clothes work in the show ring reflect these origins. The walk, trot and canter should be performed with brilliance and natural animation, though noticeably artificial action will be penalized by the judges.
Snaffle Bit Pleasure classes are offered for 2 and 3 year old horses. In snaffle bit Western Pleasure, riders are permitted to show their horses in snaffle bits or bosal hackamores-gear traditionally thought of as training tack. Rather than neck reining with one hand as it is doine with older, more finished horses, riders guide their horses using two hands on the reins.

Reining:

Few events compare with reining in terms of exhibiting a horse's ultimate training, obedience and athletic talent. During competition, the rider directs the horse through a series of maneuvers, asking it to speed up, slow down, lope perfect circles, change directions by changing leads or executing roll-backs, spin in place like a ballerina and skate through the dirt in long, sliding stops that often extend 10-20feet or more. Judges score the horse from zero to infinity with 70 being average.

Western Riding:

The Western riding class is designed to test a horse's suitability as a ranch horse. Each horse is worked individually on a pattern incorporatintg the walk, trot, lope and flying lead change, as seen when the horse weaves through a series of pylons. The pattern includes a pattern of obstacles to negotiate and a series of markers through which a horse must travel before stopping and backing in the center of the arena.