Mission Statement
- We aim to be the best at what we are in Alberta, a friendly, supportive organization dedicated to introducing the Western Reined Cow Horse competitor to the show arena.
- We aim to provide professionally run shows balanced between camaraderie and competitiveness.
- We aim to encourage skill development in reining, cutting, stock horse and judging, through a variety of expert guided training experiences.
- We aim to inspire an atmosphere where individuals can compete, have fun, develop relationships and encourage each other to new successes.
Who is ARCHA?
One of Canada’s most dynamic and exciting western horse organizations! ARCHA is a group of dedicated people aiming to improve the quality of the western stock horse, and perpetuate the early Spanish – old west – traditions of highly skilled and trained working cow horses. ARCHA promotes cow horse events and enables the arena for showcasing the trained cow horses of the Western horsemen and women.
Since 1981, ARCHA has maintained the tradition of showing, promoting, training and breeding of the desirable working cow horse by hosting many competitions in Western Canada.
These competitions offer beginner to advanced riders a variety of classes in which to choose from that give the participant a chance to enjoy and compete in an event with people at a similar training level and ability.
Thus a horse and rider may compete in as many events as they are qualified to participate in. Each year the ARCHA hosts a number of competitions for the reined cow horse. All ages of horses, all cow horse disciplines and riders of all levels of expertise compete.
The mandate of the ARCHA is to improve the quality of the Western reined stock horse, regardless of breed, and perpetuate the early Spanish traditions of highly trained and well reined working horses. The ARCHA promotes cow horse events and promotes the training of reined cow horses among the horsemen of the West. The Association uses and encourages the use of standard rules for holding and judging events of the working cow horse.
Since 1981, the ARCHA has had a mandate to maintain the tradition of showing, promoting, training and breeding the highly trained working cow horse and reined horse, by hosting many fine competitions and promoting the reined cow horse throughout North America.
Beginners in the sport have a variety of classes to choose from to give the novice participant a chance to enjoy and compete in an event with people at a similar training level and ability, while limit classes allow riders with limited career earnings to compete together. Open classes pit top performers in all categories.
The ARCHA encourages both the specialized horse or the all round stock horse to compete, by providing a large number of classes for the competitor to choose from.
Thus a horse and rider may compete in as many events as they are qualified to participate in. Each year the ARCHA hosts a number of competitions for the reined cow horse. All ages of horses, all cow horse disciplines and riders of all levels of expertise compete.
Target Market:
The Rider
There are currently 250 active members within the association made up of youth, adult and senior western equine enthusiasts. Skill levels range from the beginner to the professional.
The median age for the organization’s membership base is 40 with higher than average disposable income. Within this group, the majority of members are females registered in the beginner and intermediate categories with the professional category being predominately male. The majority of our members own their own horse, truck and horse trailer.
The competitors and spectators of ARCHA are typically leaders in their fields and are upscale and sophisticated consumers of many goods and services.
The Reined Cow Horse
The Old West created the stock horse, demanding a tough, enduring animal that could go for miles and herd the vast numbers of cattle in a bygone era. Not only was an athletic horse required, but one that could be completely trained in carrying out the everyday tasks of ranch life.
Historically, the Western horse can trace its training to the demanding and exacting discipline of the Spanish Light Cavalry, renowned for its great horsemanship.
Later, this training was adapted by the early Spanish settlers in the Americas, and then modified to suit the rigors of ranch life in the 1800’s. The Vaqueros and Charros were then horsemen that combined with the hundreds of years of breeding excellence into athletic ability and good temperament, which cumulated into an elusive, but critical quality called “cow sense”. The result was a usable and desirable horse that won the West. The foundation for the highly competitive sport of the reined cow horse was established and Quarter Horses are primarily used.
Today, this horse can be used to single out a cow from a herd of cattle and keep it from returning, can also move a cow in any direction at extreme speed, including circles, and controlling its every movement. This talented horse can demonstrate the most intricate and demanding aspects of western dressage in the reining classes. Cow horse trainers today have evolved specific skills and training techniques that increase the professionalism of the sport each year.
The place to find these multi-talented horses now is at the show circuits hosted by the Alberta Reined Cow Horse Association (ARCHA).
What you see at a Reined Cow Horse Show!!
World class cow horses competing in the following required elements:
Herd Work:
The entry should separate a number of cattle from the herd without unsettling the rest of the group. Horses should keep their head low and go about the work intently and quietly. The horse should seem to be working on its own, on a loose rein. The cow should not get around the horse and back to the herd.
Cow Work:
The horse will work one cow and begin to “box” it at the end of the arena, demonstrating the horse’s ability to hold it on the end until it is allowed to run down the fence. The entry should be in control of the movements of the cow and show that, by making at least one turn down the fence in each direction. The entry finishes by driving the cow in a circle in each direction.
Reined Work:
The horse should work through a pattern with little or no resistance, his movements balanced and rhythmic. There should be no noticeable cues from the rider. The horse will complete a set of spins, sliding stops, lead changes, speed changes and circles demonstrating how well trained it is.
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