Horse Judging Evaluating Halter Horses Presented by Katherine

Horse Judging Evaluating Halter Horses Presented by: Katherine Whitby

Criteria for Evaluation 1. Balance 2. Muscling 3. Structural Correctness 4. Breed and Sex Characteristics

What is Balance? • Shoulder, Barrel, Hip in proportion • Top to Bottom-line Ratio • Symmetrical Shoulder and Hip Angles

Muscling should be adequate for body size Bigger doesn’t ALWAYS mean better! (balance, balance!) Be careful to distinguish FAT from MUSCLE Check out forearms and gaskins - these are the last areas a horse expresses muscling - if they’ve got muscling there, they’ve got it EVERY where!

Structural Correctness ü Proper “form” increases the potential for greater “function”. ü Correct bone structure allows for correct movement and ideally the longevity of the animal. ü A crooked legged horse may still be able to run a race, however it may not last as long, due to added stress on it’s legs and joints!

Ideal Leg Structure Front Rear Side

Font View: Form to Function

Rear View Base Narrow Base Wide Cow Hocked

What is Breed and Sex Character? Breed Character: ü Horse should represent characteristics associated with that breed of horse. For Example… Arabian Quarter Horse Morgan Sex Character: ü Stallion – large jowl, heavier muscling, exaggerated masculine features ü Mare – typy head, feminine features ü Gelding- masculine features

Check out these Breed Characteristics!

Arabian Dished face Arching neck Short flat croup Refined bone

Quarter Horse Stocky build Compact body type with expressive muscling More angulation through hip

Morgan Heavier Shoulder Flatter croup Arching Neck Stretched out stance

Let’s Review! What are the four criteria for evaluating Halter Horses? 1. Balance 2. Muscling 3. Structural Correctness 4. Breed and Sex Characteristics

Evaluate 4 Aged Quarter Horses 1. 2. 3. 4.

Official Placing 1. 3. 2. 3 -2 -1 -4 4.

Reasons: 3 / 2 3. 2. ü Both Excellent Quality ü 3 exhibits more length of hip ü 3 expressively muscled in hindquarters

Reasons: 2 / 1 2. 1. ü 2 possesses greater balance ü 2 shows more powerful hip design ü 2 spreads greater mass of muscling over his frame

Reasons: 1 / 4 4. 1. ü 1 exhibits greater overall quality; closer typifying ü ü ü our top two individuals 1 stands more structurally correct 1 neck ties in higher and tighter to his more desirably sloped shoulder. 1 shows more length and muscling through his hip