Horse JudgingHorse Judging

Evaluating Evaluating

Halter HorsesHalter Horses Presented by: Katherine Whitby

Criteria for EvaluationCriteria for Evaluation

1.1. Balance Balance

2.2. Muscling Muscling

3.3. Structural CorrectnessStructural Correctness

4.4. Breed and Sex CharacteristicsBreed and Sex Characteristics

What is Balance? What is Balance?

•Shoulder, Barrel, Hip in proportion

•Top to Bottom-line Ratio

•Symmetrical Shoulder and Hip Angles

MusclingMuscling

Muscling should be Muscling should be adequate for body sizeadequate for body size

Bigger doesn’t ALWAYS mean better!Bigger doesn’t ALWAYS mean better!

(balance, balance, balance!) (balance, balance, balance!)

Be careful to distinguish FAT from MUSCLEBe careful to distinguish FAT from MUSCLE

Check out forearms and gaskins Check out forearms and gaskins

-- these are the last areas a horse expresses these are the last areas a horse expresses musclingmuscling

-- if they’ve got muscling there, they’ve got it if they’ve got muscling there, they’ve got it EVERY where! EVERY where!

Structural CorrectnessStructural Correctness

Proper “form” increases the potential for greater Proper “form” increases the potential for greater “function”.“function”.

Correct bone structure allows for correct Correct bone structure allows for correct movement and ideally the longevity of the movement and ideally the longevity of the animal. animal.

A crooked legged horse may still be able to run A crooked legged horse may still be able to run a race, however it may not last as long, due to a race, however it may not last as long, due to added stress on it’s legs and joints! added stress on it’s legs and joints!

Ideal Leg StructureIdeal Leg Structure

Front SideRear

Font View: Form to FunctionFont View: Form to Function

Rear ViewRear View

Base Narrow Base Wide Cow Hocked

What is Breed and Sex Character? What is Breed and Sex Character?

Breed Character:Breed Character: Horse should Horse should

represent represent characteristics characteristics associated with that associated with that breed of horse.breed of horse.

For Example…For Example…ArabianArabian Quarter Horse Quarter Horse Morgan Morgan

Sex Character: Sex Character: StallionStallion – large jowl, – large jowl,

heavier muscling, heavier muscling, exaggerated exaggerated masculine featuresmasculine features

MareMare – typy head, – typy head, feminine featuresfeminine features

Gelding-Gelding- masculine masculine features features

Check out these Breed Check out these Breed Characteristics!Characteristics!

ArabianArabianDished face

Arching neck

Short flat croup

Refined bone

Quarter HorseQuarter Horse

Stocky build

Compact body type with expressive muscling

More angulation through hip

Morgan Morgan Heavier Shoulder

Flatter croup

Arching Neck

Stretched out stance

Let’s Review! Let’s Review!

What are the four criteria for evaluating What are the four criteria for evaluating Halter Horses? Halter Horses?

1.1. BalanceBalance

2.2. Muscling Muscling

3.3. Structural CorrectnessStructural Correctness

4.4. Breed and Sex Characteristics Breed and Sex Characteristics

Evaluate 4 Aged Quarter HorsesEvaluate 4 Aged Quarter Horses

1. 2.

4.3.

Official PlacingOfficial Placing

1. 2.

4.3.3 - 2 - 1 - 4

Reasons: 3 / 2Reasons: 3 / 2

Both Excellent Quality Both Excellent Quality 3 exhibits more length of hip3 exhibits more length of hip3 expressively muscled in hindquarters3 expressively muscled in hindquarters

3. 2.

Reasons: 2 / 1Reasons: 2 / 1

2 possesses greater balance2 possesses greater balance 2 shows more powerful hip design2 shows more powerful hip design 2 spreads greater mass of muscling over 2 spreads greater mass of muscling over

his framehis frame

2. 1.

Reasons: 1 / 4Reasons: 1 / 4

1 exhibits greater overall quality; closer typifying1 exhibits greater overall quality; closer typifying our top two individualsour top two individuals

1 stands more structurally correct1 stands more structurally correct 1 neck ties in higher and tighter to his 1 neck ties in higher and tighter to his more desirably sloped shoulder.more desirably sloped shoulder. 1 shows more length and muscling through his hip1 shows more length and muscling through his hip

1. 4.