Horse Judging

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Horse Judging Evaluating Halter Horses
Presented by Katherine Whitby
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Criteria for Evaluation

• 1. Balance
• 2. Muscling
• 3. Structural Correctness
• 4. Breed and Sex Characteristics

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What is Balance?

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

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Muscling

• Muscling should be adequate for body size
• Bigger doesnt ALWAYS mean better!
• (balance, balance, balance!)
• Be careful to distinguish FAT from MUSCLE
• Check out forearms and gaskins
• - these are the last areas a horse expresses
  muscling
• - if theyve got muscling there, theyve got it
  EVERY where!

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Structural Correctness

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

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Ideal Leg Structure
Front
Side
Rear
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Font View Form to Function
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Rear View
Base Narrow
Base Wide
Cow Hocked
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What is Breed and Sex Character?

• Breed Character
• Horse should represent characteristics associated
  with that breed of horse.
• For Example
• Arabian
• Quarter Horse
• Morgan

• Sex Character
• Stallion large jowl, heavier muscling,
  exaggerated masculine features
• Mare typy head, feminine features
• Gelding- masculine features

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Check out these Breed Characteristics!
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Arabian
Dished face Arching neck Short flat
croup Refined bone
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Quarter Horse
Stocky build Compact body type with expressive
muscling More angulation through hip
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Morgan
Heavier Shoulder Flatter croup Arching Neck
Stretched out stance
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Lets Review!

• What are the four criteria for evaluating Halter
  Horses?
• Balance
• Muscling
• Structural Correctness
• Breed and Sex Characteristics

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Evaluate 4 Aged Quarter Horses
2.
1.
4.
3.
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Official Placing
2.
1.
3 - 2 - 1 - 4
3.
4.
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Reasons 3 / 2
3.
2.

• Both Excellent Quality
• 3 exhibits more length of hip
• 3 expressively muscled in hindquarters

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Reasons 2 / 1
2.
1.

• 2 possesses greater balance
• 2 shows more powerful hip design
• 2 spreads greater mass of muscling over
• his frame

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Reasons 1 / 4
4.
1.

• 1 exhibits greater overall quality closer
  typifying
• 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