HALTER HORSE & RANCH HORSE CONFORMATION
A halter class is defined as a class where the horse is judged based upon its conformation. The purpose of the class is to preserve the well bred breed type by selecting well-mannered individuals in the order of their resemblance to their breed ideal and that are the most positive combination of balance, structural correctness, and movement with appropriate breed and sex characteristics and adequate muscling.
The ideal Halter Horse possesses the following characteristics:
The horse should possess eye appeal that is the result of a harmonious blending of an attractive head; refined throat latch; well-proportioned, trim neck; long, sloping shoulder; deep heart girth; short back; strong loin and coupling; long hip and croup; and well-defined and muscular stifle, gaskin, forearm and chest. All stallions 2 years old and over shall have two visible testicles. These characteristics should be coupled with straight and structurally correct legs and feet that are free of blemishes. The horse should be a balanced athlete that is muscled uniformly throughout.
One of the most important criteria in selecting a horse is conformation, or its physical appearance. While it could be assumed that most horses with several years’ seasoning and past performance have acceptable conformation, the goal in selection should always be to find the best conformed horse possible.
Rating conformation depends upon objective evaluation of the following four traits: balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characteristics, and degree of muscling. Of the four, balance is the single most important, and refers to the structural and aesthetic blending of body parts. Balance is influenced almost entirely by skeletal structure.
Halter Equipment
A leather halter, with or without silver, that is fitted in such a way to emphasize an attractive head
PROCEDURE FOR JUDGING HALTER
Horses will walk to the judge one at a time. As the horse approaches, the judge will step to the right (left of the horse) to enable the horse to trot straight to a cone placed 50 feet (15 meters) away. At the cone, the horse will continue trotting, turn to the left and trot toward the left wall or fence of the arena. After trotting, horses will be lined up head to tail for individual inspection by the judge. The judge shall inspect each horse from both sides, front and rear.
A well-mannered horse is a horse that (1) is under control by the exhibitor while tracking and standing for inspection and (2) is reasonably still and flat-footed while standing for inspection.
Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to rearing, striking, biting, or backing or falling into others.
Judges should disqualify and excuse from the ring prior to final placing a horse that:
If a horse exhibits disruptive behavior described above and causes other exhibitor(s) to lose their horse(s), only the initiating horse will be disqualified and excused. The decision of the judge(s) will be final.
All stallions 2 years old and over shall be examined to confirm that they have two visible testicles.
All mares and stallions shall be examined for parrot mouth. If examination reveals that a horse has parrot mouth or is cryptorchid, such horse should be excused from the ring prior to final placing by the judge regardless of whether the parrot mouth or cryptorchid condition is marked on the horse’s registration
certificate.
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A halter class is defined as a class where the horse is judged based upon its conformation. The purpose of the class is to preserve the well bred breed type by selecting well-mannered individuals in the order of their resemblance to their breed ideal and that are the most positive combination of balance, structural correctness, and movement with appropriate breed and sex characteristics and adequate muscling.
The ideal Halter Horse possesses the following characteristics:
The horse should possess eye appeal that is the result of a harmonious blending of an attractive head; refined throat latch; well-proportioned, trim neck; long, sloping shoulder; deep heart girth; short back; strong loin and coupling; long hip and croup; and well-defined and muscular stifle, gaskin, forearm and chest. All stallions 2 years old and over shall have two visible testicles. These characteristics should be coupled with straight and structurally correct legs and feet that are free of blemishes. The horse should be a balanced athlete that is muscled uniformly throughout.
One of the most important criteria in selecting a horse is conformation, or its physical appearance. While it could be assumed that most horses with several years’ seasoning and past performance have acceptable conformation, the goal in selection should always be to find the best conformed horse possible.
Rating conformation depends upon objective evaluation of the following four traits: balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characteristics, and degree of muscling. Of the four, balance is the single most important, and refers to the structural and aesthetic blending of body parts. Balance is influenced almost entirely by skeletal structure.
Halter Equipment
A leather halter, with or without silver, that is fitted in such a way to emphasize an attractive head
PROCEDURE FOR JUDGING HALTER
Horses will walk to the judge one at a time. As the horse approaches, the judge will step to the right (left of the horse) to enable the horse to trot straight to a cone placed 50 feet (15 meters) away. At the cone, the horse will continue trotting, turn to the left and trot toward the left wall or fence of the arena. After trotting, horses will be lined up head to tail for individual inspection by the judge. The judge shall inspect each horse from both sides, front and rear.
A well-mannered horse is a horse that (1) is under control by the exhibitor while tracking and standing for inspection and (2) is reasonably still and flat-footed while standing for inspection.
Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to rearing, striking, biting, or backing or falling into others.
Judges should disqualify and excuse from the ring prior to final placing a horse that:
- exhibits disruptive behavior such that it or other horses are unable to be inspected by the judge;
- exhibits disruptive behavior such that the safety of it, the handler, an exhibitor, a judge or another horse is endangered;
- becomes detached from the exhibitor;
- has fallen and is on its side with all four feet extended in the same direction;
- is observed with blood on its body, including, but not limited to, the nose, chin, mouth, tongue, or gums, regardless of cause;
- is lame.
If a horse exhibits disruptive behavior described above and causes other exhibitor(s) to lose their horse(s), only the initiating horse will be disqualified and excused. The decision of the judge(s) will be final.
All stallions 2 years old and over shall be examined to confirm that they have two visible testicles.
All mares and stallions shall be examined for parrot mouth. If examination reveals that a horse has parrot mouth or is cryptorchid, such horse should be excused from the ring prior to final placing by the judge regardless of whether the parrot mouth or cryptorchid condition is marked on the horse’s registration
certificate.
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