How to Judge a Horse

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: To begin with

   The class will have specific guidelines, e.g.
   
   Hunter Class, Ridden Pony Hack, Led Appaloosa or Western Riding.
   
   Make sure you know the guidelines as well as a little about what each rider is being asked to do.
   
   Often, a western rider makes a better western judge compared to a jump judge judging a western event. , When it comes down to a tie, behavior counts! , As the horses walk around the ring, watch how they move.
   
   Are their feet bumping into each other? Which horse is holding his head high, resisting the bit? Are there any horses that are being naughty or seem to be grumpy? Keep these horses in mind (most judges have a steward that writes notes or the judge has a pen and paper writing notes down). , Is he moving with ease? Is the horse running through his gate? Which horse seems the most pleasing? , Does the horse strike off on the right or wrong lead? How long does it take the horse to establish an easy canter? , Watch this lead also, as horses sometimes like one way better than another, and often your first pick may simply not like the lead and his chances are thrown out the window. , Here you can tell which horse is well-mannered and who is grumpy around other horses.
   
   While the judge is looking at this, she will have a set course in mind to test each horse.
   
   Being on the sideline, it's hard to know what the judge is asking of them, but by watching, you can tell if the horse was meant to canter or was meant to halt rather than bolt. , Now, compare each horse, eliminate the bad and replace with the better (it's very sad when a judge says "No, you're last"
   
   while in a ring). ,, Showmanship, Hunter in Hand, Stock Halter) has a different set of judging criteria, there are several basic rules and body types. ,,,, They are long and weak in the back, rafter hipped, narrow and shallow bodies (it's worth noting you measure body depth by how much body is beneath their point of elbow), overly prominent at the withers, overly long ewe neck (ewe neck means the top of the neck dips down creating the "U"), and rope walked; if none of that made sense, think of a "grocery gator"
   
   a horse that after you stick the saddle on it looks like you could put a couple of bags of groceries on behind your saddle. , Big beats little (I feel that's pretty self explanatory) Pretty Beats Ugly (Once again I feel that's pretty self explanatory) A whole beats a part (This one's harder
   - it means look at a horse as a whole; don't kill a horse because he has one splint, kill him if he has many serious faults).
   
   And last but not least, A dink is a dink is a dink.
   
   It means don't give the most awful ugly dying horse sympathy points. , However, here are some of the more common ones: ,, Note: most Arabians I've encountered were cow hocked. ,,, If a horse is rude and runs, you know that you will need to wear good runners! , You should be looking for a good straight back, straight legs and correctly aligned hooves.
   
   Look to see how much fat the horse has on its crest (the fatter the crest, the more you will know the horse or pony is strong). ,, If you can, do so.
   
   Walk for a short while, and judge the way it moves.
   
   Is it even? Is it easy and forward moving? Then ask for a trot.
   
   The trot should be easy to ride to, either sitting or rising.
   
   What you want, you should get out of the horse.
   
   Does the horse seem evenly paced and balanced? If you feel confident, ask for a canter; this pace should be floaty and easy to receive.
   
   How long does it take to get the pace? How long does it take to stop? ,, If you are looking for a Show jumping horse, ask if it has jumped and if it has, ask if you can jump it.
   
   If you're looking for a Western Competition Horse, ask to try it over some poles and open a gate.
   
   If you only want a pleasure riding horse, make sure it stops when you ask and goes when you ask. , Drop one rein and see if the horse stops or simply takes advantage of you.
   
   You ultimately want a horse that slows but continues as long as you haven't asked for a halt.
   
   Most of the time, if the horse is what you want, you can try swinging your legs and see if the horse reacts or is quiet, ride with more reinforced commands, a bit harder squeeze, a lighter or harder pull of the reins, sit floppy in the saddle.
   
   The owner may ask why? But you know that if the horse objects to this he is probably not suited for less experienced riders , This way you can ride it every day for the week and really try it, even take it to a competition if appropriate. , The horse should look nicely proportioned.
   
   It will take some time to pick up different things, but patience is rewarding. , For pure breed these are usually decided by the breed society. ,,,,,,
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   Step 2: usually only an accredited judge is allowed to judge and award ribbons

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   Step 3: but for name's sake

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   Step 4: you are more than allowed to judge on the outside of the ring.

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   Step 5: Look at the horses or ponies as they enter the ring.

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   Step 6: Look at each horse and decide on manners -- which horse do you think is the most well-behaved?

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   Step 7: The judge will then say "You are now being judged"; you will then see the riders begin to ride with absolute concentration.

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   Step 8: As the horse moves into a trot

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   Step 9: watch the way the horse moves.

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    Step 10: When the riders are asked to canter

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    Step 11: watch very carefully; each rider asks for and begins to canter; the take off is a good way to tell which horse is listening and which horse is just there to look pretty.

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    Step 12: The horses will be asked to change direction and do the same paces.

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    Step 13: The judge will then ask the horse and riders to line up in a troop side by side.

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    Step 14: In the end

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    Step 15: compare your notes and pick your best horse

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    Step 16: (1st) then pick the worst two horses (write which one was worse than the other).

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    Step 17: Once you have your horses figured out

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    Step 18: ask the riders to move their horses into the positions you said.

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    Step 19: Even though each class (ex.

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    Step 20: There are three basic body types: Super

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    Step 21: and Tube.

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    Step 22: Super is the ideal horse (NOTE: there is no such thing as a perfect horse): a long sloping shoulder

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    Step 23: short tight back

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    Step 24: long underline

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    Step 25: long hip

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    Step 26: prominent at the withers

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    Step 27: sloping (though not overly so) pasterns

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    Step 28: deep heart girth

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    Step 29: long neck

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    Step 30: straight legs

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    Step 31: flat clean bone

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    Step 32: free true mover (tracks straight

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    Step 33: doesn't paddle or rope walk)

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    Step 34: and a clean throat latch; if you're totally confused by all that

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    Step 35: the horse that is easy on the eyes

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    Step 36: and seems to flow from part to part

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    Step 37: Cube is what I tend to think of as a stereotypical boxy pony; they are long in the back

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    Step 38: short in the hip and underline

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    Step 39: muttony over the withers

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    Step 40: straight in the pastern and shoulder

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    Step 41: thick through the throat latch

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    Step 42: fine round bone

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    Step 43: cow hocked (hocks point towards each other; in order to move correctly

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    Step 44: a horse needs to be slightly cow hocked

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    Step 45: not overly so though)

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    Step 46: sickle hocked (the entire rear leg looks like it curved

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    Step 47: hence the name "sickle"

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    Step 48: when viewed from the side)

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    Step 49: short choppy stride; if none of that made sense

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    Step 50: imagine that little pony you once owned that looked like a box with a head and tail.

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    Step 51: is the opposite of cube (think excessively long bodied).

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    Step 52: Now that we've covered the hard stuff

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    Step 53: here are the bare bones of judging a halter horse.

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    Step 54: Each class has its own specific areas where more emphasis is placed; there are far too many to list here.

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    Step 55: Stock horses (Quarter horses

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    Step 56: Paints

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    Step 57: Appaloosas) place the most emphasis in the muscling

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    Step 58: particularly in the gaskin

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    Step 59: forearm

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    Step 60: and stifle.

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    Step 61: Arabians place more emphasis on refinement

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    Step 62: breed character

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    Step 63: and light airy movement.

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    Step 64: Hunters in Hand

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    Step 65: one word: movement.

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    Step 66: I barely scratched the surface on judging - continue to read

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    Step 67: attend horse shows

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    Step 68: and challenge yourself to be a better judge!

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    Step 69: If you can get to the horse early

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    Step 70: and watch the horse get caught and haltered.

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    Step 71: Look at the horse without a saddle or bridle

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    Step 72: and try not to touch the horse at first

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    Step 73: as you want to see how the horse stands without a poke.

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    Step 74: Look at the vitals (eyes

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    Step 75: under tail

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    Step 76: hooves

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    Step 77: etc); you want to make sure it's not sore or has any wounds.

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    Step 78: Ask if you can ride the horse.

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    Step 79: Halt the horse and then go from there.

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    Step 80: Tailor your questions to the type of horse you want.

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    Step 81: (Note: Only do this if you are experienced and have reins.)

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    Step 82: If you love the horse

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    Step 83: ask to have it on a week's trial.

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    Step 84: Look at the horse overall.

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    Step 85: Know the characteristics of the breed.

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    Step 86: Consider 5 key characteristics: balance

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    Step 87: structure

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    Step 88: muscle

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    Step 89: quality

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    Step 90: and breed.

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    Step 91: Consider 6 balance keys: topline

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    Step 92: croup/hip

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    Step 93: shoulder

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    Step 94: and neck.

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    Step 95: Look for any structure problems: Any kind of travel problems Any kind of deformity

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    Step 96: Acquaint yourself with 7 additional muscle mass points: Chest or pectoral region Forearm Shoulder Loin Croup Stifle Gaskin

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    Step 97: Know 6 quality characteristics: Head Throat latch Feet Bone structure Leg position Calmness

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    Step 98: Keep breed and gender characteristics in mind

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    Step 99: such as: Quarter Horses will be heavier built than Riding Ponies Stallions compared to Geldings will be toned and spirited Geldings should be relaxed but well toned and muscled Mares will be fine and have a feminine' disposition.

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