Competitions

SPORT HORSE JUDGING CRITERIA

ARABIAN SPORT HORSE DIVISION

Prior to attending the show, you require the following from show management:

• copy of the current rules
• copy of the pattern to be used (triangle or V)
• copies of the score sheets
• list of the classes to be held

Study all of the above. Show volunteers and exhibitors may ask you for direction. Study the score sheets so you are familiar with the system and its priorities. Form to function is very important. Our purebred Arabians must also reflect breed characteristics. In Half-Arabian classes, it is perfectly acceptable to ask what the other half is. The horse may obviously reflect the other half of their genotype.

When you attend the show, take all of the above with you, as well as extra pens and a pencil, a clip board and it doesn't hurt to have a couple of extra copies of the score sheets. Show management should supply everything but being prepared for any eventuality helps the show move along.

Take a few minutes to speak with show management regarding their expectations, and clarify any questions you might have. Do your best to remember peoples' names and convey your thanks to them for their contribution to help make the show a success. Take a few minutes to speak with your scribe ahead of time and go over the class lists and score sheets together. The individual in-hand classes are judged as follows: Conformation is 40%, movement is 40%, breed characteristics, balance and harmony is 10% and manners and willingness is 10%. Each scoring area is broken down into marks out of ten. A guideline for the scoring would be:

10 - Excellent	5 - Sufficient
9 - Very Good	4 - Insufficient (not useable)
8 - Good	3 - fairly Poor
7 - Fairly Good	2 - Poor
6 - Satisfactory	1 - Very Poor

Decimals can be used. Referring to the movement score breaks ties. If a tie still exists, the judge may break the tie through the use of decimals, or the horses may be examined again – movement only.

The exhibitor may be dressed in casual attire with running shoes. (Traditionally this would be white shirt with white/beige casual pants but may be dark pants as well). Also acceptable would be dressage or hunt attire. Jackets, hats, gloves and vest are optional. If a whip is used it must be no longer than six feet. The horse, if three years of age or older must be shown in a snaffle bridle. The horse may be led by a lead shank, with or without a chain, or may be led by the reins. Two years olds may be shown in snaffle bridles or a plain leather stable halter. Horses under the age of two must be shown in plain leather stable halters.

Stand at the apex of the triangle, with your scribe, ready for your first exhibitor. Your scribe should be standing beside you in such a way that he/she can hear you speak as you dictate your marks and comments, but not impede your view. When each handler approaches you, a smile and greeting will help ease tension. Most handlers will be amateurs or juniors, and they may be nervous. Ask them what the use or intended use of the horse is/will be. Conformation judging is usually done at the completion of the pattern but may be done before the pattern as well. Ask the handler if her/she understands the pattern and then invite him/her to proceed.

They will walk down the left side of the small triangle, turn right and extend the walk across the long side, turn right again and walk towards you. Watch for the correct tracking of the hind limbs as they walk away, the over-tracking on the extended walk and for the correct tracking as they walk to you. The horse should show a supple back as it walks, particularly at the extended walk. The handler should allow the horse to carry its head and neck in a natural position. Major penalties for the walk would be pacing, winging in, rope-walking, failure to over-track, or overreaching. Paddling is a less severe fault.

As the exhibitor passes you at the apex of the triangle, they should pick up their trot, trot down the left side of the triangle, (they may pause to balance for the turn to the base), show extended trot on the base of the triangle and normal trot towards you. If the horse breaks or blows, you may ask the handler to repeat that one side of the triangle or the exhibitor may take the option of trying a second time to show their horse. Any further chances to improve the performance may be curtailed by the judge as time is a factor. The trot should show the horse tracking up at the normal trot, with a supple, relaxed back. The extended trot should show a marked over-track, as a result of engagement of the hindquarters with the horse using his neck well for balance. The horse should show good lift and reach with the shoulder and the front foot should land where it points. Penalties would be over-reaching, tension in the back resulting in lack of engagement, or inability to show a pure rhythm.

When the triangle is complete, invite the handler to stand the horse for conformation judging. The horse is to stand in a relaxed position, ensuring the horse's four feet are placed so they can all be seen from the profile view. Traditionally, the horse stands with the right front leg slightly back and the right hind leg slightly forward. No posing of the head and neck is permitted. When you have completed your conformation judging, thank the handler and excuse them from the ring. Check the score sheet over with your scribe, make sure it is correct and complete, and sign it if you have not already done so. (Sometimes it helps to sign them ahead of time).

If the “V” is used, stand at the top end of the right leg of the “V”. The handler will walk away from you in normal walk; turn left at the apex and show an extended walk to the end of the “V”. They will make a 180-degree turn to the right, show an extended trot to the apex, turn towards you and show a normal trot. They then stand the horse for conformation judging.

REMEMBER - FORM TO FUNCTION!!!!

These horses have to perform in the dressage, hunter, jumper, eventing or long distance disciplines. They must possess the correct conformation to allow them to perform and to do so for many years. Their movement should reflect their discipline. Dressage horses should be elastic, with natural uphill motion. Hunters should show lower, efficient, ground covering strides. Jumpers and eventers should show great ability to propel from behind and be strong enough in front to receive the concussion of landing off jumps. Endurance horses need great legs and feet. They all need strong underlines and good engines. These horses are also breeding stock or breeding prospects.

Group in-hand Classes

These are Get of Sire or Produce of Dam classes. Each entry will be two or three horses shown in a group to represent their sire or dam. The scoring system is conformation 40%, movement 40%, reproductive likeness, overall quality and uniformity of quality is 10%, and apparent ability to beget sport horse performance and/or breeding stock is 10%. The uniformity of quality is very important. As an example, say you have two groups. Group A has one outstanding individual and one less than average individual. Group B has two average individuals. Group B must win because of the uniformity. These horses must be observed moving at the walk and trot, but not necessarily on the triangle or V.

Sport Horse Under Saddle

Attire for the riders may be hunt or dressage style. Appointments for the horse are as follows: dressage or forward seat saddles, hunt or dressage style bridles with cavesson nosebands. Bits permitted are snaffles or pelhams. Kimberwicks are prohibited. Unconventional bits may be penalized at the discretion of the judge. Breastplates are permitted, but martingales are not. Crops/whips must be no longer than four feet.

The mandatory gaits are walk, trot, canter and hand gallop, to be shown both ways of the ring. Horses must stand quietly and back readily. Open horses are judged on performance, manners, conformation, suitability as a working sport horse and quality. Junior horse classes (five years & under) are judged on quality, suitability as a working sport horse, performance, conformation and manners. Horses ridden by amateurs or juniors are judged on manners, performance, suitability as a working sport horse, conformation, and quality.

Sport Horse Show Hack

Show hack attire is required. Conservatively coloured dark coat, breeches and boots, with hunting cap, derby or protective headgear. Formal attire (shadbelly and tophat) is acceptable but normally after 6:00 p.m. or for championship classes or championship shows.

Horses are to enter the ring and show walk, trot and canter, (collected, normal and extended gaits) and hand gallop. Horses are to stand quietly and back readily. Horses are judged on manners, performance, quality and conformation.

The emphasis in this class is on the high level of training and strength required to perform ten gaits. It is meant to be an elegant class and, therefore, the calling of gaits should be logical. (i.e. do not call for a transition such as extended trot to canter). All gaits are to be judged equally so it is important that pure rhythm and quality are shown in all gaits.