JUDGING THE PERFORMANCE HORSE

1. 1 JUDGING THE PERFORMANCE HORSE

2. 2 Western Pleasure Western Pleasure is one of the most popular show events. A top western pleasure horse should be as the name implies: a pleasure to ride

3. 3 Western Pleasure Contestants compete simultaneously Travel around the perimeter of the arena Walk, jog and lope Both directions of the arena. Active visonActive vison

4. 4 Criteria used to evaluate performance horses Functional correctness Quality of movement* Consistency Willingness Brokeness

5. 5 Functional correctness Horse picks up and maintains proper gait Each gait is correct and true Horse maintains a desirable head carriage Proper upward and downward transitions Maintaining a proper rate of speed GAIT: Trot, Canter, etc. STRIDE: Complete cycle of movement in which all four legs complete their motion and move the whole horse. TRANSITIONS: Changes from one gait to another, to or from a halt, or changes of speed and balance within a gait. COLLECTION: the horse's frame is shortened and rounded with the hindquarters clearly coming up under the horse bodyGAIT: Trot, Canter, etc. STRIDE: Complete cycle of movement in which all four legs complete their motion and move the whole horse. TRANSITIONS: Changes from one gait to another, to or from a halt, or changes of speed and balance within a gait. COLLECTION: the horse's frame is shortened and rounded with the hindquarters clearly coming up under the horse body

6. 6 Quality of Movement Gaits must be performed with proper cadence and balance Softness Horse maintains a level top line Horse maintains a collected frame FRAME: The horse's outline and posture in profile. Includes carriage and posture of head and neck back engagement and length of stride of hind legs Short Frame: Collected Long Frame: back, neck strides are long and lowFRAME: The horse's outline and posture in profile. Includes carriage and posture of head and neck back engagement and length of stride of hind legs Short Frame: Collected Long Frame: back, neck strides are long and low

7. 7 Consistency Willingness/Broke-ness Attitude and temperament Prompt response with no resistance

8. 8 Western pleasure will be judged on: Performance Condition & conformation Some associations judge on performance only and do not allow conformaiton to be evaluated in performance classes. 80% performance 20% condition and conformation Some associations judge on performance only and do not allow conformaiton to be evaluated in performance classes. 80% performance 20% condition and conformation

9. 9 A good pleasure horse� has a free-flowing stride of reasonable length in keeping with his conformation should cover a reasonable amount of ground with little effort

10. 10 A good pleasure horse� should have a balanced, flowing motion will exhibit correct gaits that are of proper cadence

11. 11 THE QUALITY OF THE MOVEMENT AND THE CONSISTENCY OF THE GAITS IS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION

12. 12 A good pleasure horse� should carry his head and neck in a relaxed, natural position poll level with or slightly above the level of the withers face should be level with his nose slightly in front of the vertical has a bright expression with his ears alert He should not carry his head behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearanceHe should not carry his head behind the vertical, giving the appearance of intimidation, or be excessively nosed out, giving a resistant appearance

13. 13 A good pleasure horse� should be shown on a loose rein should be responsive and smooth in transitions should extend in the same flowing motion light contact and controllight contact and control

14. 14 MAXIMUM CREDIT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE FLOWING, BALANCED AND WILLING HORSE WHICH GIVES THE APPEARNCE OF BEING A PLEASURE TO RIDE level topline exhibits collection level topline exhibits collection

15. 15 Terminology: the Walk The walk is a natural, flat footed, four beat gait. The horse must move straight and true at the walk. The walk must be alert The stride must be of a reasonable length in keeping with the size of the horse

16. 16 Terminology: the Jog Trot A smooth, ground covering two beat diagonal gait Horse works from one pair of diagonals to the other pair Square, balanced, straight forward movement of feet Extended jog shows same smoothness HORSES WALKING WITH THEIR BACK FEET AND TROTTING ON THE FRONT ARE NOT CONSIDERED PERFORMING THE REQUIRED GAIT Observe the length or distance each diagonal covers during the course of the strideHORSES WALKING WITH THEIR BACK FEET AND TROTTING ON THE FRONT ARE NOT CONSIDERED PERFORMING THE REQUIRED GAIT Observe the length or distance each diagonal covers during the course of the stride

17. 17 Terminology: the Lope The lope is an easy rhythmical three beat gait Horses moving to left should be on left lead Horses moving to right should be on right lead Natural stride should appear relaxed and smooth Ridden at a speed that is a natural way of going HORSES TRAVELING AT A FOUR BEAT GAIT ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE PERFORMING AT A PROPER LOPE The Money Gait HORSES TRAVELING AT A FOUR BEAT GAIT ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE PERFORMING AT A PROPER LOPE The Money Gait

18. 18 Extended Walk, Extended Trot, Back Horse maintains frame and topline reaches further with shoulder and hock Back straight, picking feet up off ground, shows no resistance

19. 19 Disqualification Changing hands on reins More than index finger between reins Head too low more than five strides

20. 20 Faults to be scored according to severity Excessive speed Wrong lead Breaking gait

21. 21 Faults to be scored according to severity Excessive slowness, loss of forward momentum Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for Touching horse or saddle with free hand

22. 22 Faults to be scored according to severity Head carried too high Head carried too low Over flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical

23. 23 Faults to be scored according to severity Excessive nosing out Opening mouth excessively Stumbling Use of spurs forward of the cinch

24. 24 Faults to be scored according to severity Sullen, dull, lethargic, emaciated, drawn or overly tired Quick, choppy or pony strided Reins draped to the point that light contact is not maintained Tail: excessive movement/ �dead� tail

25. 25 Organizing Notes Active vision! description of horse colors markings Correctness Movement Consistency

26. 26 Oral reasons students can verbalize what they understand make use of notes start with written reasons

27. 27 Hunter Under Saddle A popular show event Used to be called Bridle Path Hack English Pleasure Similar to Western Pleasure ONLY in that the horses should be a pleasure to ride

28. 28 Hunter Under Saddle SUITABLE to purpose follow hounds cross country Preliminary class for English riding disciplines

29. 29 Hunter Under Saddle Contestants compete simultaneously Travel around the perimeter of the arena Walk, trot and canter Both directions of the arena. Change in termiology of gaitsChange in termiology of gaits

30. 30 Criteria used to evaluate performance horses Functional correctness Quality of movement Willingness Brokeness

31. 31 Functional correctness Horse picks up and maintains proper gait Each gait is correct and true Horse maintains a desirable head carriage Proper upward and downward transitions Maintaining a proper rate of speed Collection: the horse's frame is shortened and rounded with the hindquarters clearly coming up under the horse bodyCollection: the horse's frame is shortened and rounded with the hindquarters clearly coming up under the horse body

32. 32 Quality of Movement Gaits must be performed with proper cadence and balance Softness Horse maintains a level top line Horse maintains a collected frame

33. 33 Willingness/Broke-ness Attitude and temperament Prompt response with no resistance

34. 34 Hunter Under Saddle will be judged on: Performance Condition & conformation Some associations judge on performance only they do not allow conformation to be evaluated Some associations judge on performance only they do not allow conformation to be evaluated

35. 35 A good hunter� Long, low strides reaches forward smoothly lengthens relaxed, free-flowing movement correctness in gaits cadence

36. 36 THE QUALITY OF THE MOVEMENT AND THE CONSISTENCY OF THE GAITS IS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION

37. 37 A good hunter� obedient bright expression alert ears responsive to light hand/leg contact

38. 38 A good hunter� responsive and smooth in transitions extend in same flowing motion poll level with or slightly above withers face slightly in front of or on the vertical

39. 39 MAXIMUM CREDIT SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE FLOWING, BALANCED, WILLING HORSE

40. 40 Terminology: the Walk Natural, flat footed, four beat gait Moves straight and true at walk Alert Stride of reasonable length in keeping with size of horse LOSS OF FORWARD RHYTMIC MOVEMENT SHALL BE PENALIZED

41. 41 Terminology: the Trot Two beat gait long low ground covering cadenced balanced

42. 42 Terminology: the Trot Smoothness is more essential than speed Knees should remain relatively flat knees exhibit minimal flexion SHORT, QUICK STRIDES AND EXTREME SPEED SHALL BE PENALIZED definite lengthening during extension

43. 43 Terminology: the Canter Three beat gait smooth free moving relaxed straight long low ground covering

44. 44 Terminology: the Hand Gallop definite lengthening of the stride noticeable difference in speed horse under control hand gallop to halt in smooth, balanced manner

45. 45 Faults to be scored according to severity Quick, short, vertical strides Wrong lead Wrong diagonal Breaking gait

46. 46 Faults to be scored according to severity Excessive speed Excessive slowness Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for

47. 47 Faults to be scored according to severity Head carried too high Head carried too low Over-flexing, straining neck with nose behind vertical Excessive nosing out

48. 48 Faults to be scored according to severity Failure to maintain light contact with horse�s mouth Stumbling Sullen, dull, lethargic, emaciated, drawn, overly tired Tail: excessive movement/dead �tail�

49. 49 Reining Ten approved patterns Each contestant performs individually Horses are judged from the time they enter the pen until they complete the last maneuver

50. 50 To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willfully guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely.

51. 51 Any movement on his own must be considered a lack of control. All deviations from the exact written pattern must be considered a lack of or temporary loss of control, and therefore faulted according to the severity of deviation.

52. 52 Credit will be given for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness and authority in performing the various maneuvers while using controlled speed.

53. 53 Maneuver scores Scored on 1/2 point increments Resistance, unwilling, lacks smoothness MINUS: (-1/2) OR (-1) OR (-1 1/2) Controlled speed, authority, aggressiveness, willingness PLUS: (+1/2) OR (+1) OR (+1 1/2)

54. 54 Maneuver Scores

55. 55 Maneuver Scores and Penalty Scores are NOT the same!

56. 56 Reining Scoring will be on the basis of 0-Infinity 70 denotes an average performance

57. 57 No Scores Abuse of animal in show arena Evidence that abuse has occurred prior to exhibition Use of illegal equipment wire on bits, bosals, curb chains illegal bits, bosals, curb chains tack collars, tie downs, nosebands whips, bats

58. 58 No Scores Use of any attachment which alters movement of or circulation to the tail Failure to provide horse and equipment to the appropriate judge for inspection Disrespect or misconduct by the exhibitor

59. 59 Excess rein Rider may untangle excess rein if it prevents the rider from completing the pattern if it can be straightened without affecting the performance of the horse ONLY during hesitations

60. 60 Scores of 0 More than index or first finger between reins Two hands or changing hands Improper use of romal reins Failure to complete the pattern as written Performing the maneuvers other than in specified order

61. 61 Scores of 0 Inclusion of maneuvers not specified (including but not limited to) backing more than 2 strides turning more than 90 degrees equipment failure that delays completion of pattern Balking or refusing command running off or failing to guide

62. 62 Scores of 0 jogging in excess of one half circle one half the length of the arena overspins of more than 1/4 turn fall to the ground by horsed or rider

63. 63 5 point penalties Spurring in front of cinch Use of free hand to instill fear Holding saddle or touching horse with free hand Blatant disobedience kicking biting bucking rearing

64. 64 2 point penalties Break of gait Freeze up in spins or rollbacks On walk in patterns, failure to stop or walk before executing a canter departure On run in patterns, failure to be in a canter prior to the first marker Missing markers on stops

65. 65 Starting or performing circles or eights out of lead 1 point penalty each time out of lead per 1/4 circle 1/2 point for a delayed change of lead by one stride

66. 66 Departures and Rollbacks 1/2 point penalty for starting circle at jog up to two strides 2 point penalty for more than two strides but less than 1/2 circle 1/2 point penalty for exiting rollbacks at a jog up to two strides 2 point penalty for more than two strides but less than 1/2 arena length

67. 67 Spins 1/2 point penalty for over or under spinning 1/8 of a turn 1 point penalty for over or under spinning 1/8-1/4 of a turn

68. 68 Rundowns 1/2 point penalty for failure to remain 20 feet from the fence when approaching a Stop or Rollback

69. 69 Changes of lead (where a change of leads is specified prior to a run to the end of the arena) 1/2 point penalty for failure to change by one stride 1 point penalty for failure to change before next maneuver 2 point penalty if lead is not changed prior to next maneuver

70. 70 Changes of lead (in patterns requiring a run around) 1 point penalty for failure to be on correct lead when rounding the end of the arena 2 point penalty for failure to be on the correct lead prior to the center part of the arena

71. 71 Faults against the horse (do not cause disqualification) opening mouth excessively excessive jawing, opening mouth or head raising on stops Lack of smooth, straight stop on haunches bouncing or sideways stops

72. 72 Faults against the horse (do not cause disqualification) Refusing to change leads Anticipating signals stumbling backing sideways knocking over markers

73. 73 Faults against the rider (do not cause disqualification) Losing stirrup unnecessary talking, petting, spurring, jerking of reins, etc

74. 74 Markers failure to run circles or figure eights within the markers is not considered a fault depending on arena conditions and size failure to go beyond markers on rollbacks and stops is a fault

75. 75 Sources AQHA: Rulebook, Color charts, judging videos PO Box 200, Amarillo, TX 79168 Phone: (806) 376-4811 www.aqha.com Kansas State University: 4-H Judging Guide Visual Ed Products: Pipkin judging videos, State Judging Contests (800)235-4146 www.cev-inc.com