Conformation
What is the most important quality we are looking for when judging a horse on the ground?
Balance
In Western Horsemanship, are we judging the horse or the rider?
Rider
Does the overall equitation or position of the rider matter in Western Pleasure?
Not really- more about the performance of the horse
In English Equitation, are we judging the horse or the rider?
Rider
How important are manners, obedience, and responsiveness to light hand/leg contact in Western Pleasure? A little or a lot?
A lot
Where is the heart girth located, and what are we looking for when judging a horse in relation to the heart girth?
Behind the front legs, from the point of the withers to the belly
We want to see adequate depth of heart for proper lung expansion, 1:1 ratio with the belly to the ground
Give me an example of a 3-point penalty
•Break of gait at walk or jog/trot up to two strides
•Over-/under-turn up to 1/8 of turn
•Tick or hit of cone
•Obviously looking down to check leads
Does a pleasant expression on the horse's face matter in Western Pleasure?
Yes- willing performer
When on the correct diagonal, with what leg forward should the rider be posting?
Outside leg- rise and fall with the leg on the wall
What does cadenced mean?
the marked, rhythmic, and expressive accentuation of a gait, resulting from a steady, suitable tempo combined with increased impulsion and a moment of suspension. Athletic and light on his feet.
Define balance.
Being able to easily divide a horse into 3rds
Give me two examples of faults we may find with the rider in Western Horsemanship.
Poorly aligned shoulder, hip and heel
Too much obvious hand or leg
Unstable legs or seat
Poor communication with the horse
Describe the quality of movement we are looking for in a Western Pleasure class.
•Impulsion from the hind
•Round, collected frame
•Flat knee
Missing a diagonal up to 2 strides in the pattern or on the rail
How many penalty points is this fault?
-5, major penalty
Describe the ideal gait of a working hunter
Free-flowing, ground-covering, and athletic
When a horse stands close when viewing them from the front, what is this called?
Base-narrow
Give me an example of a 5-point penalty
•Not performing the specific gait or not stopping when called for in the pattern within 10 feet of designated area
•Incorrect lead or break of gait at the lope (except when correcting an incorrect lead)
•Break of gait at walk, or jog for more than two strides
•Head carried too low and/or clearly behind the vertical while the horse is in motion, showing the appearance of intimidation
•Exhibitor obviously looking down to check leads
•Bottom of boot not touching pad of stirrup at all gaits including the backup
•Loss of stirrup
Describe the ideal headset for a Western Pleasure horse.
Horizontal neck, tips of ears never dip below withers, nose slightly forward of vertical, nose never dips behind vertical
Give me an example of a 5-point penalty
•Not performing the specific gait or not stopping when called for in the
pattern within 10 feet of the designated location
• Missing a diagonal up to 2 strides in the pattern or on the rail
• Incorrect gait or break of gait (except when correcting an incorrect lead)
at the canter
• Complete loss of contact between rider's hand and the horse's mouth
• Break of gait at walk or trot for more than two strides
• Loss of iron
• Head carried too low and/or clearly behind the vertical while the horse is
in motion, showing the appearance of intimidation
Describe the headset of the ideal hunter
Horizontal neck, vertical head, or just slightly before the vertical, tips of ears never dip below the withers
Where is the croup located on a horse?
What is more desirable, a rounded croup or a steep croup?
From the point of the hip to the tail head
A rounded croup is more attractive and indicates muscling
A rider completes a maneuver correctly but with no additional degree of style or difficulty. What maneuver score do you give them?
0
Give me an example of a disqualification in a Western Pleasure class
•Head carried too low whole time- tip of ear below withers
•Over-flexed whole time
•More than one finger between reins
•Going to two hands
A rider has an average pattern performance. You find them to be an average rider (their leg is often too far forward and you can see their hands moving often). Their communication with their horse produces an average performance. What F&E score would you give this rider?
Average, 0-2
Give me an example of a fault you might find with a working hunter.
•Quick, short, or vertical strides
•Being on the wrong lead
•Breaking gait
•Excessive speed/slowness at any gait
•Failure to take the appropriate gait when called for
•Carrying the head too high or too low
•Over-flexing or straining the neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical
•Stumbling
•Excessive nosing out
•Failure to maintain light contact
•Dull, lethargic, or overly tired
•Consistently showing too far off the rail