November 20, 2009
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Competitions

SPORT HORSE JUDGING CRITERIA

ARABIAN SPORT HORSE DIVISION

Welcome to the Arabian, Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian sport horse division! You will probably find it in some respects similar to, and in some respects very different from the division that you are accustomed to judging. Here are some quick notes to get you started. If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to ask competition management.

GENERAL

Judges eligible to adjudicate these classes are carded by U.S.E.F. or E.C. in any of the following: hunter, hunter breeding, dressage, dressage sport horse breeding, and jumper.

Rules

U.S.E.F. Rule Book, Arabian Chapter, AR-1 - General Qualifications
E.C. Rule Book, Arabian Chapter, B1301 - General
U.S.E.F. Subchapter AR13, Sport Horse Section is AR157-AR163
Equine Canada (E.C.) Rule Book, Section B, Article B2401 - B2406.
These sections cover all rules for sport horse in-hand, sport horse under saddle and sport horse show hack.

IN-HAND CLASSES

We talk about "Arabian", but horses will be divided into classes for purebred Arabians, and for Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabians. It is very important that our purebred Arabians reflect good breed type. Please see U.S.E.F. AR102; or E.C. B1301 for description of our breed standard.

Age: Show management will decide age groupings. We do not allow foals at foot. In the Arabian division, only the horses being judged are allowed in the ring. However, we do allow mature geldings, because we want to see the results of a breeding program represented by mature horses.

Gender: Classes are split by gender (note - colts and geldings are shown separately).

Presentation: One horse - one handler (no hazers); although a handler may show multiple horses in any given class.

Some reasons for mandatory elimination:

removal of eyelashes
changing the natural colour of the mane and/or tail
balding the area around the eyes or proximal to the muzzle and nostrils. A judge may penalize an entry with excessive amounts of oil, grease or other substances so as to cause an unnatural appearance.
no product shall be applied to a horse's hoof to hide or conceal a conformation defect. Only clear or transparent products may be used on hooves of horses being shown in the in-hand classes.
judges must excuse from the ring, any horse that has a whip mark (welt) anywhere on its body.
horses wearing non-conforming appts. will be eliminated from judging consideration.

Appointments: Snaffle bridle mandatory on horses 3 years and over, and optional on 2 year olds. Nosebands are optional. Reins or lead with/without chain must be attached to both sides of the bit. Two year olds have the option of showing in a plain, leather stable halter. Horses under the age of 2 must be shown in a plain leather stable halter.

Attire: Casual sport horse attire (long pants and polo type shirt) or handlers may be dressed in riding boots, breeches, etc. Jackets, vests, hats, gloves are optional. If a whip is used it must be no longer than six feet, including lash, no appendages.

Score Sheets: Our in-hand score sheets, both individual and group, differ from the DSHB sheets. Copies are attached. Use of decimals is acceptable.

Conduct: We use the triangle to show our horses. The explanation on the use of the triangle is printed in the USEF/EC subchapter rules. Horses are judged individually and do not return as a group. Champions and Reserve Champions are determined by points, with no further showing allowed.

Open cards are used quite frequently, which means you could be seeing horses out of order from the class list. Be sure your scribe notes the exhibitor number and class number on each score sheet. Show management may schedule the in-hand goes, just as they do in dressage, commonly on four or five minute intervals.

SPORT HORSE UNDER SADDLE

This is a group rail class, with horses judged at the walk, trot and canter; NO HAND GALLOP. You may ask for a lengthening of stride at any gait and you may request horses to back while lined up. Classes are split by breed (Arabian; Half/Anglo-Arabian) and by rider (open, amateur, junior, etc.) and by age of horse (junior horse is 5 yrs. & under).

Specifications vary by class and are listed in order of priority (U.S.E.F. AR162.3 and E.C. B2404.3).
i.e.

(i) Open horses are judged on performance (purity & quality of gaits) first, then manners, conformation, suitability as a sport horse and quality.
(ii) A junior horse is judged on quality first, then suitability as a sport horse, performance, conformation and manners.
(iii) An amateur or junior to ride horse is judged first on manners, followed by performance, suitability as a sport horse, conformation and quality.

Appointments and Attire: Please refer to U.S.E.F. AR159 or E.C. B2402. Please note that snaffles or pelham bits are the only bits to be used. If it is a Junior Horse under saddle class, then snaffle bits only are to be used. If a pelham is used (in the open, amateur or junior to ride classes), converters are not allowed and there must be two reins used. Kimberwicks and double bridles are prohibited.

Bookkeeping: We DO NOT use score sheets for our sport horse under saddle and sport horse show hack classes. You will be given a judge's card for each class. The card will give you the specs for the class. You may choose to use a pad of paper to track your placings for the class. Bookkeeping for the rail classes can be easily managed. One method suggested is as follows:
As the class proceeds, you take "visual snapshots" of horses that you like, and write those numbers down on the left side of your pad. These classes are not necessarily fault and out. A high quality horse can make a mistake and still be used on your card. By the end of the class, you should have a final placings list on the right side of your pad. Then transfer those numbers onto your judge's card. Show management will inform you how many placings are required for each class. Resist the temptation to take copious notes and over-analyze. Pick the horses you like in the order that you like them. Your ringmaster is not your scribe.

A sport horse under saddle class should take no more than 10-12 minutes to judge.

SPORT HORSE SHOW HACK:

This is another group rail class. Please refer to U.S.E.F. AR162.4 or E.C. B2404.4 for class specifications.

Appointments and Attire: You will see dressage and hunter tack and attire, both informal and formal (shad bellies). We recommend that appointments and attire match, but this is not required. White or light-colored breeches with dark, or conservative colored jacket for informal attire. Formal attire (shadbelly) is allowed, although this would be recommended for championship classes or shows, or after 6:00 p.m. Please note that smooth leather half-chaps are allowed.
Snaffle, pelham or double bridles are allowed. Lever arm of curb bit must not exceed 3.94 inches or 10 cm. Forward seat or dressage saddles allowed.

This class requires judging all three gaits, in all three phases (collected, normal, and extended) - plus hand gallop; and rein-back is performed in the line-up. Please ensure that your gait calls are logical (i.e. - no extended trot to canter)
There have been horror stories of judges taking as much as 45 minutes to judge sport horse show hack. Please do not over-analyze, creating a "survival of the fittest" situation.

A sport horse show hack class should be kept under 15 minutes.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND EXPERTISE!