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ASK THE JUDGE QUESTIONS
2005
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| ASK THE
JUDGE 2005 | | ASK THE JUDGE
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2007
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NOVEMBER 2005 ASK THE JUDGE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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April
Asks:
Hi,
I'm starting to show my Arabian / Paint cross mare in
more Arabian shows. I'd like to do some halter classes,
but the horses that we go against can do the arab
stance. My arab, can do it but it doesnt look as good.
Do you have any hints or tips on training her to do the
stance better?
Thanks
Judge Anne Johnson's Reply
Hi April-
Half Arabian halter classes are judged on conformation,
quality, substance and Arabian type in that order. The
first three qualities take precedence over Arabian type.
Quite often, Half Arabian halter classes are divided
into stock/hunter type and saddle/pleasure type. With
the increased popularity of working western and sport
horses, I think you are seeing increased participation
in the "stock" type and judges considering them more
fairly when shown against a more English style horse.
The hunters are shown braided and in hunt bridles and
the stock horses in western halters.
So with that in mind, I recommend showing your mare to
her best advantage as a stock type horse. Stand her up
squarely, in a western style show halter, if that's the
way she looks best. And of course, great grooming and
conditioning always help!
Anne Johnson
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OCTOBER 2005 ASK THE JUDGE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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JoAnna Asks:
Dear Anne Johnson,
I own an Anglo-Arabian mare. She is exactly half-Arabian
half Thoroughbred. I've been showing her for the last 2
years with her mane long and not braided (Arabian style)
and she squares up in an Arabian stance for fitting and
show classes. I recently cut and pulled her mane to give
her the hunter look since I show her as an Arabian
Hunter. My question is.... since I cut and pulled her
mane, for next year can braid her mane (hunter style)
and still use an Arabian Halter on her for halter
classes? Or should I buy her a regular leather halter
and teach her to square up in a thoroughbred stance? I
am worried that the judge will not understand what she
is and may not place me. I am not sure what the rules
are for half-breeds. What is your recommendation? Thank
you so much for taking the time to read this and help
me. I hope I explained my situation well. Thanks again!
JoAnna
Judge Anne Johnson's Reply
JoAnna-
Horses that are shown braided must be shown in Hunter,
Show Hack or Dressage appointments or in a leather
stable halter. Check out the USEF Arabian rules under
Article 106 and the rules for the Half Arabian division
for detailed descriptions. In judging classes, I have
not seen too many in the leather halter. No matter how
good your horse is, if it is shown with inappropriate
tack (no throatlatch in Arabian halters or as noted
above), the judge cannot place you.
Thanks for your question,
Anne Johnson
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Leslie Asks:
If you have a 16.2 quarter horse and are showing against
smaller horses are you going to be penalized if in a normal gait
your horse is faster then the others? Is It better to show him
natural or slow him down which will ruin his natural gait?
Judge Anne Johnson's Reply
Hi Leslie--
Horses tell us what they want to do for a living. We
just have to take a careful look at their form to function and
attitude to determine what that is. Then it's a matter of proper
training and conditioning, knowing the rules and class
specifications and put it out there for the judge to decide. Judges
can adhere to the rules, be honest and still come up with different
class results. Keeps the horse show world going around.
A judge should recognize that your 16.2 hand horse is
naturally going to move out more than a smaller horse and that's the
way he should go. Show him that way. But do take a close look at
what your horse wants to do. For instance, if you are showing him
western, he's a pretty mover with lots of stride, should he be a
hunter pleasure horse instead?
Good luck and thank you for your question--
Anne Johnson
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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2005 ASK THE JUDGE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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Donna Asks:
Hi Judge Johnson
Thank you for the opportunity to send you our questions.
I'm sure you are well aware of the displeasure many
express at the hard stand up that has become the norm in
Arabian halter classes. If an exhibitor were to show a
halter horse in more relaxed stance, would they be
penalized for doing so?
Do you feel that it would be beneficial to adopt a
European system for judging halter horses at the
Regional & National shows?
Thank you
Donna
Judge Anne Johnson's Reply
Hi Donna
There's nothing in the rule book that penalizes a more
natural, relaxed stance. In fact, judges are supposed to
penalize or eliminate horses that show undue stress,
inhumane treatment or intimidation. Frankly, I think
that happens just a little more often than you see a pig
fly. Consequently, there are dwindling numbers in
traditional halter classes. Sport Horse classes
certainly aren't for everyone but one can't dismiss
their growing numbers.
For some time now, some members of the Arabian Horse
Association Education and Evaluation committee, have
proposed a mandatory scoring system for all halter
classes which I adamantly oppose. I think it is a
grossly flawed and cumbersome system.
I think the European system, which obviously has been
tested over time, is plausible for regional and national
shows. Particularly since our classes have become so
much smaller. The system can be more time consuming. On
the positive side, the European system lends
accountability, general interest and education. Everyone
can understand numbers.
Thank you for your question. This will be one to watch.
Anne Johnson |
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Ann Asks:
Judge Johnson
Would you explain placement of legs for each gait with a
reiner? I'm a non-pro and just want to communicate with
my horse the best way he understands. He's a retired
show horse and knows his stuff - it's me that wants to
ride better.
Thank You
Ann
Judge Anne Johnson's Reply
Hi Ann
Reining patterns may require that you walk or trot to the
center of the arena before starting circles or spins.
But after that, the only gait performed is a fast or
slow version of a lope and any deviation will incur a
penalty.
There are three basic leg positions for a rider to use: 1.
the urging leg or "at the cinch", 2. the holding leg or
"slightly behind the cinch", 3. the displacing leg "or
way behind the cinch!" Very basically, Ann, position one
is used to drive the horse forward. Position two can
hold or move the horse laterally. And position three
moves the hindquarters (two tracking, turn on the
forehand, elementary lope departures give you an idea of
the effect). All three are used at different points to
drive, turn, supple, position or correct the horse's
movement.
You and your horse will probably have a lot of fun with
this….good luck!
Anne Johnson |
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Brenda Asks:
Dear Judge Johnson
I was at a show recently and was appalled at the behavior
I witnessed. I was watching a junior class, 13 & under,
and when the results were announced one of the parents
of an exhibitor was extremely upset at the placing her
daughter received. This woman was loud and obnoxious to
say the least.
I read your interview and noticed that you do many
seminars. I'm not sure what your seminars include but I
think it would be nice if there was some time devoted to
sportsmanship, especially as it applies to junior
riders, and the role a parent should play in their
child's development. With any kind of luck we could
prevent some of our youngsters from growing into the
type of horse show mother I witnessed at this show.
Brenda
Judge Anne Johnson's Reply
Hi Brenda
Thank you for raising this important topic.
Just recently, I did a clinic for youth riders and set
aside time for a 'parent's roundtable' discussion. I
addressed sportsmanship, reading and knowing the rule
book, the parent's role at the horse show-do's and
don'ts. Happily, trainers reported back to me how
positively things then changed at the shows. Sometimes
awareness alone will correct problems.
Back to the rule book which everyone needs to read. Show
officials can eliminate from the show anyone that is
discourteous, abusive or demonstrates unsportsman-like
conduct. Further, once the rules are read and
understood, exhibitors will often note that the judge
could not use an entry based on rules or class
specifications.
When I work with show riders, I frequently quote a
famous boxer who once said, "Champions are made at home.
They are only recognized in the ring." I feel most of
your success and satisfaction comes with hours of
working with the horse at home. Judges make mistakes,
simply don't like your kind of horse that day, or, there
are better horses to choose from. So what? Have fun
because there's always another horse show!
Anne Johnson
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JULY-AUGUST 2005 ASK THE JUDGE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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Sandy Asks:
I heard that Reining is so hard to teach to horses and
riders alike - why is that? I have never tried it but would
like too. Thanks!!
Judge Anne Johnson's Reply
Thanks for your question. It's a good one.
I'd give anyone a stiff argument that teaching reining to
a horse or rider is hard. It does take time. It requires a
horse with the mind and athletic ability to do the job.
Reining requires a higher level of horsemanship than many
other events. Challenging, interesting, exciting,
educational and fun, yes. Hard, no.
Like any competition, much depends on your level of
participation. Getting horses and riders prepared for the
high dollar futurities or national shows can be very
expensive and demanding. What you need to have fun with
reining in smaller open or local shows is much different.
Reining would be very hard to teach horses that aren't
right for it. The ones that are right for it have: a good
mind-the ability to work at speed and quickly settle to
quiet; training and qualities similar to a western pleasure
horse-balance, good loper, suppleness; size and
conformation-generally 14.2-15 hands or so, strong hocks
that are not set too high, long hip, strong coupling, depth
of body, long "v"
muscling in the chest area.
And. reining would be very hard for a rider to do if they
didn't have an adequate understanding of the proper use of
hands, seat and legs…if they have trouble counting (often
reiners do!) or if they don't have the confidence to be out
there in the arena all by themselves!
I live down here in "reining horse heaven", Aubrey-Pilot
Point, Texas which is the heart of the Quarter Horse reining
industry. People get involved at all different levels and
always seem to get addicted to reining once they start. The
hardest part is likely that first step.
Good luck!
Anne Johnson |
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Elizabeth Asks:
When you judge International
shows do you look for anything different than judging in the
states? What was your most interesting International show
and why? Do you have any tidbits to share with us? Thank
you.
Judge Anne Johnson's Reply
Dear Elizabeth,
International shows are mostly, if not all, halter
classes. In judging them, you look for the same qualities
you do here. The rules, or lack of rules, can be very
different. So can the system for judging (sometimes the
European system using numbers) or the class conduct
(trotting the "triangle" for instance). I've judged national
championships in Israel, Argentina, Brazil and New Zealand.
Quite often, the champions have already been champions in
the United States or were bred from horses imported from
here.
Judging the Israeli National Championships will always
stand out for me…the country, the people, the region where
Arabian horses originated. So there I was with judges from
Britain and Sweden judging the National Champion Stallion
Class. Elegant horses. Exotic outdoor setting. American,
British and Swedish national flags waving in respect for the
judges. As good as it gets for a judge. Then they started
playing the music….it was Merle Haggard singing "I'm An Okie
from Muskogee". You probably 'had to be there' but it was
surreal!
In Argentina, the liberty class got rained out so I gave a
form to function clinic entirely through an interpreter. In
New Zealand, as soon as my driver and I were leaving the
outdoor show grounds for lunch, he made a wrong turn and
there we were driving through the middle of a big hunt type
pleasure class. That judge was not amused!
It's fascinating and heartwarming to see how horses bring
people together everywhere in spite of language barriers,
cultural, political or economic differences.
Anne Johnson |
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ASK THE JUDGE
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Equine Extra
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If you would like to
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Past ASK THE JUDGE Answers from Judge Donnie
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