Critique

Please critique the following mare for HALTER...

As you know - I have race horses...but I'm toying with the idea of showing the big girl in halter this summer - I know she is out of shape - but she will be more fit later...and these pics are old (Sept) so she has gained some weight since then...I won't take anything personally - she is a successful race horse and that is what REALLY matters...

Oh - she is an 8yo

Well forgive me, but I dont think I can make a good confo critique because Im not terribly good at it.

But I just wanted to tell you that she is gorgeous. Very very pretty.

can she be shown in performance halter because she is beautiful and could definately hold her own there. My only critique is her head could be a bit more refined but she is one put together horse.

Lynn - I agree completely on her head - its BIG But - maybe that is how she made so much $$$ on the track

I don't know about performance halter - I'll look into it!!! That may be perfect!!!

So - since she has her racing ROM - she would be eligible for Performance halter - I'm guessing though that she would have to be shown Open instead of Amature... I have no idea though...

Is she QH or TB?

She is a QH - has her Register of Merit - earned over $10k on the track...

She stands about 16 hands...

Here is a front view (I guess technically it is a 3/4 view - but eh, whatever...) Sorry its so fuzzy - dang camera (NOT the user's fault - )


And here is an OLD rear view - taken in Sept - I need newer pics, but it has been rainy and grey around here lately...

Yes you can, But OPEN only. She is correct still has a good top line, Comes out of her shoulder well. Clean in the throat, nice slope to her hip. Sweat her neck, put a saddle on her and pony her, Lope would be best. If you have a hill, up and down would help her hip and forearm. Go for it! Her size and correctness will go alone way in performace halter.

Cool! She is back in pseudo training now so that should help...now I just have to find out when a show is and point her that direction...OH and teach her how to stand square...ummm - and learn how to show halter -

DO NOT put her out in the sun. But I guess you know that, From these photos, Which I know you said she needs weight, But Im guessing like another 150 lbs. Not overly fat, but a bit more. I wish I were a halter horse! Heee Heeee.... Eat EAT! Work for 20 mins. Sweat my neck, Warm Baths, Fans, No flys, More brushing, Here eat some more, Lets practice STANDING STILL, (no work there) Oh, Brush, me not once but as often as you can, Lord! What a life! Now walk to the judge, Trot for 80 ft. Stand still and go back to you stall, and be pampered SOME MORE!

You are right, her head is not tiny. But it is not ugly either. Pick a halter that will break it up a bit, one to make it look shorter. A shorter mane will shorten her head too. A longer mane will draw attention to the length of it. So I say about 2.5 inches. Banded. When you show her Do not get her chin above the withers. and ask her to lengthen her head outward, or in pleasure terms, Nosing out.

JJJ, why can you only show her in open?

I would also think at her age she may not fit up tight or carry that much weight. Good balance should be the most important thing for her. And, the halter would make her head look smaller. That should not matter in the performance halter classes..

After looking at some shots of a few performance halter horses they look like someont took them out as 2yr olds, got the points then fattened em up to halter shape.. UM.. I think this was not what was intended when they came up with that class.. Course, some people find away around every thing be it wrong or right to win a class..

For Performance Halter I would have to show her in Open since her ROM is in racing...at least that is my understanding...

I got some newer pics of her and just need to get them uploaded...and I'm plumb worn out today - I'm not sure if they make her look bigger or not yet - - I'm going to go through my old show stuff and see if I have a halter somewhere...I'll go through show pics though too and see what the current styles are...

Race horses get pampered too = they have to work a little harder than halter horses - but they have a pretty easy life - I swear I notice if they aren't "perfect" faster than my husband would notice if I was missing a leg!!!!

I'll post some "Before" pics as soon as I get them taken and then I'll try and post pics every so often with her progress - see if I can get her to look like a halter horse instead of a race horse - I'm kind of afraid I'll get her looking too racy...

Oh - and her mane got pulled shortly after those pics - we race folks keep em short too

Quote :

JJJ, why can you only show her in open?

The mare did not earn her points in an Ammy Performance Classes, So therefore she can only be shown in Open. What ever the ROM is earned in that is where the horse has to be shown. Race ROMS are considered open since the rider is not a Ammy, which cant be since they make a living as a jocky. Now, I guess if you owned the horse, raced the horse, did not get any money for racing anyone elses horse. Then maybe you could state a case to AQHA, and get them to give the ROM to an Ammy. That would be interesting. But as it stands, Its considered OPEN.

Thanks JJJ, it makes sense now. I guess I just figured 10 points was 10 points.. The thought never even crossed my mind.